The Vodafone Story So Far

8/14/2019 The Vodafone Story So Far

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The Vodafone story so far

Vodafone was responsible for the UK's first mobile call, just after midnight on 1 January 1985.

Within 15 years, we were the largest company in Europe – and the largest of our kind anywherein the world.

Ours is a story of investment, innovation and award-winning customer service. Click on the tabs

for decade-by-decade highlights of our pioneering achievements.

2010

Vodafone UK wins Best Network in the Mobile News and Mobile awards

Vodafone UK ranges the Apple iPhone

Vodafone One Net - the business solution that merges mobile and landline numbers –

reaches one million customers

Vodafone VIP launched. The new reward scheme provides access for customers to a

range of high-profile national events

2009

A major expansion programme brings the number of Vodafone retail stores to 400

The Vodafone Foundation launches the UK World of Difference programme – giving500 people the chance to get paid to work for charity

Vodafone signs an exclusive agreement with Twitter, allowing customers to send

updates and receive notifications by text

Vodafone Sure Signal launched – a unique device to improve the mobile phone signalinside customers' homes

2008

Vodafone UK is the first European network operator to offer Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 ultra-

mobile device with built-in broadband connectivity

The first ever touchscreen BlackBerry® smartphone – The BlackBerry Storm 9500 – isannounced. It's built exclusively for Vodafone.

2007

Vodafone launches Secure Remote Access, providing data security for remote and

flexible workers



We announce plans to build a state-of-the-art 850-seat customer services centre in Stoke

on Trent

2006

The Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G broadband (HSDPA) data card is launched, offeringfaster data speeds on laptops

The number of Vodafone live! customers with 3G reaches 10 million

2005

We launch Stop the Clock for Pay monthly and Pay as you go customers. This gives

customers an hour’s talk in the evenings and weekends for the price of three minutes

We launch Vodafone Simply – giving customers new, easy-to-use voice and textservices

Vodafone introduces Passport – a new voice roaming price plan

Vodafone wins Mobile Retailer’s National Retailer of the Year award

2004

We launch Content Control – which bars younger customers from accessing adult

material

Vodafone launches its first 3G service in Europe with the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS data card for corporate customers. It gives access to office applications at ten

times the speed of GPRS

Vodafone live! with 3G is launched in 13 markets – giving customers access to a range of

services including video calling and video streaming

2003

Vodafone UK launches Speaking Phone for blind and visually impaired customers

Vodafone live! attracts one million customers in its first six months

Orange, Telefonica Moviles, T-Mobile and Vodafone form a new association to drive

inter-operable mobile payments

2002

Vodafone trials a global mobile payment system in the UK, Italy and Germany

Vodafone launches the first European GPRS roaming service The Vodafone Group Foundation is launched

Vodafone launches Vodafone live! and Mobile Office

Arun Sarin succeeds Sir Christopher Gent as Chief Executive of Vodafone Group Plc

2001



The first 3G voice call is made over Vodafone’s initial 3G network of 30 radio base

stations in the Thames Valley

Vodafone introduces instant messaging to its network

Vodafone becomes to the first network to offer Pay monthly customers the ability to

roam

GPRS is launched nationwide, providing an ‘always on’ connectivity

Find and Seek with Vizzavi UK allows customers to find their way via WAP

2000

The acquisition of Mannesmann AG almost doubles the size of the Vodafone Group –

making it the world’s largest mobile telecommunications company

The Vodafone Mobile Connect USB modem is launched

Vizzavi – a 50/50 joint venture between Vodafone AirTouch and VivendiNet – delivers amulti-access branded Internet portal for Europe

Vodafone acquires the largest available 3G licence in the UK

WAP gateway is opened, offering customers access to internet-style information Vodafone UK and Microsoft announce a joint project to bring Microsoft Outlook

functionality to wireless mobile devices

1999

Vodafone AirTouch Plc is created as a result of a successful merger between Vodafone

Group Plc and AirTouch Communications Inc

On 5 January, Vodafone connects its five-millionth UK customer

1997

Chris Gent succeeds Sir Gerald Whent as Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Group

Plc

1996

Vodafone is the first network operator in the UK to launch a Pay monthly analogue package

Per-second billing on the digital network is introduced, as well as options to buy

‘bundled’ minutes and make off -peak local calls to landlines

1994

Vodata is the first network operator in the UK to launch data, fax and text messagingservices over the digital network

Vodafone joins the Globalstar consortium to develop and launch a Low Earth Orbiting

Satellite mobile phone service

1993



Vodafone Group International is formed to acquire licences and supervise overseas

interests

Vodafone opens its first high street store

1992

Vodafone and Telecom Finland sign the world's first international GSM roaming

agreement

1991

Racal and Vodafone de-merge, and the Vodafone Group is listed as an independent

company on the London and New York stock exchanges

Vodafone and Telecom Finland make the world’s first international roaming call

Vodafone launches its digital (GSM) mobile phone service – the first in the UK

1989

Paknet is formed as a joint venture between Racal Telecom and Cable & Wireless

1988

Racal Telecomms Plc floats on the London and New York stock exchanges

1987

Vodafone is recognised as the largest mobile network in the world

Vodata is created as the ‘voice and data' business to develop and market VodafoneRecall, the voicemail service

Vodapage is launched – providing a paging network that covers 80% of the UK population

1985

The Vodafone analogue network is the first cellular network to launch in the UK – and

the first call is made from St Katherine's Dock in London to Newbury on 1 January 1985

1982

The Racal Electronics Group wins its bid for the private sector UK Cellular licence. It

sets up the Racal Telecomms Division and names the new network ‘Vodafone' to reflectthe provision of voice and data services over mobile phones. Based in Newbury, the

company has less than 50 employees, all in one building

Documents

The Vodafone Story So Far