Patrick Chomet, group director of terminals said: “Our aim is to offer our customers the best choice of compelling mobiles as well as the best in class experience of new services over Vodafone’s reliable network. This regular portfolio refresh ensures that we continue to deliver contemporary and relevant Vodafone branded devices to our customers across all our markets.
“In February we launched the world’s cheapest handset. Today we are again breaking new ground. I’m proud to be announcing the ‘845’, Vodafone’s first own branded Android smartphone. It runs the very latest Android ‘Eclair’ software and shows our commitment and ability to take high end trends and make them an affordable option for many.”
Vodafone intends to deliver a range of excellent value devices offering mobile internet access with a better user experience than ever before. The mobile internet handset portfolio is complemented both by Vodafone’s fast, reliable network as well as by a range of highly affordable local data tariffs, making data usage as enjoyable and affordable as possible.
The Vodafone 845 will be available in the first instance in 12 Vodafone markets, including the UK. The Android powered smartphone runs on the latest software v2.1, has a 2.8 inch screen, WiFi connectivity, a 3MP camera, access to Android Market and, where available, it comes preloaded with Vodafone 360 services.
Designed with emerging market customers in mind, the Vodafone 546 is a slim 2.5G entry-level full QWERTY keyboard device for optimised internet browsing with Opera Mini, email and SMS chat. The phone has a 2.2” landscape display.
The own-brand device range gives Vodafone the opportunity to migrate successful trends – such as touchscreens – to a significantly lower price bracket, and so enable a larger customer base to experience them.
The Vodafone 543 comes with a number of exchangeable covers in the box, the choice of colours and finishes allowing customers to personalise their phone. The phone has a 2.4 inch touch screen and runs the Opera Mini browser. The 543 also comes with Vodafone’s innovative pre-pay balance indicator – an always-on display of how much credit is available to use.
The Vodafone 547 is a stylish 2.8 inch touchscreen phone with Opera Mini powered internet browsing. The phone comes in black, red or white.
Four new devices are being added to the ultra low cost handset range. Without any compromise to quality, Vodafone provides the world’s lowest cost mobile phones with the intention of ‘connecting the unconnected’ and facilitating further growth in developing markets where fixed line telephony often has not been extensively rolled out.
The Vodafone 246 has standard voice and text features as well as extras such as an FM radio, vibration alert and torch. The 246 also comes with Vodafone’s pre-pay balance indicator.
An otherwise standard device with basic voice and text features along with FM radio and a colour display, the Vodafone 247 stands out due to its integrated solar panel which charges on the go, saving both time and money.
The Vodafone 248 is a stylish slider phone featuring a large colour display with standard call and text options as well as an FM radio.
The Vodafone 350 and 345 are variants of an ULCH with full QWERTY keyboard – designed to be perfect for messaging, be it SMS or SMS Chat. The slightly higher specification Vodafone 350 also offers easy WAP access to MMS and Email. Both devices have an FM radio, calculator and currency convertor and they are available in black, white or pink.