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Sexy devices, affordable prices - mobile email hits the mainstream

19 May 2008

Australia's love affair with BlackBerry® smartphones grew 74 percent last year* and Vodafone predicts the Australian mobile email market will more than double over the next 12 months.

"BlackBerry is transcending its traditional business market and is now finding mass appeal," said Helen Tuffy, Head of Consumer Data at Vodafone Australia. "It is hitting the consumer lifestyle niche thanks to device and price."

"BlackBerry was once the workhorse of the pinstripe suit brigade, but look at how the handset has developed and matured; it's gone from bulky designs to smooth, slim and full of tricks with gunmetal, chrome and titanium-look finishes. BlackBerry is now very sexy."

Vodafone today announced the new BlackBerry® Pearl 8110 smartphone will be free on Vodafone’s $79 Super Cap 24-month contract – and is slashing the cost of mobile email and web browsing to $14.95 per month (1.5MB or approximately 500 standard emails) or $24.95 per month (unlimited>). Pricing is effective from 20 May.

"The stylish BlackBerry Pearl 8110 combines all of the functionality of a traditional BlackBerry® with the advanced features of the latest smartphones," said Helen. "Users can even connect straight to Facebook, Google Talk and Yahoo Messenger from the main menu."

With an inbuilt GPS receiver, the BlackBerry® Pearl 8110 also supports Vodafone Compass< – a live GPS mapping and navigation service complete with information on petrol pricing (updated daily) and car parking facilities. Vodafone Compass< costs $79 per year, $8 per month or $2.50 per day.

The 8110 includes an advanced Media Player, Bluetooth™ 2.0 and a 2MP camera with flash, that takes pictures and records video**. A "hot swappable" externally accessible MicroSD/SDHC memory slot supports the current generation of 8GB of memory cards, and allows users to transfer their pictures, music and videos without switching their device off.

New customers will be able to walk out of a Vodafone store with their new BlackBerry smartphone fully operational, with up to 10 internet-based email accounts.

For more information, or to find your nearest Vodafone store, visit www.vodafone.com.au.

PDF Read the full press release.