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Verizon in bid to acquire Vodafone?
If the English tabloid, the Daily Mail, is correct then it would appear that a consortium consisting of Posh and Becks Verizon Wireless and Spain's Telefonica are preparing a takeover bid of the world's largest mobile phone company, Vodafone -- a Verizon partner in the US. While Telefonica and Verizon have been mute on the topic, Blackstone group, a supposed member of this hostile cabal according to "documents circulating the City," has denied any knowledge of the matter in a followup posted by rival English paper, The Times. While it's true that Vodafone has seen better days, any takeover and subsequent break-up would no doubt, be messy given their 180 million customers spead across 27 countries. Still, if the bid is successful, then according to the Daily Mail, Verizon will grab the US and UK assets with Telefonica nabbing the European operations. Before we all get too caught up in these rumors, remember that the Daily Mail also runs a telephone astrology service so you'd be right to question their sources, mkay? [Via TG Daily]
Vodafone partnering with Siemens for HSDPA in Germany
Looks like Mannesmann Vodafone is stepping into the ring for a smackdown with T-Mobile in the race to bring that HSDPA goodness to the entirety of Germany. Rather than taking the time to build-out their beleaguered four-city service themselves, Vodafone decided to axe (according to German media) 500 local jobs, and partner with Siemens AG for HSDPA coverage -- who, by the way, are the main supplier to T-Mobile Germany for HSDPA as well. They’ll have to be quick though to compete with T-Mobile’s all-city, all-HSDPA, all-the-time service coming by end of May -- which already allows T-Mo to showcase such subscriber-sweetness as their MDA Vario II (AKA, the HTC Hermes). Let’s just hope these initial offerings are a bit more robust than say, Cingular’s fledgling offering here at home.[Via The Wireless Report]
Vodafone's 804SS is out in Japan
We saw this 804SS "world's thinnest" 3G clamshell a couple of months ago, but now that Vodafone is getting the skinny Samsung handset out the door, we thought we'd run it by you one more time. The phone is 0.6-inches thick, weighs 3.5 ounces, and has a very solid feel. (We got to play around with it this weekend.) It's your regular garden-variety W-CDMA phone, with tri-band GSM and Bluetooth 1.1 to round out the radios. The 2.3-inch screen runs at a QVGA res, and the phone can handle MS Office documents, so you might be putting that QVGA to good use. Also featured are dual cameras -- a 1.3 megapixel main shooter and a VGA cam for videoconferencing -- and music playback off of the phone's 145MB of built-in memory through its stereo speakers. The phone comes in orange or black, and it should be available now in Japan.[Via Mobile Whack]
Vodafone study: cellphones are good for healthcare
There's a new study in town, kids: it's published by Vodafone and the Imperial College, London, and states that -- surprise, surprise -- mobile phones are becoming increasingly essential in providing expeditious and efficient health care services. All snark aside, we don't doubt the (British) health care system does stand to save some bucks with things like automated SMS appointment reminders, so if you're inclined to slog through a 40-page report citing 150 usage cases for text messaging in the health care industry, be our guest. We just ask that no matter who comes up with these things, they don't stop at thinking that mobile technology can benefit health care only so far as SMS is concerned.[Via textually]
Ireland's Ahern proposes EU slash or eliminate roaming charges
Europeans may soon be able to travel around the continent free of cellular roaming charges, if a proposal by Irish cabinet leader, or Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern gains support in the European Parliament. Ahern's push for reduced or eliminated roaming fees comes immediately prior to a scheduled update on the very same topic by EU Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding on Tuesday, when she is expected to propose a regulation that would reduce fees faster than carriers are willing to on their own. The current interest in bloated roaming costs began in June of last year, when the EU executive announced that it would take action after having just cited Germany's T-Mobile and Vodafone for overcharging visiting tourists.
Vodafone first to get UMTS Blackberry 8707v?
We've heard inklings about the Blackberry 8707, the UMTS version of the 8700 series (which currently tops out with EDGE), and that it could be launched as early as April. Looks like Adam Phones in the UK has the details on it, though: same 312MHz Xscale processor, Bluetooth 2.0, MiniUSB, 64MB flash and 16MB RAM as before, just now with 3G connectivity on Vodafone, and a slightly revamped look. We'll let you know as we know more, but to the best of our knowledge this thing isn't available yet, tempting though its quad-band little self may be.
Vodafone's new TV clamshell, the V604T
We've gotta respect Vodafone's method of serial number conservation. Last November they busted out a TV capable phone from Sharp, the V604SH, and now they're following it up with another TV handset, Toshiba's V604T. Alright, we admit, maybe just spend too much time thinking about model numbers than is quite healthy, but there isn't much more know about this new phone. It sports mere analog TV, accompanied by an FM radio and a 1.3 megapixel camera. The swivel display clamshell also features a miniSD slot, while still managing to come in under an inch of thickness. Otherwise it's just another squarish flip phone in Vodafone's sea of expertly model numbered handsets.
Samsung SGH-Z500 3G clamshell goes pink for Vodafone
Vodafone UK has taken a handset that we once called "understated" and snazzed it up with a fresh coat of pink paint to make the exterior complement the already sexy feature set. As we've known for awhile now, the Samsung SGH-Z500 is a UMTS clamshell with Bluetooth, MP3 playback, dual cameras for video calling, and a TransFlash slot to bulk up the 50MB of included memory. Not only will this model be free on certain plans starting in April, but Vodafone is even throwing in a pink Plantronics Bluetooth headset for the odd occasion that you wouldn't want to be seen holding this hot little number up to your face.[Via Shiny Shiny]
Vodafone New Zealand volunteers to censor itself- kind of
In a move that we're sure is strictly for the children, Vodafone New Zealand has proposed a voluntary ban, supported by fellow carrier Telecom, on streaming "restricted" content to cellphones until after a certain time. Under Vodafone's proposal, shows that have appeared on over-the-air TV, but that could still contain sex, nudity, violence, and cussing, would only be available for streaming after a so-called "watershed" time. In exchange for this generosity, Vodafone claims that it would be absolved of the need to require age verification for the content in question. It seems that everyone wins here: Vodafone gets more customers through its lax policy, and New Zealand children know exactly when the racy programming starts on their phones.[Via picturephoning]
Sharp and Vodafone push their 904SH VGA phone through FCC approval
Well isn't this exciting. After spending a few weeks coveting Sharp's 904SH phone, which sports a VGA display, 3.2 megapixel camera, and UMTS data, it has made an appearance on the FCC site. We can't get our hopes too high, since the phone is still bearing a Vodafone badge and has a distinctly Vodafone warning label, but the handset did lose its purple coloring for a svelte black shell, so this could be a sign of good things to come. Click on for more pics, including sexy action shots of the swivel LCD.
Vodafone Japan sells to Softbank for $15 billion
Vodafone, enter Japan: check. Stick around a while, not really gaining traction: check. Release a slew of phones that don't entirely appeal to the Japanese market: check. Pull out for 15 billion: double-check. Looks like they took 15b for a 97.7% stake in the biz from Softbank, who apparently also operate the infamous ultra high speed Yahoo Japan Internet service. What's Softbank's first order of business having acquired Voda? Slash prices, man; looks like they want to get down and dirty with KDDI and DoCoMo. Whether they'll actually be able to pull off a tangle with those two, however, is another question entirely.
Vodafone Japan's offer may have jumped to $15b
It's kind of nice to know that if Vodafone is really gonna quit Japan, at least they're gonna go out for top dollar. That reported 12.3 billion they were offered by Softbank? Well, it looks like that proposal may (or may not) be outbid. as supposedly they got a $15 billion figure from Cerberus Partners LP and Providence Equity Partners Inc. Could this signal the start of a bidding war over the ailing wing of one of the world's largest carriers? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
Vodafone's mystery video phone is the Sharp 905SH
After ogling Vodafone's new video phone a few days ago without having a whole lot of hard info, we're pleased to see that the company has released some deets and pics to fill in the gaps. Turns out the model no. is 905SH, and the 2.9-inch 16:9en has a 240x400 resolution. The phone also has Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel camera, a miniSD slot and can receive One Seg Japanese digital TV broadcasts. Don't expect to see this outside of Japan anytime soon. Or ever.
Vodafone Germany to launch Qtek 8500
Yeah, we're a little low on the details, but we're always up for giving the HTC Star Trek Windows Mobile Smartphone a little bit of face time. In this case Vodafone Germany is showing it as the Qtek 8500, bedecked in, dare we say it, a Star Trek crimson. We just saw all the specs on this unit last month, when it seemed to be due for May, but there isn't anything new here in regards to availability other than the fact that Vodafone is in on the action.
HTC Prophet shown by Vodafone Germany as "VPA Compact s"
We're not so sure on the naming, but we do know that Vodafone Germany has plans for the HTC Prophet, to be renamed the "VPA Compact s." It's all HTC Prophet on the inside, though, with the same 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 1.2, and 802.11b/g. Currently slated for a summer release, the phone hasn't been priced yet, and there is no word on the rollout plans for other Vodafone countries.
Vodafone gets HSDPA, Orange goes EDGE in UK
UK wireless carriers Vodafone and Orange have both announced upgrades to their data services, with Vodafone beginning HSDPA trials and Orange enabling the less-exciting 2.5G EDGE in certain areas. One hundred central London firms are trialing the high-speed service for Voda, with general London rollouts scheduled over the summer and other major UK cities and towns hooked up by the end of the year. Orange, meanwhile, is throwing a bone to those folks who won't see 3G for a long while, in the form of 300 EDGE-enabled cell sites in what we assume must be outlying and rural areas. 1500 sites will be live by the end of the year, but to put this rollout in perspective, the network will reach just one-eighth of Orange's UK customers.Read- VodafoneRead- Orange
Verizon may buy out Vodafone stake
As far as telecom deals go, Verizon's plans to buy out Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless is dwarfed by AT&T's planned acquisition of BellSouth. But the potential deal certainly sheds light on the changing fortunes of Vodafone, which was once a contender to buy AT&T Wireless (which was instead purchased by Cingular). With Vodafone said to be planning a sale of its Japanese unit as well, the company looks to be consolidating its European base, something the company's shareholders seem pleased with; Vodafone's stock has been rising as word of the potential market exits has circulated.
MyVu HMD makes nice with Vodafone's Toshiba TX60
Vodafone Japan, who seem precariously close to selling their entire Japanese network and closing up shop, showed no indication of being on the ropes Friday, as smiling executives introduced MicroOptical Corp's MyVu head-mounted display for the new Toshiba TX60 mediaphone. As you probably recall, the MyVu glasses (which were used in a similar capacity by Orange France for their Samsung SGH-D600 and also work with the 5G iPod) sport a pair of QVGA displays equivalent to to a 12-inch screen viewed from three feet away, and also feature earbuds for the full home theater experience on-the-go. The Toshiba phone is basically the same as their V803T, which was the company's first 3G handset for the Japanese market, and comes standard with a 2.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and a 1GB miniSD card for content storage.
Vodafone in talks to sell Japanese unit to Softbank
UK-based wireless carrier Vodafone has acknowledged that it is in talks with Softbank to sell a majority stake in its Japanese operations, which have lagged behind industry leaders NTT DoCoMo and KDDI. Softbank recently acquired a 3G license for Japanese service, and after approaching Vodafone last year in an MVNO capacity, have come back with an outright attempt to purchase the entire unit. Analysts estimate that Vodafone's business in Japan could be worth as much as $12.3 billion, and shares of the international carrier rose 8.56% on Friday after the announcement. Remarking on Vodafone's troubled entry into the 3G space, one London-based analyst commented, "Japan has been a major drag on profit margins recently...If this is an opportunity to exit at the right price, then Vodafone should jump at it."
Vodafone unveils mystery TV swivel phone
It's pretty hard to glean any details from the machine translation, but it doesn't look like there's much info out about this new Vodafone swivel phone anyways. The Digital ARENA article mentions Vodafone's new 904SH, which has a VGA screen and a whole different kind of swivel, but we're not really sure how that device is related. We do know (based on the antenna in the pics) that you can watch TV on this fashionable number, and that it has a 2 megapixel camera. We hope we'll be finding out more before too long.
