Vodafone AirTouch Plc, through its UK subsidiary Vodafone Value Added Services Limited ("VVADS"), and Independent News & Media PLC ("Independent News), have today announced an agreement enabling the launch of a new generation of internet-related content and transactional services. Under the agreement, Independent News will provide Vodafone mobile customers with news and other information services and VVADS will provide Short Message Service (SMS) delivery and billing facilities.
Initially, the Independent Group will concentrate on introducing SMS and voice-based products and services in the United Kingdom and South Africa, and will be exploring the potential to introduce the services in Australia and New Zealand as well. Both parties have strong market positions in these countries, covering 30 million print readers and around 10 million mobile phone customers. The services offered will include news and sports information, weather, and live share information.
The provision of information services to mobile phone users is growing rapidly along with the use of SMS services by mobile phone users. In the last year, the number of such messages delivered by Vodafone in the UK alone has risen substantially to over 50 million per month.
Commenting, Chris Gent, Chief Executive of Vodafone AirTouch Plc, said "By creating partnerships such as this, we will be able to develop personal wireless and multimedia applications which we can deliver to mobile customers around the world. These types of services represent an enormous market opportunity and should develop rapidly in order to meet the increasing expectations and demands of mobile customers."
Dr Tony O'Reilly, Chairman of Independent News & Media PLC, added: "Our partnership with Vodafone AirTouch marks a significant step forward in the development of electronic media information services, and will keep our company at the forefront of developments in this exciting and rapidly growing marketplace."
For further information contact:Corinne Norris or Mike Caldwell
at the Vodafone AirTouch Press Office
Telephone: 07000 500100
E-mail: press.office@vf.vodafone.co.uk
or
Brendan Hopkins, Chief Executive
Independent News & Media UK
Telephone: 0171 363 7788
E-mail: b.hopkins@inuk.co.uk
press.office@vodafone.com