Vodafone UK† today announces an exclusive partnership and the acquisition of two companies, as part of its longer-term plan to evolve from a mobile-focused company to a total communications provider offering seamless communications to its customers, regardless of network or technology*. The partnership and acquisitions form a key part of Vodafone UK’s enterprise mobility consultancy and delivery capability strategy.

Vodafone UK has signed a conditional contract to acquire Aspective Limited, a respected consultancy and service provider with core skills in mobilising enterprise applications. The company has also acquired Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, a leading provider of customer services, fleet management and bespoke managed services to the business market.

In addition, Vodafone UK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Fiberlink, a leading specialist in secure mobile working. Under the terms of the deal, Vodafone will be the only mobile provider of Fiberlink in the UK, and will offer Fiberlink's platform exclusively for mobile workforce services in the UK.  The agreement with Fiberlink is effective from January 1 2007 for three years.

Kyle Whitehill, Director of Vodafone UK’s Enterprise Business Unit, comments: 'We are focused on developing our capability in three core areas: applications, access and service. In the next three years Vodafone UK will become much more than a mobile network operator and will play a significant role as an integrator of seamless communications. Today’s announcements are testament to our commitment to this strategy with the acquisition of skills and capabilities in all three of these core areas.”

Aspective Limited

Aspective is a specialist in the mobilisation of enterprise applications such as CRM and Field Sales Automation - an area in which Vodafone UK is seeing increasing demand from its enterprise customers. Through its acquisition of Aspective Vodafone UK will be able to provide a broader set of skills and capabilities to support customers in the areas of business process consulting, solution design, implementation and managed services.

Aspective CEO Javaid Aziz commented: 'Vodafone is known as the market leader in the UK enterprise mobility space and is now entering an exciting phase of service development. It is testament to our vision, innovative services and the quality of our consultancy that Vodafone has selected Aspective to help lead the way into this new era." 

Isis Telecommunications Management Limited

Isis is a mobile service provision business, which offers bespoke services for small to medium sized businesses, with a particular strength in billing arrangements for customers with special requirements.  Based in Ealing, West London, Isis currently has over 38,000 customers.

Isis Managing Director Peter Johnston commented: 'The specialist services offered by Isis are unique and market leading, complementing Vodafone’s offerings.  We look forward to making our services available to a wider range of Vodafone customers.”

Fiberlink
Fiberlink’s Extend360 Mobility Platform enables mobile workers to connect quickly, securely and easily to the applications and data they need when working away from the traditional office.  Under the terms of the partnership, Fiberlink is Vodafone UK’s chosen platform for its secure remote access solution.  With a major customer in the Financial Services industry already using the secure remote access service, Vodafone UK is starting to offer the service to Corporate and Public Sector customers with a full market launch planned for the first half of 2007. 

The service is planned as a one-stop shop solution to the challenges posed by the increasing mobilisation of companies’ workforces and will offer enterprise customers in the UK secure remote access across any bearer.  In addition the service will be scalable with options which will meet all business needs and will feature a single user interface allowing secure access to the corporate network via a LAN connection, Vodafone 3G broadband, WLAN, dial up, Wi-Fi hotspot or Broadband. 

”As mobility and access become ubiquitous, today’s businesses are embracing mobile computing as a way to increase productivity, lower costs and enhance workplace flexibility.  At the same time, today’s mobile workers present new challenges to their organisations as they try to maintain control over mobile devices, network access and security while complying with internal and external policies and mandates. Vodafone UK’s exclusive partnership with Fiberlink brings together two market leaders with complementary technologies that will combine to deliver a truly comprehensive mobility offering in the UK,” said Steve Hammond, President Fiberlink International.

-ends-

Notes to editors

† Vodafone UK refers to Vodafone UK Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc.  In reference to Fiberlink Vodafone UK refers to Vodafone Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc.

*  Vodafone’s Group wide ‘Mobile Plus’ strategy towards total communication provision was first announced on May 30 2006 as part of Vodafone Group’s annual financial results announcement

For further information please contact:

Lucy Rich or Libby Pritchard

Vodafone UK Public Relations

Tel: 0845 4444466

email: press.office@vodafone.com

About Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK has 16.2 million customers and is part of the world’s leading international mobile telecommunications Group, offering a wide range of voice and data communications. The company is committed to providing mobile solutions that allow both consumer and business customers to make the most of now. In addition, Vodafone connects customers across the globe with roaming agreements worldwide. It provides 3G roaming in 29 countries and offers great roaming value with Vodafone Passport. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.co.uk.

ABOUT ASPECTIVE LIMITED

Aspective is a leading eBusiness solution provider, specialising in business efficiency and control solutions for customer management, information management and service operations. Through its team of highly trained and experienced consultants, Aspective offers a comprehensive portfolio of services ranging from strategic consultancy through to complete end-to-end solutions - developed, hosted, managed, maintained and supported throughout the project lifecycle.  Aspective has strategic partnerships with Ab Initio, Business Objects, Cable & Wireless, Dexterra, IBM, Microsoft, Netezza, Siebel Systems and Viryanet.  The company’s head office is in Staines, Middlesex.  For further details please go to: www.aspective.com

ABOUT ISIS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT LIMITED

Isis is one of the UK's leading, independent, full service, telecommunications specialists, advising and working with businesses to help them choose and manage the telecoms services that suit their business needs.  Isis uses smart, user-friendly, cutting edge technology which enhances the management of mobile communications in enterprise.  Last year, for the second year running, Isis won Best Customer Care in the World Billing Awards, as well as collecting the Daily Telegraph Customer Services Sage Business Award and have been Finalists in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 National Customer Service awards.  For further details please visit: www.isistelecom.com

ABOUT FIBERLINK

Fiberlink simplifies and secures mobile working with innovative software and services, built for the enterprise. Fiberlink’s advanced technology has protected over a million mobile workers in over 700 companies from hackers, viruses, loss, theft, 'data leakage” and other hazards brought on by mobile computing. Market research firms consistently recognise Fiberlink for its leadership in delivering mobility solutions. For 15 years now Fiberlink has been the trusted mobility expert to companies such as Bloomberg, Continental Airlines, Ernst & Young, General Electric and Grant Thornton, keeping their networks secure and their employees productive. For more information about Fiberlink, please visit: www.fiberlink.com.