Vodafone was formed in 1984 as a subsidiary of Racal Electronics Plc. Then known as Racal Telecom Limited, approximately 20% of the company's capital was offered to the public in October 1988. It was fully demerged from Racal Electronics Plc and became an independent company in September 1991, at which time it changed its name to Vodafone Group Plc.
Following its merger with AirTouch Communications, Inc. (‘AirTouch’), the company changed its name to Vodafone AirTouch Plc on 29 June 1999 and, following approval by the shareholders in General Meeting, reverted to its former name, Vodafone Group Plc, on 28 July 2000.
Key milestones in the development of Vodafone can be found in the following sections, organised by year:
2007
Vodafone agrees to acquire Tele2 Italia SpA and Tele2 Telecommunication Services SLU from Tele2 AB Group. (October)
Vodafone announces completion of the acquisition of Hutch Essar from Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited. (May)
Safaricom, Vodafone’s partner in Kenya announces the launch of M-PESA, an innovative new mobile payment solution that enables customers to complete simple financial transactions by mobile phone. (February)
Vodafone agrees to buy a controlling interest in Hutchison Essar Limited, a leading operator in the fast growing Indian mobile market, (February)
Vodafone announces agreements with both Microsoft and Yahoo! to bring seamless Instant Messaging (IM) services to the mobile which can be accessed from both the PC and mobile handsets. (February)
Vodafone signs a series of ground-breaking agreements which will lead to the mobilising of the internet. YouTube agrees to offer Vodafone customers specially rendered YouTube pages on their mobile phones. With Google, Vodafone announces its intention to develop a location-based version of Google Maps for. With eBay, Vodafone announces it is to offer the new eBay mobile service to customers, With MySpace.com Vodafone announces an exclusive partnership to offer Vodafone customers a MySpace experience via their mobile phones. (February).
Vodafone reaches 200 million customers (January)
2006
Sale of 25% stake in Switzerland's Swisscom (December)
Sale of 25% stake in Belgium's Proximus. (August)
The number of Vodafone live! customers with 3G reached 10 million in March 2006.
We acquired Telsim Mobil Telekomunikasyon Hizmetleri (Turkey) in May 2006.
Launch of mobile TV capability and Vodafone Radio DJ, which offers a personalised, interactive radio service streamed to 3G phones and PCs.
3G broadband through HSDPA launched offering faster than 3G speeds.
Japan business sold to SoftBank.
‘Make the most of now’ global marketing campaign launched.
Sir John Bond succeeds Lord MacLaurin as Chairman.
2005
We completed the acquisition of MobiFon S.A. (Romania) and Oskar Mobile a.c. (Czech Republic) (May).
Launch of Vodafone Simply, a new easy-to-use service for customers who want to use voice and text services with minimum complexity (May).
Introduction of Vodafone Passport, a voice roaming price plan that provides customers with greater price clarity when using mobile voice services abroad (May).
2004
We launched our first 3G service in Europe with Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS data card.
We have 14 Partner Networks with new agreements in Cyprus, Hong Kong and Luxembourg.
Vodafone live! with 3G launched in 13 markets (November).
2003
At the GSM Association Awards Ceremony in Cannes, France, we won the mobile industry's most prestigious awards in two categories, Best Consumer Wireless Application or Service and Best Television or Broadcast Commercial for its global consumer service, Vodafone live! Our premium handset for Vodafone live!, the Sharp GX10, won the Best Wireless Handset Award for the Sharp Corporation.
Vodafone live! attracts 1 million customers in its first six months.
Verizon Wireless and Vodafone co-operate on laptop e-mail, internet and corporate applications access for the US and Europe.
Arun Sarin succeeds Sir Christopher Gent as Chief Executive.
2002
We trial our global mobile payment system in the UK, Italy and Germany. The trial enables customers to purchase physical and digital goods using their mobile phone.
We launch the first commercial European GPRS roaming service. Customers are able to seamlessly access services such as corporate e-mail, intranet and personalised information on their mobile phones, laptops or PDAs over GPRS.
The Vodafone Group Foundation is launched, with plans to contribute £20 million to community programmes, guided by the Group Social Investment Policy.
In October, we announce the launch of Vodafone live!, a new consumer proposition, and Mobile Office, a new business proposition. In November, Vodafone Remote Access is launched as part of Mobile Office. The service gives business customers an easy way to connect to their corporate LAN to access e-mail, calendar and other business specific applications whilst on the move.
2001
We acquire Ireland's leading mobile communications company, Eircell.
Vodafone and China Mobile (Hong Kong) ltd (CHMK) sign a 'strategic alliance agreement'.
The Group completes the acquisition of a 25% stake in Swisscom Mobile.
We introduce instant messaging to our networks, a faster and more efficient way to communicate using text messages via SMS or WAP.
First global communications campaign launched in August. The campaign features TV, cinema, print, online and outdoor media, each version asking the question, 'How are you?'.
First Vodafone Partner Agreement with TDC Mobil A/S, Denmark's leading mobile operator. The agreement is the first of its kind in the mobile industry and means Vodafone and TDC Mobil will cooperate in developing, marketing and advertising international roaming products and services to international travellers and corporate customers.
We make the word's first 3G roaming call (between Spain and Japan).
2000
On 4 February, terms are agreed with the Supervisory Board of Mannesmann by which Mannesmann would become a part of the Vodafone community. The transaction almost doubles the size of the Vodafone Group.
The agreement to acquire Mannesmann AG receives European Commission clearance on 12 April 2000.
Verizon Wireless is launched in May, the combination of Vodafone AirTouch's and Bell Atlantic's US cellular, PCS and paging assets.
