Hot,
3G Phone Launch for Vodafone Spain
1st June, 2004
Europe : Vodafone Spain today announces the commercial introduction of its first 3G consumer services for customers with Vodafone live! TM 3G . Today’s announcement marks an important step in the rollout of Vodafone’s 3G services in Spain and follows the successful launch in Europe, as well as in Spain, of the Vodafone’s Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS Data Card for business customers.
Following successful pre-commercial customer trials of Vodafone live!TM 3G in Spain, conducted with over 600 customers, Vodafone Spain has decided to commercially introduce the service for its “early adopter” customers. This initial launch will enable those customers keen to experience 3G consumer services, the opportunity to try out the technology prior to the full launch – with an additional range of Vodafone live! 3G handsets and enhanced services - planned for the coming autumn.
From today, customers wishing to become the first to try the service will be able to try out and purchase the Samsung Z105 - the first Vodafone live!TM 3G handset available, and shortly the Sony Ericsson Z1010, from Vodafone stores within the 22 principal Spanish cities with 3G coverage.
Vodafone is inviting “early adopter” customers to try the new Vodafone live!TM 3G services and is also offering them the opportunity to purchase 3G handsets via the Vodafone loyalty points programme. Customers choosing to pioneer Vodafone live!TM 3G will also be able to try some of the services free during the first two months. (*)1
Vodafone live!TM, the industry-leading, multi-media consumer service, will be enhanced by 3G technology, delivering to customers new communications possibilities that until now have been unavailable for mobile users. These new applications include: video calling, video streaming, and video downloads, as well as the availability of existing services such as video messaging. Using the new 3G services customers will be able to access the best content in sports, news, music, general entertainment and games, etc. thanks to agreements that Vodafone has with content providers such as the UEFA Champions League and Ferrari, amongst others. In addition, customers will experience better sound, image and video quality, as well as faster speeds for the downloading of games and ring-tones.
“The commercial availability today of Vodafone live!TM 3G will extend to our consumer customers the benefits of 3G mobile technology that are already being enjoyed by our business customers with the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G / GPRS data card. The greater bandwidth offered by 3G will enable our customers to have access to new multimedia content and applications such as video calling,” commented Francisco Román, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Spain. “Like all emerging technologies, 3G will be progressively rolled out to incorporate enhanced services and further extend coverage over the coming months with the aim of offering customers a more complete service at the end of this year,” he concluded.
Furthermore, from today, Vodafone Spain customers will also be able to enjoy Vodafone live!TM 3G services whilst they are roaming abroad in seven European countries: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, UK, as well as Japan. These roaming services will also become more extensively available in other countries over the coming months. For the moment, video calling services whilst roaming are available to Vodafone Spain customers travelling to Germany, Italy and Portugal.
Over the next year, Vodafone live! TM with 3G will open up a whole new world of communication and entertainment via the mobile phone, with a greater range of handsets, additional content and further coverage. Over the next five years, Vodafone’s planned network investment will total 2.8 billion Euros, of which an increasing proportion will be destined towards 3G.
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Abertis Telecom, Nokia and Telefónica Móviles to start first digital mobile TV (DVB-H) pilot in Spain
July 04, 2005
Live broadcast programs will be provided by Antena 3, Sogecable, Telemadrid, Telecinco, TVE and TV3
Espoo, Finland - Abertis Telecom, Nokia and Telefónica Móviles España are starting a mobile TV pilot using Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) technology. The project, which is backed by major regional and local channels, is first of its kind to take place in Spain. The pilot is a result of the convergence of mobile communications and TV broadcasting technologies. The pilot will take place in Madrid and Barcelona between September 2005 and February 2006, coinciding with the closing ceremony of the GSM World Congress 2006 in Barcelona.
500 users from Madrid and Barcelona will be able to watch high quality broadcast TV content from Antena 3, Sogecable, Telecinco, Telemadrid, TVE and TV3 on Nokia 7710 smartphones equipped with a special accessory to receive mobile TV broadcasts. With a wide color touch-screen (640 x 320 píxels) and stereo music player, users will also have the opportunity to take part in program related interactive services while watching TV.
The first technical pilots prior to the actual consumer pilot will start in June 2005. The consumer pilot will allow the three companies to test the feasibility of DVB-H technology and new mobile TV services. It will also be a chance to assess new business opportunities as well as refine the user experience. The pilot will assist in possible market research that would enable Abertis Telecom, Nokia and Telefónica Móviles to measure public interest in mobile TV services. Another important objective is to test the quality of the signal and broadcast in- and outdoors, in order to determine the best technical parameters for the viability of DVB-H based services.
Under the terms of the agreement, Telefónica Móviles is responsible for customer support, invoicing and interactive services. Abertis Telecom will broadcast the programs in Madrid and Barcelona and are also handling any technical issues with DVB-H signal. Nokia will provide the Mobile TV solution and smartphones that will be used for the pilot.
About Abertis Telecom
Abertis Telecom, through its companies Tradia and Retevisión, is the leader group on telecommunications infrastructure and services in Spain. These services include: analogic/digital radio and television broadcasting, mobile radio communications for security and emergency forces and telecommunications services for phone operators. After the completion of this project, Abertis Telecom settles down its power of innovation and European leadership on advanced broadcast services.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com
About Telefónica Móviles
Telefónica Móviles de España (www.empresa.movistar.com) operator of Telefónica Móviles Group in the Spanish market, has most than 19 million customers -at end of March 2005 and a full range of services and applications portfolio that uses the latest mobile technologies, including UMTS. Telefónica Móviles is one of the worlds leading mobile carriers and the leader in the Latin American and Portuguese sectors. With operations 16 countries and more than 81.4 million customers (at the end of March 2005) including the customers gained through the acquisition of BellSouth in Latin America. Company's shares are quoted in Madrid and New York stocks exchange, under TEM. Movistar is the commercial brand for all the companies of the Telefónica Móviles Group all around the world, except in Morocco and Brazil.
