Own branded handsets

Vodafone Group Plc
11 February 2008


11 February 2008

          VODAFONE EXTENDS RANGE OF OWN BRANDED HANDSETS AND ROLLS OUT
                BRAND DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR ALL VODAFONE HANDSETS 

       One in six phones shipped by Vodafone is from its own brand range        

Vodafone will launch two new own branded mobile phones to grow its range of own
branded and award winning* mobile phones launched over the last year. The
Vodafone 227 and Vodafone 228 will launch this month, February, and will be
available across both Europe and emerging markets. Both mobile phones will meet
the customer demand for low cost, simple to use yet stylish handsets. The launch
of these mobile phones follows the successful introduction of seven own branded
handsets by Vodafone throughout 2007, which today make up on average one in six
of the mobile devices shipped by Vodafone annually.

Both the Vodafone 227 and Vodafone 228 offer more choice of style and price to
customers. The Vodafone 227 is a clamshell phone and the Vodafone 228 is a
slider mobile. In addition to core text and voice services, both come with a
colour display, vibrating alert and headset.

'Over the last 18 months we have launched our own branded handsets - the
Vodafone 125, 225, 226 and the 226 FM radio variant, 710, 715, 720 and 810.
These have been very successful not just in emerging markets but also in the
European pre-pay market,' said Jens Schulte-Bockum, Global Director of Terminals
for Vodafone. 'The concept of offering stylish and affordable handsets that are
quick and easy to use is certainly appealing to a wide range of customers,
especially those who are purchasing and using a mobile for the very first time.
We are delighted to be building on this success by introducing two new handsets
to the range, demonstrating our commitment to making mobile devices and services
available to all.'

To enhance the appeal of Vodafone's own branded handset range Vodafone also
plans to introduce stronger brand style guidelines to ensure a consistent look
and feel in the design of each of the handsets that come into the range from the
middle of this year. The guidelines comprise of physical design elements that
will identify the device as a Vodafone handset coupled with a consistent keypad
typeface and layout. There also include consistencies in the design of the user
interface from handset to handset, including the use of the same icons used for
navigating between applications.

Jens continues: 'The new brand guidelines are a natural step in the progression
of our own brand strategy. It will ensure that Vodafone handsets we launch in
future are distinctive and consistent in their look and feel and familiar to
customers who start to upgrade through the Vodafone range. This move is
especially important in our emerging markets where it provides an added way to
differentiate our brand to new customers, and which we expect in turn to
stimulate revenue.'

                                     - ends-

Notes to editors:

* The Vodafone 720 mobile phone won international recognition for its design at
  the 'iF Design Awards' in 2007.

Images of the Vodafone 227 and 228 are available at: http://www.vodafone.com/
mobile_world/gallery.html

 

About Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with
operations in 25 countries across five continents and over 252 million
proportionate customers at 31 December 2007, as well as 40 partner networks. For
further information, please visit www.vodafone.com

For further information:

Vodafone Group

Investor Relations
Tel: [phone]

Media Relations
Tel: [phone]

 



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