Vodafone AirTouch: Vodafone AirTouch's Global Strategy for Mobile Data and Internet - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Jan 17, 2000

Vodafone AirTouch Plc is Tuesday announcing the launch of its single global platform and branded portal for mobile data and internet. The global platform will be the first of its kind, with a single global brand delivering service and content worldwide.

The global internet platform is an architecture and a set of hardware and software which will provide a world-class mobile data and internet service. The platform will be available to all of Vodafone AirTouch's networks and will also be licensed in other markets where appropriate. The timetable for launch of the first version is July 2000.

Vodafone AirTouch is also announcing Tuesday the names of a number of major global partners which confirm the world-class position of the platform. These partners will be joined by other leading technology and content companies prior to launch. Vodafone AirTouch's partners include:

* Sun Microsystems - hardware and service delivery platform

* IBM - systems integrator

* Infospace.com - content and commerce services

* Charles Schwab - financial services

* Travelocity.com/Sabre - travel information, flight status and bookings

* Palm Computing - handheld computers

* Ericsson and Nokia - smart and other phones, and other key systems components

Vodafone AirTouch believes that mobile data and internet represents the biggest new growth opportunity of this decade. Vodafone AirTouch expects to derive significant increases in revenues as customers take up data and internet services. Further, following the combination with Mannesmann, there will be significant data and internet-related revenue benefits, in addition to the merger synergies quantified by Vodafone AirTouch in November 1999.

Today, Vodafone AirTouch has an unmatched presence in major mobile markets around the world, clear technology leadership in all major mobile standards and applications, and a strong track record of achievement in each of its markets. Vodafone AirTouch has led the development of many of the key technical standards for data including GSM, GPRS and 3G. For the future, with its global platform, Vodafone AirTouch intends to be the world's leading mobile multimedia operator.

Those companies with scale, offering global reach and speed to market, will be the operators and partners of choice for potential technology and content partners. As demonstrated Tuesday, Vodafone AirTouch has these qualities. Vodafone AirTouch will bring Mannesmann the scale and geographic presence that it currently lacks.

By accepting Vodafone AirTouch's Offer, Mannesmann Shareholders will have the opportunity to participate in the explosive growth opportunities of mobile data and internet -- with a global platform covering 25 countries rather than seven, 48 million customers rather than 18 million and over 510 million potential customers compared to Mannesmann's 163 million.

Chris Gent, Chief Executive of Vodafone AirTouch, commented: "As the only truly global mobile operator, Vodafone AirTouch's objective is to become the world's leading mobile multimedia operator. Our aim is to empower the mobile phone to deliver the best multimedia information and services, anytime, anywhere. Tuesday we are announcing our plans for the launch of this global platform together with partnerships with world-class companies for systems hardware and operation, information content and access.

"We are opening a new chapter in the development of the internet, and invite Mannesmann Shareholders to join us in adding a fourth "W" to the World Wide Web. From now on, it will be the World Wide Wireless Web."

This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of the following announcement.

Vodafone AirTouch's Global Strategy for Mobile Data and Internet Vodafone AirTouch is Tuesday announcing the launch of its single global platform and branded portal for mobile data and internet. The global internet platform is an architecture and a set of hardware and software which will provide a world-class mobile data and internet service.

Vodafone AirTouch is strongly positioned to capture the explosive growth expected from mobile data and internet. *Vodafone AirTouch operates in 24 countries, 10 of which are controlled, and has 420 million proportionate POPs

-- In the fourth quarter of 1999 Vodafone AirTouch added almost 4 million proportionate customers to its global customer base, to bring the total to over 35 million. This represents growth of 38% versus the comparable quarter in 1998

-- Vodafone AirTouch believes that mobile data and internet represents the biggest new growth opportunity of this decade

Vodafone AirTouch's Strategy for Mobile Data and Internet Vodafone AirTouch's strategy is to become the world's leading mobile multimedia operator.

To achieve this, Vodafone AirTouch aims to provide a complete range of services -- from messaging, enriched voice services, desktop applications and information services to e-commerce -- through the widest possible range of access devices, from the standard mobile phone to handheld computers. The communication media will be audio, text, graphics and video. Vodafone AirTouch's objective is to provide information anytime, anywhere, to anyone.