• First Irish provider to deliver a comprehensive Mobile Internet experience. Automatically available nationwide to one million customers from tomorrow.
• In partnership with world-leading, best in class Internet brands – eBay, Google, YouTube and MySpace. 
• Innovative new pricing at only 99c per day giving customers the freedom to use the Web on their mobile the way they want to, without worrying about costs. 

Vodafone Ireland has today announced that it is the first Irish mobile provider to deliver an integrated and comprehensive web experience on mobile.

Partnering with some of the most popular websites in Ireland – eBay, Google, MySpace and YouTube to deliver a rich mobile experience – Vodafone Mobile Internet pulls the internet and the mobile together so that customers can now access their Web-favourites anytime, anywhere.

From tomorrow, one million customers will be able to take advantage of the unique Mobile Internet experience which will allow them to use the Web they way they want to - from updating their MySpace profile to using Google search. There are no handset upgrades necessary. Thanks to Mobile Internet from Vodafone, any customer using a 3G or 2.5G handset can surf the web anytime, anywhere for just 99 cent a day or €9.99 per month*. This simple pricing mechanism means that they are free to enjoy the full benefits of the Web experience on their mobile.

Vodafone live! is one of Ireland’s top ten most visited portals with 640,000 customers accessing the portal every month.  Mobile Internet will enhance their experience by opening up the Web. Best in class network coverage means that all Vodafone live! customers countrywide just have to switch on their phone from tomorrow to enjoy Mobile Internet.

The possibilities that Mobile Internet delivers are endless, from checking on eBay auctions and viewing YouTube clips, to exploring the whole of the World Wide Web. Vodafone subscribers can browse their e-mail, read the latest news from anywhere in the world or check out the hottest bands profiles via any Vodafone live! handset thanks to Mobile Internet.

“Vodafone Mobile Internet will revolutionise the way our customers experience the Internet,” says Carolan Lennon, Consumer Director, Vodafone Ireland. “We looked at the best on the Web and we have signed up global partnerships with our customers’ favourite internet sites to give them a unique Mobile Internet experience. They can now make the most of their time so even when they are just sitting at a bus stop or waiting to meet a friend, Vodafone Mobile Internet keeps them connected, on-line and in touch.

"The launch of Mobile Internet is the latest innovation from Vodafone. We have led the way in Ireland on new mobile technology, and were the first the launch 3G, 3G Data Services and 3G Broadband.  The mobile phone has changed the way we interact with friends, family and colleagues, while the internet has revolutionised the way we interact with the wider world – Vodafone Mobile Internet pulls the internet and the mobile together into something even more powerful and unique."

John McElligott, managing Director eBay Ireland said: “The Irish eBay community is very important and we are continually looking for ways to improve and expand on our offering in Ireland. We are delighted to be partnering with Vodafone for the launch of this exciting and innovative new service, which introduces a whole new level of internet access across the country.

"Vodafone Mobile Internet enables our 500,000 registered users in Ireland to access their eBay accounts on their mobile. eBay users can now log into their accounts, monitor auctions and make bids remotely on their Vodafone handset, whenever and wherever they like."

The launch of Mobile Internet is possible through an innovation on the Vodafone network which adapts Web content for mobile use by compressing and rearranging content to render it mobile-friendly. With Vodafone Mobile Internet customers can bookmark their favourite sites and create their own personal internet experience on their mobile.

Vodafone also today announces upgrades to SafetyNet, a Web access control tool designed to enable parents to control the kind of content that their children access on their internet-enabled mobile phones. Last year Vodafone applied an internet filter for under 18s to prevent them from accessing inappropriate content. Now Vodafone has further improved the filters available and has introduced a ‘Teen’ profile for 15-18 year olds.  This can be applied by parents to their child’s account should they feel the ‘child’ profile is too limiting. In addition, Vodafone Ireland is working with the Internet Watch Foundation list to proactively block access to illegal content for all users.

To mark the launch of Vodafone Mobile Internet, from September 1st, the Nokia N70 will be available from Vodafone at special promotional rates of €79 postpay and €149 prepay.

For more information, please contact:

Megan Stack/Alison Kelly
Drury Communications
01 260 5000 / / 086 175 5531 (MS) / 086 195 5722 (AK)
mstack@drurycom.com / akelly@drurycom.com

Cara Twohig
Vodafone Corporate Affairs
087 6887316

*Prepay customers accessing Mobile Internet can the surf the Web for just 99c per day, subject to a 50Mb per day fair usage cap.  Post pay customers can sign up to a € 9.99 monthly tariff that provides up to 500MBaccess over the month. 50MB gives customers up to 75 minutes of YouTube videos or the facility to view up to 1,000 internet pages a day.

About Vodafone Ireland
Vodafone is Ireland's leading mobile services provider with a customer base of over 2.187 million comprising business and personal subscribers and a revenue market share of over 47%.   The Vodafone Group is the world's leading mobile telecommunications group with a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the United States through the Company's subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures, associated undertakings and investments.

About eBay
Founded in 1995, eBay pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity. eBay enables ecommerce on a local, national and international basis with an array of websites - including the eBay Marketplace, PayPal, Skype, Kijiji, Rent.com, Shopping.com - that bring together millions of buyers and sellers every day.
Website: www.ebay.ie