abhishreshthaa
Abhijeet S
Arryx, Inc. develops tools and technology for manipulation and measurement on the micro and nano length scales. Arryx's technology and products center around optical trapping. They specialize in holographic optical trapping, a technique for creating and moving many optical traps at once. Their technology is commercialized in the form of a flagship research tool, the BioRyx 200 optical trapping system. Arryx has investigated the application of the technique to an array of problems in different fields including telecommunications, agriculture, healthcare, basic research, and forensics.
Arryx was founded in the fall of 2000, based on technology invented at the University of Chicago by Professor David Grier and his student Eric Dufresne a couple years earlier. Their BioRyx 200 system was released in early 2002 and won an R&D 100 Award later that year. An IR version of the system was released in 2004 for broader application to biological systems, with support of additional imaging methods including fluorescent microscopy.
In July 2006, Arryx was acquired by Haemonetics, with whom they had an ongoing partnership. Their announcement states that Arryx personnel and operations will remain in Chicago. They continue to support and expand their product line of research instruments, based around the BioRyx 200, as they pursue development of the underlying holographic optical trapping technologies and applications of that technology in various markets.
Strengths
* Diversified geographical portfolio with strong mobile telecommunications operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and to some extent the US
* Network infrastructure
* Leading presence in emerging markets such as India
* Strong in Cities only
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Weaknesses
* Negative return on assets (ROA) underperform key competitors like AT&T, BT Group, Deutsche Telecom
* US business not nearly as strong as European/rest of the world operations
* 80% of its business is generate in Europe (see below for explanation)
* No Network in Rural Areas
[*] Determine an organisation’s weaknesses, not only from its point of view, but also more importantly, from customers. Although it may be difficult for an organisation to acknowledge its weaknesses it is best to handle the bitter reality without procrastination. A weakness is a “limitation or deficiency in one or more resources or competencies relative to competitors that impedes a firm’s effective performance”.
Analysts have warned that the decision by Asian telco Hutchinson Whampoa to sell its shares in Vodafone has created an overhang which could have a negative effect on the latter's share price. This is bad news for Eircom shareholders who will be paid with Vodafone shares when the Eircell subsidiary is sold in the spring.
The vulnerability of the Vodafone share price was clear early last week when it fell 6.8 per cent in one trading session to a new 12-month low of stg�2.25. This is just marginally above the stg�2.20 level at which Eircom would be entitled to withdraw from the agreed sale. Vodafone recovered 8 per cent the following day, but the stock of the largest quoted company on the London Stock Exchange is clearly volatile. Hutchinson cut its holding in Vodafone from 3.5 per cent to 2.4 per cent early last year. Vodafone *** executive Chris Gent has countered fears of further selling by pointing out that Hutchinson is cash rich. However, the Asian telco showed its distaste for European mobile phone operators last year when it pulled out of a consortium which was awarded a third generation mobile licence in Germany because it thought the licence was too expensive.
Much of last week's share price weakness was caused by a lawsuit against a US-based mobile offshoot of Vodafone over the safety of mobile phones. But the worry of the Hutchinson overhang continues to be a factor.
The possibility that Vodafone might issue shares and dilute the interests of existing shareholders to fund an Australian acquisition is also contributing to the anxieties. Another factor is that the reasonable gearing sported by Vodafone in its historic accounts does not allow for the telco's heavy spending on mobile licenses which have not yet been fully paid for. In addition, the majority of its net assets are made up of intangible items. Excluding intangibles of stg�96.4 billion, the balance sheet has net worth of just over stg�40 billion.
This places the telco's borrowings in a much more onerous context. Losses of stg�5billion after goodwill, amortisation and restructuring costs, reported for the first half of the current year, are sobering. It could be said that shares in Eircom are not that different from Vodafone shares.
Analysts have warned that the decision by Asian telco Hutchinson Whampoa to sell its shares in Vodafone has created an overhang which could have a negative effect on the latter's share price. This is bad news for Eircom shareholders who will be paid with Vodafone shares when the Eircell subsidiary is sold in the spring.
The vulnerability of the Vodafone share price was clear early last week when it fell 6.8 per cent in one trading session to a new 12-month low of stg�2.25. This is just marginally above the stg�2.20 level at which Eircom would be entitled to withdraw from the agreed sale. Vodafone recovered 8 per cent the following day, but the stock of the largest quoted company on the London Stock Exchange is clearly volatile. Hutchinson cut its holding in Vodafone from 3.5 per cent to 2.4 per cent early last year. Vodafone *** executive Chris Gent has countered fears of further selling by pointing out that Hutchinson is cash rich. However, the Asian telco showed its distaste for European mobile phone operators last year when it pulled out of a consortium which was awarded a third generation mobile licence in Germany because it thought the licence was too expensive.
Much of last week's share price weakness was caused by a lawsuit against a US-based mobile offshoot of Vodafone over the safety of mobile phones. But the worry of the Hutchinson overhang continues to be a factor.
The possibility that Vodafone might issue shares and dilute the interests of existing shareholders to fund an Australian acquisition is also contributing to the anxieties. Another factor is that the reasonable gearing sported by Vodafone in its historic accounts does not allow for the telco's heavy spending on mobile licenses which have not yet been fully paid for. In addition, the majority of its net assets are made up of intangible items. Excluding intangibles of stg�96.4 billion, the balance sheet has net worth of just over stg�40 billion.
This places the telco's borrowings in a much more onerous context. Losses of stg�5billion after goodwill, amortisation and restructuring costs, reported for the first half of the current year, are sobering. It could be said that shares in Eircom are not that different from Vodafone shares.
The Times newspaper said Peter Angelos, a U.S. lawyer who recently helped win $4.2 billion in damages from the tobacco industry, planned to launch 10 claims against handset makers, mobile-network operators and fixed-line phone companies.
The news comes amid continued concerns that radiation from mobile phones could cause brain tumors, although research has failed to find any conclusive link.
France Telecom, Telefonica, British Telecommunications and Deutsche Telekom were all among the weakest blue-chip stocks.
Despite the lawsuit worries, handset makers such as Alcatel and Ericsson were some of Europe's best performers, pushing the technology sector up 1.2 percent as fund managers loaded up on year-end bargains.
The U.S. NASDAQ bolstered tech sentiment, shrugging off early weakness to gain 0.8 percent by late afternoon even though a U.S. investment bank lowered revenue targets for top tech names including IBM. The Dow Jones industrial average, of which IBM is a component, tacked on 0.35 percent.
The pan-European FTSE Eurotop 300 index nudged ahead 0.58 percent while the blue-chip DJ Euro Stoxx 50 gained 1.06 percent.
Overall, it was another choppy session with volumes thinned by an absence of investors and a dearth of corporate news. With many European markets closing early ahead of the New Year's weekend, volumes were expected to remain thin on Friday.
"Most people will want to get away early on Friday and those that are around are just tidying up the books," said fund manager Tim Stevenson, head of the European equity team at Henderson Investors.
Although technology was one of Europe's strongest sectors on Thursday, marke***chers said any tech advance would probably be limited at least for the present.
"It doesn't really make sense to build up a position in this sector now. Most people will hold off until January," said Commerzbank strategist Achim Matzke.
While Europe enjoyed robust holiday sales, U.S. retailers have been under pressure amid signs of slower demand. That contrast has bolstered ideas that Europe's economy would slow less dramatically than that of the U.S. and helped support the resurgent euro.
By late afternoon the single currency stood around $0.926, just below Wednesday's five-month highs around $0.9340.
Shares in Vodafone yesterday fell to their lowest point in around two years with the mobile phone giant losing its crown as Europe's biggest company to BP.
Shares in Vodafone yesterday fell to their lowest point in around two years with the mobile phone giant losing its crown as Europe's biggest company to BP.
Last night, Vodafone closed down 3 per cent at 198p, valuing the business at �128bn compared to BP's �130bn market capitalisation. The fall was prompted by poor sector sentiment and the company's warning on Friday that its deal to sell the Italian telecoms company Infostrada to Enel might collapse.
The telecoms sector has been under pressure for some time and analysts deemed a short-term remedy for the sector's woes unlikely. Ian Daly, an analyst at Charles Stanley, said: "There's not a huge amount supporting it [the telecoms sector] at the moment, so it wouldn't be surprising to see it move further down."
As for Vodafone, Mr Daly said he would continue to sell the stock, even after yesterday's falls. He issued a sell note on Vodafone last August with a price target of 231p and plans to revisit his recommendation once Vodafone has reported figures at the end of May.
The Infostrada sale should be clarified by then. While the Italian anti-trust authority, which is looking into the sale, could block it altogether, it is more likely to demand certain conditions. Analysts at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein believed the deal would go ahead but said it might well be at a significant discount to the original 11bn euro (�7bn) valuation.
Company-specific issues aside, investors have also become concerned by a number of sectoral issues including the imminent raft of mobile phone flotations, particularly after Orange's IPO did not get off to the smoothest of starts. Even though France Telecom slashed the valuation range for Orange's IPO, the shares still fell once trading began. BT is still planning to float its mobile division in the second half of the year while T-Mobile and KPN Mobile are also expected to seek listings. Shares in Orange yesterday closed up 4p at 565p, compared with the 640p at which shares were sold to instituitons.
Investors are also concerned by the large amount of debt being carried by the telecoms, largely as a result of the spending on third-generation mobile phone licences. Most believe companies overpaid for the licences and are wondering how they will recoup those costs. Indeed, Peter Bonfield, BT's *** executive, was quoted recently as saying BT had paid �10bn too much for its licences.
The telecoms sector was dealt a furt***low on Friday after the credit rating firm Standard & Poor's cut its rating on Orange's parent France Telecom and put BT's rating under review. It also cut its ratings on telecoms equipment maker Lucent Technologies to near junk status. Lucent has until Thursday to raise $6.5bn (�4.5bn) in financing. The company is amending an existing $2bn, five-year revolving line of credit, while also renewing another $2bn set to expire on 22 February. That expiring credit line would be part of the new $4.5bn Lucent is negotiating to raise.
BT, which has nearly �30bn of debt, was put on "Credi***ch" last week with "negative implications". Ratings issues aside, shares in BT have also come under pressure from speculation that it might have difficulty floating BT Wireless and will be forced to demerge the business instead. Last night, however, BT shares closed up 1.8 per cent at 610p.
* Vodafone weakness crimps early stress test optimism
* Improving capital base sends Old Mutual, insurers higher * BoE holds rates, ups scale of quantitative easing
By Simon Falush
LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - Weakness in stocks of telecoms heavyweight Vodafone (VOD.L) extinguished early gains from optimism on the outcome of U.S. bank "stress tests" on banks, leaving Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE flat at Thursday's close.
Stocks were sharply higher after the Bank of England kept rates on hold and expanded quantitative easing but retreated in volatile afternoon trade, t***ing weakness in U.S. stocks following downgrades in the telecom sector.
The blue-chip index ended 2.19 points higher at 4,4398.68 after touching a high of 4,520.82 for the session. It is in positive ground for its third straight day and earlier moved into the black for the year.
"I'd say this afternoon it's just a matter of everything being overbought; we're just seeing a bit of profit taking," said Mic Mills, a trader at spread betting firm ETX Capital.
Trade was heavy with 163 percent of the average volume of the last 90 trading days transacted.
The BoE increased its quantitative easing programme by 50 billion pounds to 125 billion and the European Central Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 1.0 percent as expected.
FTSE Slips On Telecoms Weakness; Vodafone Falls::
Britain’s FTSE 100 share index fell on Monday, pressured by telecoms after a string of earnings reports from US tech bellwethers late last week suggested a pick-up in the sector was some way off. Shares in mobile phone giant Vodafone fell after a press report that it will bid for SFR, the French mobile firm controlled by Vivendi Universal. A Vodafone spokesman declined to comment on the report.
The FTSE 100 share index was down 22.8 points at 4,204.8, erasing Friday’s 18-point rise to 4,227.3, despite which the leading index ended down on the month for the fifth time in a row.
Market volume was light at 86 million shares and dealers predicted thin trading would continue as Wall Street remains closed for the Labor Day holiday.
Telecoms took 10 points off the leading index, with mmO2 leading the sector lower with a 4.6 percent fall, while sector giant Vodafone lost 2.4 per cent. “So much depends on whether Vivendi will give SFR up. It’s cash generative so Vivendi needs it to shore up its cash flow,” said one dealer.
Shares in insurer Royal & Sun Alliance led the FTSE fallers with a 5.4 per cent fall, knocked back by a fall in European insurers amid reports that Zurich Financial will launch a $2.5 billion share hike. Dealers said the news reminded investors of Royal & Sun’s stretched balance.
Sentiment in the sector was also hurt by news that Morgan Stanley downgraded its view of the European sector.
But Friends Provident bucked the trend to rise 2.7 per cent after the broker retained its “overweight” stance on the stock.
Gains in drugs giant AstraZeneca helped to counter some ofthe FTSE’s early fall. Its shares rose 2.5 per cent after it said new data showed its cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor was more effective than an alternative across a wide range of doses.
Opportunities
[1.] Focus on cost reductions improving returns:-
World's biggest mobile phone operator by revenue, Vodafone Plc (VOD) announced its FY10 earnings, Earlier, saying its net profit more than doubled to �8.65 billion from �3.08 billion a year ago, driven mainly by cost reduction policies and strong revenue growth in emerging markets such as India.
Vodafone reported consolidated revenue of �44.47 billion in FY10, as against �41.02 billion in FY09 (up 8.4 percent). The telecom major posted �11.16 billion revenue in Q4 FY10, down 3.3 percent sequentially and up 4.88 percent on year-on-year basis.
Adjusted earnings per share was 16.11 pence with growth impacted by the inclusion of a tax benefit and associated interest credit in the prior year. Excluding this benefit adjusted earnings per share increased by 6.6 percent.
Group EBITDA stood at �14.73 billion in FY10 as against �14.49 billion in FY09 (up 1.7 percent) and in line with an average forecast of �14.8 billion.
Adjusted operating profit for the fiscal year under review fell 2.5 percent to �11.46 billion due to weaker performance in Europe while adjusted profit before tax climbed 0.9 percent to �10.56 billion.
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Vodafone said service revenue climbed 8.9 percent to �41.72 billion, driven mainly by voice revenue, which climbed 4.1 percent to �28 billion. Messaging revenue rose 7.2 percent to �4.79 billion, data revenue rose 33 percent to �4.05 billion and fixed line revenue rose 20.60 percent to �3.29 billion.
The telecom major said that it now generates 33 percent of service revenue from products other than "mobile voice," with fixed-line and mobile broadband services continuing to grow strongly, reflecting the shift of the company to a total communications provider.
Service revenue in Europe accounted for 67.85 percent of total service revenue.
Region-wise, in Europe service revenue fell 3.5 percent, reflecting challenging economic conditions in most markets offset by growth in Italy and the Netherlands.
In Africa and Central Europe, service revenue declined 1.2 percent to �7.4 billion in FY10 despite witnessing a sequential rise of 2.4 percent in Q4 FY10.
In Asia Pacific and Middle East service revenue increased by 9.8 percent to �6.1 billion, aided by strong Q4 earnings. In India, the company generated quarter on quarter revenue growth and its customer base now exceeds 100 million in the sub-continent.
"The economic situation has remained challenging throughout the year affecting our business in several ways. In our more mature European and Central European operations, voice and messaging revenue declined and roaming revenue fell due to lower business and leisure travel. In addition, enterprise revenue declined in Europe as our business customers reduced activity and headcount. However, results in Africa and India remained robust driven by continued, albeit lower, GDP growth and increasing market penetration," Vodafone's *** executive Vittorio Colao said in a statement.
Group free cash flow was �7.2 billion, up 26.5 percent, benefiting from significant improvements in working capital management and a deferred dividend from Verizon Wireless. This exceptional level of cash flow was generated whilst maintaining capital investment, developing fixed broadband services in Europe, funding the turnaround in Turkey and Ghana, and expanding in India.
"In an extremely challenging economic environment, we have improved Vodafone’s commercial focus and cost efficiency with visible results," Colao said. The group had implemented various cost reduction programs in 2008, which helped it save �1 billion ahead of schedule. The majority of these savings were generated by the group's European operations and from cost reductions in their central functions.
Looking ahead, Vodafone, which boasts of 341 million subscribers, said it expected adjusted operating profit to be in the range of �11.2-12 billion while free cash flow would be in excess of �6.5 billion. Last November, the group had announced a �1 billion cost saving program to be delivered by the 2013 financial year. "This will help us to offset inflationary pressures and the competitive environment and enable us to invest in our revenue growth opportunities," the company said in a statement.
"We expect the Group to return to organic revenue growth during the 2011 financial year although this will be dependent upon the strength of the economic environment and the level of unemployment within Europe. In contrast, revenue growth in other emerging economies, in particular India and Africa, is expected to continue as the Group drives penetration and data in these markets," Colao said.
At 11.01am (BST), Vodafone shares were trading 0.04 percent up at 136.40 pence on the London Stock Exchange.
[2.] Majority stake in Hutchison Essar in India :-
Vodafone Essar, formerly known as Hutchison Essar is a cellular operator in India that covers 23 telecom circles in India based in Mumbai.[2] Vodafone Essar is owned by Vodafone 67% and Essar Group 33%. It is the second largest mobile phone operator in terms of revenue behind Bharti Airtel, and third largest in terms of customers.
On February 11, 2007, Vodafone agreed to acquire the controlling interest of 67% held by Li Ka Shing Holdings in Hutch-Essar for US$11.1 billion, pipping Reliance Communications, Hinduja Group, and Essar Group, which is the owner of the remaining 33%. The whole company was valued at USD 18.8 billion. The transaction closed on May 8, 2007. Despite the official name being Vodafone Essar, its products are simply branded Vodafone. It offers both prepaid and postpaid GSM cellular phone coverage throughout India with good presence in the metros.
Vodafone Essar provides 2.75G services based on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz digital GSM technology, offering voice and data services in 23 of the country's 23 licence areas. It is among the top three GSM mobile operators of India.
Previous brands-
Initially around 1995 it was "MAX TOUCH"...then around 2000 it was ORANGE..... In December 2006, Hutch Essar re-launched the "Hutch" brand nationwide, consolidating its services under a single identity. The Company entered into an agreement with NTT DoCoMo to launch i-mode mobile Internet service in India during 2007.
The company used to be named Hutchison Essar, reflecting the name of its previous owner, Hutchison. However, the brand was marketed as Hutch. After getting the necessary government approvals with regards to the acquisition of a majority by the Vodafone Group, the company was rebranded as Vodafone Essar. The marketing brand was officially changed to Vodafone on 20 September 2007.
On September 20, 2007 Hutch became Vodafone in one of the biggest brand transition exercises in recent times.
Vodafone Essar is spending somewhere in the region of Rs. 250 crores on this high-profile transition being unveiled today.Along with the transition, cheap cell phones have been launched in the Indian market under the Vodafone brand. The company also plans to launch co-branded handsets sourced from global vendors as well.
A popular daily quoted a Vodafone Essar director as saying that "the objective is to leverage Vodafone Group's global scale in bringing millions of low-cost handsets from across-the-world into India."
Incidentally, China's ZTE, which is looking to set-up a manufacturing unit in the country, is expected to provide several Vodafone handsets in India. Earlier this year, Vodafone penned a global low-cost handset procurement deal with ZTE.
Growth of Hutchison Essar (1992-2005):-
In 1992 Hutchison Whampoa and its Indian business partner established a company that in 1994 was awarded a licence to provide mobile telecommunications services in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and launched commercial service as Hutchison Max in November 1995. Analjit Singh of Max still holds 12% in company.
In Delhi, UP (E), Rajasthan and Haryana, ESSAR was the major partner. But later Hutch took the majority Stake.
By the time of Hutchison Telecom's Initial Public Offering in 2004, Hutchison Whampoa had acquired interests in six mobile telecommunications operators providing service in 13 of India's 23 licence areas and following the completion of the acquisition of BPL that number increased to 16. In 2006, it announced the acquisition of a company (Essar Spacetel — A subsidiary of Essar Group) that held licence applications for the seven remaining licence areas.
In a country growing as fast as India, a strategic and well managed business plan is critical to success. Initially, the company grew its business in the largest wireless markets in India — in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. In these densely populated urban areas it was able to establish a robust network, well known brand and large distribution network -all vital to long-term success in India. Then it also targeted business users and high-end post-paid customers which helped Hutchison Essar to consistently generate a higher Average Revenue Per User ("ARPU") than its competitors. By adopting this focused growth plan, it was able to establish leading positions in India's largest markets providing the resources to expand its footprint nationwide.
In February 2007, Hutchison Telecom announced that it had entered into a binding agreement with a subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc to sell its 67% direct and indirect equity and loan interests in Hutchison Essar Limited for a total cash consideration (before costs, expenses and interests) of approximately US$11.1 billion or HK$87 billion.
1992: Hutchison Whampoa and Max Group established Hutchison Max
2000: Acquisition of Delhi operations Entered Calcutta and Gujarat markets through ESSAR acquisition
2001: Won auction for licences to operate GSM services in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai
A 'You and I' print adverti***t of Hutch featuring Cheeka (dog)
2003: Acquired AirCel Digilink (ADIL — ESSAR Subsidiary) which operated in Rajastan, Uttar Pradesh East and Haryana telecom circles and renamed it under Hutch brand
2004: Launched in three additional telecom circles of India namely 'Punjab', 'Uttar Pradesh West' and 'West Bengal'
2005: Acquired BPL (Except Mumbai)- 3 Circles, another mobile service provider in India
2008: Vodafone acquired the Licence in remaining 7 circles and has started its pending operations in Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh with its headquarters at Malviya Nagar, Bhopal as well as in Orissa, Assam, North East and Bihar
2008: Vodafone launched the Apple iPhone 3G to be used on its 17 circle 2.75G network.
Hutch was often praised for its award winning adverti***ts which all follow a clean, minimalist look. A recurrent theme is that its message Hello stands out visibly though it uses only white letters on red background. Another recent successful ad campaign in 2003 featured a pug named Cheeka following a boy around in unlikely places, with the tagline, Wherever you go, our network follows. The simple yet powerful adverti***t campaigns won it many admirers.
2009: Vodafone launched Recharge Online
2009: Vodafone Essar - 1st Indian Telecom operator to receive the Payment Card Industry Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification for its Mumbai operations and launches unlimited SMS offer in Mumbai.
2010: Vodafone emerged as the most admired marketer in India. 2010: Vodafone crossed 100 million subscribers in India
[3.] Research and development of new mobile technologies :-
"For Vodafone R&D is one of the keys to innovation and seeking out differentiation from the competition"
Research and development:-
The Group R&D function comprises an international team for applied research in mobile and internet communications and their related applications. It supports the strategic objectives of Vodafone by:
contributing leading edge technical capabilities to Vodafone’s consumer offerings in the areas of internet, web and terminal platforms and by directing the standardisation of relevant cross platform technologies;
identifying new and emerging business opportunities for fixed and mobile services; and
industry leadership in the development of future generation network technology through specification of standards, standardisation and systematic engineering trials.
Group R&D work programme:-
There have been several significant advances during the 2009 financial year including:
significant progress in long term evolution (‘LTE’) trials, a global radio access technology, with key partners Verizon Wireless and China Mobile, designed to deliver a range of customer benefits including higher speeds and enhanced throughput performance;
trials conducted to boost backhaul capacity using new ethernet microwave technology, which is expected to ***ruple backhaul capacity in channelling voice and data traffic away from base stations, while enhancing network efficiency and service for customers and offering cost efficiencies;
launch of the Android powered HTC Magic Pioneer smartphone, providing an improved mobile experience and offering scope for personalisation via the application rich Android market. This follows Vodafone’s membership of the Open Handset Alliance, established by Google in 2007 to develop the Android operating system for mobile phones;
commercial development of near field communications enabled mobile phones and SIM cards to reach international standards. Vodafone and other key players drove the contactless technology development with the SIM at the centre of the architecture and have been trialling pre-standard implementations in Germany and France;
development and roll out of a framework for improving mobile access to the internet through small, personalised applications known as widgets. Vodafone has also played a pivotal role in driving the standardisation of this technology across the mobile industry; and
growth and expansion in Vodafone’s developer portal, Betavine, which helps developers to transition their applications to operate on mobile devices. Betavine is also being used as a launch pad for Vodafone’s engagement with the developer community to bring innovation to the Group’s customers and to meet needs in emerging markets through the Betavine social exchange.
[4.] Good Tarrif packages:-
iPhone on Vodafone from Janaury 14th – good tariff, free handset, but…
By PAUL SMITH
Apparently, there may be some of you still reading the site over Christmas, so the boss is demanding we tumble arse-over-tit down the ungritted path to the BW office, so we might continue to ladle news from simmering consumer tech broth. And so it’s to the iPhone and news that Vodafone is gearing up to begin selling the iPhone from Janaury 14th.
Orange and Tesco have entered the iPhone market in the past few weeks – whereas Orange could offer little extra than and slightly cheaper tariff and the hope of better coverage, Tesco went for a tariff that undercut both O2 and Orange – if you were prepared to pay through the nose for your handset. So what’s the good news from Vodafone? A �35-per-month tariff for a free 3G handset (on a 24 month contract) puts Vodafone on a par with O2 and Orange (and to get a free 3G handset through Tesco means paying �60 a month), but unlimited texts on Vodafone may suit plenty more punters:
Vodafone anytime minutes best tariffs:-
Ever thought that Vodafone best tariffs can include so many amazing packages? Unlimited texts, unlimited internet, unlimited music download and many more. Come in to Vodafone best deal portal.
We start our review of Vodafone anytime minutes packages from cheapest ones and will move upwards, step by step. So, the first tariff we would like to introduce is �15, unlimited texts mobile phone tariff. Brilliant package for people who text a lot. This also can be a good package for your kids. They can give you a missed call or send you a text message whenever they want. I know some people who are the "Kings" of texting. They can text 10 text messages in a minute. For them the unlimited texts package will be a great finding.
If you say we need some anytime minutes with this sort of fantastic offer, then have a look here. For �20 a month get 200 Vodafone anytime minutes and guess what else? Yes, unlimited text messages. Fairly good package, right? Now, add a free phone on top of that and you get a top deal online in your pocket. Click here to view what phones you can have with that tariff.
Vodafone anytime minutes packages:-
Usually, you get 600 anytime any networks minutes and unlimited text package for �35 a month be it on O2, Orange or Vodafone. New offers with Vodafone direct will save you �10 on your line rental. So, for all these great benefits you just pay �25 per month for 18 month. Click here to find out more about these deals.
In fact, for �35 a month, Vodafone has got three different Vodafone anytime minutes packages:
600 minutes unlimited texts
700 minutes 200 inclusive texts and unlimited landline calls
200 anytime minutes 1000 text messages and unlimited mobile internet
Next great value tariff is �45 a month 18 month with 900 minutes and unlimited texts. There is a different version of the same priceplan for people who value minutes more: 900 Vodaone anytime minutes, 500 texts and unlimited landline calls. The good news is that you get free internet. Another good new is that you get unlimited internet with your package. Click here to find our more about this tariff and mobile phones availabe on it.
Vodafone unlimited packages, texts, internet, music, landline calls:-
The next tariffs are for massive users. For kings of texting and calling and internet usage. So, �55 a month you get 1500 anytime any network minutes, vodafone unlimited text package and vodafone unlimited internet bundle. How cool is that? Great agree? The package would be great for small business owners or people who are constantly on the phone. The package could also suit someone who uses lots of money �200-�300 a month on top-ups.
The biggest package, so calles "Daddy" Vodafone anytime minutes package gives you 3000 minutes!! Impressed? No? You also get unlimited texts and unlimited internet package built in there. (Internet unlimited bundles are subject to fair usage policy which is 500 MB. 1MB is enough to send 100 email messages. One page on your phone will take roughly 100 KB. So, in total you will get 5000 pages every month. For those who want to practice their math skills 1MB=1024KB)
Vodafone has got some extra bundles to help their customers. One of these amazing bundles is stop the clock. Stop the clock, stops the pricing on your call once you talk more than 3 minutes and the clock keeps stoping untill 59 th minute of your talk. In this way you can save hundreds of pounds on your bills. To get stop the clock you need to contact customer services. It costs �5 extra on your line rental.
One more great bundle is Vodafone family package. Vodafone family will help you to save lots of money if you use your mobile phone call time mostly with your family members. For �5 extra a month you can call four people who you nominate for free every day. Also. they can call you, and they can call each other too. Only condition, everybody needs to be a Vodafone customer. May be PAYG or pay monthly. Only one person pays �5 per month on their contract.
Threats
* Highly competitive market
* Still lags behind major competitors in the US
* Extremely high penetration rates in key European markets
* European Union regulation on cross-border cell phone usage by customers
Arryx was founded in the fall of 2000, based on technology invented at the University of Chicago by Professor David Grier and his student Eric Dufresne a couple years earlier. Their BioRyx 200 system was released in early 2002 and won an R&D 100 Award later that year. An IR version of the system was released in 2004 for broader application to biological systems, with support of additional imaging methods including fluorescent microscopy.
In July 2006, Arryx was acquired by Haemonetics, with whom they had an ongoing partnership. Their announcement states that Arryx personnel and operations will remain in Chicago. They continue to support and expand their product line of research instruments, based around the BioRyx 200, as they pursue development of the underlying holographic optical trapping technologies and applications of that technology in various markets.
Strengths
* Diversified geographical portfolio with strong mobile telecommunications operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and to some extent the US
* Network infrastructure
* Leading presence in emerging markets such as India
* Strong in Cities only
sja
Weaknesses
* Negative return on assets (ROA) underperform key competitors like AT&T, BT Group, Deutsche Telecom
* US business not nearly as strong as European/rest of the world operations
* 80% of its business is generate in Europe (see below for explanation)
* No Network in Rural Areas
[*] Determine an organisation’s weaknesses, not only from its point of view, but also more importantly, from customers. Although it may be difficult for an organisation to acknowledge its weaknesses it is best to handle the bitter reality without procrastination. A weakness is a “limitation or deficiency in one or more resources or competencies relative to competitors that impedes a firm’s effective performance”.
Analysts have warned that the decision by Asian telco Hutchinson Whampoa to sell its shares in Vodafone has created an overhang which could have a negative effect on the latter's share price. This is bad news for Eircom shareholders who will be paid with Vodafone shares when the Eircell subsidiary is sold in the spring.
The vulnerability of the Vodafone share price was clear early last week when it fell 6.8 per cent in one trading session to a new 12-month low of stg�2.25. This is just marginally above the stg�2.20 level at which Eircom would be entitled to withdraw from the agreed sale. Vodafone recovered 8 per cent the following day, but the stock of the largest quoted company on the London Stock Exchange is clearly volatile. Hutchinson cut its holding in Vodafone from 3.5 per cent to 2.4 per cent early last year. Vodafone *** executive Chris Gent has countered fears of further selling by pointing out that Hutchinson is cash rich. However, the Asian telco showed its distaste for European mobile phone operators last year when it pulled out of a consortium which was awarded a third generation mobile licence in Germany because it thought the licence was too expensive.
Much of last week's share price weakness was caused by a lawsuit against a US-based mobile offshoot of Vodafone over the safety of mobile phones. But the worry of the Hutchinson overhang continues to be a factor.
The possibility that Vodafone might issue shares and dilute the interests of existing shareholders to fund an Australian acquisition is also contributing to the anxieties. Another factor is that the reasonable gearing sported by Vodafone in its historic accounts does not allow for the telco's heavy spending on mobile licenses which have not yet been fully paid for. In addition, the majority of its net assets are made up of intangible items. Excluding intangibles of stg�96.4 billion, the balance sheet has net worth of just over stg�40 billion.
This places the telco's borrowings in a much more onerous context. Losses of stg�5billion after goodwill, amortisation and restructuring costs, reported for the first half of the current year, are sobering. It could be said that shares in Eircom are not that different from Vodafone shares.
Analysts have warned that the decision by Asian telco Hutchinson Whampoa to sell its shares in Vodafone has created an overhang which could have a negative effect on the latter's share price. This is bad news for Eircom shareholders who will be paid with Vodafone shares when the Eircell subsidiary is sold in the spring.
The vulnerability of the Vodafone share price was clear early last week when it fell 6.8 per cent in one trading session to a new 12-month low of stg�2.25. This is just marginally above the stg�2.20 level at which Eircom would be entitled to withdraw from the agreed sale. Vodafone recovered 8 per cent the following day, but the stock of the largest quoted company on the London Stock Exchange is clearly volatile. Hutchinson cut its holding in Vodafone from 3.5 per cent to 2.4 per cent early last year. Vodafone *** executive Chris Gent has countered fears of further selling by pointing out that Hutchinson is cash rich. However, the Asian telco showed its distaste for European mobile phone operators last year when it pulled out of a consortium which was awarded a third generation mobile licence in Germany because it thought the licence was too expensive.
Much of last week's share price weakness was caused by a lawsuit against a US-based mobile offshoot of Vodafone over the safety of mobile phones. But the worry of the Hutchinson overhang continues to be a factor.
The possibility that Vodafone might issue shares and dilute the interests of existing shareholders to fund an Australian acquisition is also contributing to the anxieties. Another factor is that the reasonable gearing sported by Vodafone in its historic accounts does not allow for the telco's heavy spending on mobile licenses which have not yet been fully paid for. In addition, the majority of its net assets are made up of intangible items. Excluding intangibles of stg�96.4 billion, the balance sheet has net worth of just over stg�40 billion.
This places the telco's borrowings in a much more onerous context. Losses of stg�5billion after goodwill, amortisation and restructuring costs, reported for the first half of the current year, are sobering. It could be said that shares in Eircom are not that different from Vodafone shares.
The Times newspaper said Peter Angelos, a U.S. lawyer who recently helped win $4.2 billion in damages from the tobacco industry, planned to launch 10 claims against handset makers, mobile-network operators and fixed-line phone companies.
The news comes amid continued concerns that radiation from mobile phones could cause brain tumors, although research has failed to find any conclusive link.
France Telecom, Telefonica, British Telecommunications and Deutsche Telekom were all among the weakest blue-chip stocks.
Despite the lawsuit worries, handset makers such as Alcatel and Ericsson were some of Europe's best performers, pushing the technology sector up 1.2 percent as fund managers loaded up on year-end bargains.
The U.S. NASDAQ bolstered tech sentiment, shrugging off early weakness to gain 0.8 percent by late afternoon even though a U.S. investment bank lowered revenue targets for top tech names including IBM. The Dow Jones industrial average, of which IBM is a component, tacked on 0.35 percent.
The pan-European FTSE Eurotop 300 index nudged ahead 0.58 percent while the blue-chip DJ Euro Stoxx 50 gained 1.06 percent.
Overall, it was another choppy session with volumes thinned by an absence of investors and a dearth of corporate news. With many European markets closing early ahead of the New Year's weekend, volumes were expected to remain thin on Friday.
"Most people will want to get away early on Friday and those that are around are just tidying up the books," said fund manager Tim Stevenson, head of the European equity team at Henderson Investors.
Although technology was one of Europe's strongest sectors on Thursday, marke***chers said any tech advance would probably be limited at least for the present.
"It doesn't really make sense to build up a position in this sector now. Most people will hold off until January," said Commerzbank strategist Achim Matzke.
While Europe enjoyed robust holiday sales, U.S. retailers have been under pressure amid signs of slower demand. That contrast has bolstered ideas that Europe's economy would slow less dramatically than that of the U.S. and helped support the resurgent euro.
By late afternoon the single currency stood around $0.926, just below Wednesday's five-month highs around $0.9340.
Shares in Vodafone yesterday fell to their lowest point in around two years with the mobile phone giant losing its crown as Europe's biggest company to BP.
Shares in Vodafone yesterday fell to their lowest point in around two years with the mobile phone giant losing its crown as Europe's biggest company to BP.
Last night, Vodafone closed down 3 per cent at 198p, valuing the business at �128bn compared to BP's �130bn market capitalisation. The fall was prompted by poor sector sentiment and the company's warning on Friday that its deal to sell the Italian telecoms company Infostrada to Enel might collapse.
The telecoms sector has been under pressure for some time and analysts deemed a short-term remedy for the sector's woes unlikely. Ian Daly, an analyst at Charles Stanley, said: "There's not a huge amount supporting it [the telecoms sector] at the moment, so it wouldn't be surprising to see it move further down."
As for Vodafone, Mr Daly said he would continue to sell the stock, even after yesterday's falls. He issued a sell note on Vodafone last August with a price target of 231p and plans to revisit his recommendation once Vodafone has reported figures at the end of May.
The Infostrada sale should be clarified by then. While the Italian anti-trust authority, which is looking into the sale, could block it altogether, it is more likely to demand certain conditions. Analysts at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein believed the deal would go ahead but said it might well be at a significant discount to the original 11bn euro (�7bn) valuation.
Company-specific issues aside, investors have also become concerned by a number of sectoral issues including the imminent raft of mobile phone flotations, particularly after Orange's IPO did not get off to the smoothest of starts. Even though France Telecom slashed the valuation range for Orange's IPO, the shares still fell once trading began. BT is still planning to float its mobile division in the second half of the year while T-Mobile and KPN Mobile are also expected to seek listings. Shares in Orange yesterday closed up 4p at 565p, compared with the 640p at which shares were sold to instituitons.
Investors are also concerned by the large amount of debt being carried by the telecoms, largely as a result of the spending on third-generation mobile phone licences. Most believe companies overpaid for the licences and are wondering how they will recoup those costs. Indeed, Peter Bonfield, BT's *** executive, was quoted recently as saying BT had paid �10bn too much for its licences.
The telecoms sector was dealt a furt***low on Friday after the credit rating firm Standard & Poor's cut its rating on Orange's parent France Telecom and put BT's rating under review. It also cut its ratings on telecoms equipment maker Lucent Technologies to near junk status. Lucent has until Thursday to raise $6.5bn (�4.5bn) in financing. The company is amending an existing $2bn, five-year revolving line of credit, while also renewing another $2bn set to expire on 22 February. That expiring credit line would be part of the new $4.5bn Lucent is negotiating to raise.
BT, which has nearly �30bn of debt, was put on "Credi***ch" last week with "negative implications". Ratings issues aside, shares in BT have also come under pressure from speculation that it might have difficulty floating BT Wireless and will be forced to demerge the business instead. Last night, however, BT shares closed up 1.8 per cent at 610p.
* Vodafone weakness crimps early stress test optimism
* Improving capital base sends Old Mutual, insurers higher * BoE holds rates, ups scale of quantitative easing
By Simon Falush
LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - Weakness in stocks of telecoms heavyweight Vodafone (VOD.L) extinguished early gains from optimism on the outcome of U.S. bank "stress tests" on banks, leaving Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE flat at Thursday's close.
Stocks were sharply higher after the Bank of England kept rates on hold and expanded quantitative easing but retreated in volatile afternoon trade, t***ing weakness in U.S. stocks following downgrades in the telecom sector.
The blue-chip index ended 2.19 points higher at 4,4398.68 after touching a high of 4,520.82 for the session. It is in positive ground for its third straight day and earlier moved into the black for the year.
"I'd say this afternoon it's just a matter of everything being overbought; we're just seeing a bit of profit taking," said Mic Mills, a trader at spread betting firm ETX Capital.
Trade was heavy with 163 percent of the average volume of the last 90 trading days transacted.
The BoE increased its quantitative easing programme by 50 billion pounds to 125 billion and the European Central Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 1.0 percent as expected.
FTSE Slips On Telecoms Weakness; Vodafone Falls::
Britain’s FTSE 100 share index fell on Monday, pressured by telecoms after a string of earnings reports from US tech bellwethers late last week suggested a pick-up in the sector was some way off. Shares in mobile phone giant Vodafone fell after a press report that it will bid for SFR, the French mobile firm controlled by Vivendi Universal. A Vodafone spokesman declined to comment on the report.
The FTSE 100 share index was down 22.8 points at 4,204.8, erasing Friday’s 18-point rise to 4,227.3, despite which the leading index ended down on the month for the fifth time in a row.
Market volume was light at 86 million shares and dealers predicted thin trading would continue as Wall Street remains closed for the Labor Day holiday.
Telecoms took 10 points off the leading index, with mmO2 leading the sector lower with a 4.6 percent fall, while sector giant Vodafone lost 2.4 per cent. “So much depends on whether Vivendi will give SFR up. It’s cash generative so Vivendi needs it to shore up its cash flow,” said one dealer.
Shares in insurer Royal & Sun Alliance led the FTSE fallers with a 5.4 per cent fall, knocked back by a fall in European insurers amid reports that Zurich Financial will launch a $2.5 billion share hike. Dealers said the news reminded investors of Royal & Sun’s stretched balance.
Sentiment in the sector was also hurt by news that Morgan Stanley downgraded its view of the European sector.
But Friends Provident bucked the trend to rise 2.7 per cent after the broker retained its “overweight” stance on the stock.
Gains in drugs giant AstraZeneca helped to counter some ofthe FTSE’s early fall. Its shares rose 2.5 per cent after it said new data showed its cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor was more effective than an alternative across a wide range of doses.
Opportunities
[1.] Focus on cost reductions improving returns:-
World's biggest mobile phone operator by revenue, Vodafone Plc (VOD) announced its FY10 earnings, Earlier, saying its net profit more than doubled to �8.65 billion from �3.08 billion a year ago, driven mainly by cost reduction policies and strong revenue growth in emerging markets such as India.
Vodafone reported consolidated revenue of �44.47 billion in FY10, as against �41.02 billion in FY09 (up 8.4 percent). The telecom major posted �11.16 billion revenue in Q4 FY10, down 3.3 percent sequentially and up 4.88 percent on year-on-year basis.
Adjusted earnings per share was 16.11 pence with growth impacted by the inclusion of a tax benefit and associated interest credit in the prior year. Excluding this benefit adjusted earnings per share increased by 6.6 percent.
Group EBITDA stood at �14.73 billion in FY10 as against �14.49 billion in FY09 (up 1.7 percent) and in line with an average forecast of �14.8 billion.
Adjusted operating profit for the fiscal year under review fell 2.5 percent to �11.46 billion due to weaker performance in Europe while adjusted profit before tax climbed 0.9 percent to �10.56 billion.
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Vodafone said service revenue climbed 8.9 percent to �41.72 billion, driven mainly by voice revenue, which climbed 4.1 percent to �28 billion. Messaging revenue rose 7.2 percent to �4.79 billion, data revenue rose 33 percent to �4.05 billion and fixed line revenue rose 20.60 percent to �3.29 billion.
The telecom major said that it now generates 33 percent of service revenue from products other than "mobile voice," with fixed-line and mobile broadband services continuing to grow strongly, reflecting the shift of the company to a total communications provider.
Service revenue in Europe accounted for 67.85 percent of total service revenue.
Region-wise, in Europe service revenue fell 3.5 percent, reflecting challenging economic conditions in most markets offset by growth in Italy and the Netherlands.
In Africa and Central Europe, service revenue declined 1.2 percent to �7.4 billion in FY10 despite witnessing a sequential rise of 2.4 percent in Q4 FY10.
In Asia Pacific and Middle East service revenue increased by 9.8 percent to �6.1 billion, aided by strong Q4 earnings. In India, the company generated quarter on quarter revenue growth and its customer base now exceeds 100 million in the sub-continent.
"The economic situation has remained challenging throughout the year affecting our business in several ways. In our more mature European and Central European operations, voice and messaging revenue declined and roaming revenue fell due to lower business and leisure travel. In addition, enterprise revenue declined in Europe as our business customers reduced activity and headcount. However, results in Africa and India remained robust driven by continued, albeit lower, GDP growth and increasing market penetration," Vodafone's *** executive Vittorio Colao said in a statement.
Group free cash flow was �7.2 billion, up 26.5 percent, benefiting from significant improvements in working capital management and a deferred dividend from Verizon Wireless. This exceptional level of cash flow was generated whilst maintaining capital investment, developing fixed broadband services in Europe, funding the turnaround in Turkey and Ghana, and expanding in India.
"In an extremely challenging economic environment, we have improved Vodafone’s commercial focus and cost efficiency with visible results," Colao said. The group had implemented various cost reduction programs in 2008, which helped it save �1 billion ahead of schedule. The majority of these savings were generated by the group's European operations and from cost reductions in their central functions.
Looking ahead, Vodafone, which boasts of 341 million subscribers, said it expected adjusted operating profit to be in the range of �11.2-12 billion while free cash flow would be in excess of �6.5 billion. Last November, the group had announced a �1 billion cost saving program to be delivered by the 2013 financial year. "This will help us to offset inflationary pressures and the competitive environment and enable us to invest in our revenue growth opportunities," the company said in a statement.
"We expect the Group to return to organic revenue growth during the 2011 financial year although this will be dependent upon the strength of the economic environment and the level of unemployment within Europe. In contrast, revenue growth in other emerging economies, in particular India and Africa, is expected to continue as the Group drives penetration and data in these markets," Colao said.
At 11.01am (BST), Vodafone shares were trading 0.04 percent up at 136.40 pence on the London Stock Exchange.
[2.] Majority stake in Hutchison Essar in India :-
Vodafone Essar, formerly known as Hutchison Essar is a cellular operator in India that covers 23 telecom circles in India based in Mumbai.[2] Vodafone Essar is owned by Vodafone 67% and Essar Group 33%. It is the second largest mobile phone operator in terms of revenue behind Bharti Airtel, and third largest in terms of customers.
On February 11, 2007, Vodafone agreed to acquire the controlling interest of 67% held by Li Ka Shing Holdings in Hutch-Essar for US$11.1 billion, pipping Reliance Communications, Hinduja Group, and Essar Group, which is the owner of the remaining 33%. The whole company was valued at USD 18.8 billion. The transaction closed on May 8, 2007. Despite the official name being Vodafone Essar, its products are simply branded Vodafone. It offers both prepaid and postpaid GSM cellular phone coverage throughout India with good presence in the metros.
Vodafone Essar provides 2.75G services based on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz digital GSM technology, offering voice and data services in 23 of the country's 23 licence areas. It is among the top three GSM mobile operators of India.
Previous brands-
Initially around 1995 it was "MAX TOUCH"...then around 2000 it was ORANGE..... In December 2006, Hutch Essar re-launched the "Hutch" brand nationwide, consolidating its services under a single identity. The Company entered into an agreement with NTT DoCoMo to launch i-mode mobile Internet service in India during 2007.
The company used to be named Hutchison Essar, reflecting the name of its previous owner, Hutchison. However, the brand was marketed as Hutch. After getting the necessary government approvals with regards to the acquisition of a majority by the Vodafone Group, the company was rebranded as Vodafone Essar. The marketing brand was officially changed to Vodafone on 20 September 2007.
On September 20, 2007 Hutch became Vodafone in one of the biggest brand transition exercises in recent times.
Vodafone Essar is spending somewhere in the region of Rs. 250 crores on this high-profile transition being unveiled today.Along with the transition, cheap cell phones have been launched in the Indian market under the Vodafone brand. The company also plans to launch co-branded handsets sourced from global vendors as well.
A popular daily quoted a Vodafone Essar director as saying that "the objective is to leverage Vodafone Group's global scale in bringing millions of low-cost handsets from across-the-world into India."
Incidentally, China's ZTE, which is looking to set-up a manufacturing unit in the country, is expected to provide several Vodafone handsets in India. Earlier this year, Vodafone penned a global low-cost handset procurement deal with ZTE.
Growth of Hutchison Essar (1992-2005):-
In 1992 Hutchison Whampoa and its Indian business partner established a company that in 1994 was awarded a licence to provide mobile telecommunications services in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and launched commercial service as Hutchison Max in November 1995. Analjit Singh of Max still holds 12% in company.
In Delhi, UP (E), Rajasthan and Haryana, ESSAR was the major partner. But later Hutch took the majority Stake.
By the time of Hutchison Telecom's Initial Public Offering in 2004, Hutchison Whampoa had acquired interests in six mobile telecommunications operators providing service in 13 of India's 23 licence areas and following the completion of the acquisition of BPL that number increased to 16. In 2006, it announced the acquisition of a company (Essar Spacetel — A subsidiary of Essar Group) that held licence applications for the seven remaining licence areas.
In a country growing as fast as India, a strategic and well managed business plan is critical to success. Initially, the company grew its business in the largest wireless markets in India — in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. In these densely populated urban areas it was able to establish a robust network, well known brand and large distribution network -all vital to long-term success in India. Then it also targeted business users and high-end post-paid customers which helped Hutchison Essar to consistently generate a higher Average Revenue Per User ("ARPU") than its competitors. By adopting this focused growth plan, it was able to establish leading positions in India's largest markets providing the resources to expand its footprint nationwide.
In February 2007, Hutchison Telecom announced that it had entered into a binding agreement with a subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc to sell its 67% direct and indirect equity and loan interests in Hutchison Essar Limited for a total cash consideration (before costs, expenses and interests) of approximately US$11.1 billion or HK$87 billion.
1992: Hutchison Whampoa and Max Group established Hutchison Max
2000: Acquisition of Delhi operations Entered Calcutta and Gujarat markets through ESSAR acquisition
2001: Won auction for licences to operate GSM services in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai
A 'You and I' print adverti***t of Hutch featuring Cheeka (dog)
2003: Acquired AirCel Digilink (ADIL — ESSAR Subsidiary) which operated in Rajastan, Uttar Pradesh East and Haryana telecom circles and renamed it under Hutch brand
2004: Launched in three additional telecom circles of India namely 'Punjab', 'Uttar Pradesh West' and 'West Bengal'
2005: Acquired BPL (Except Mumbai)- 3 Circles, another mobile service provider in India
2008: Vodafone acquired the Licence in remaining 7 circles and has started its pending operations in Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh with its headquarters at Malviya Nagar, Bhopal as well as in Orissa, Assam, North East and Bihar
2008: Vodafone launched the Apple iPhone 3G to be used on its 17 circle 2.75G network.
Hutch was often praised for its award winning adverti***ts which all follow a clean, minimalist look. A recurrent theme is that its message Hello stands out visibly though it uses only white letters on red background. Another recent successful ad campaign in 2003 featured a pug named Cheeka following a boy around in unlikely places, with the tagline, Wherever you go, our network follows. The simple yet powerful adverti***t campaigns won it many admirers.
2009: Vodafone launched Recharge Online
2009: Vodafone Essar - 1st Indian Telecom operator to receive the Payment Card Industry Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification for its Mumbai operations and launches unlimited SMS offer in Mumbai.
2010: Vodafone emerged as the most admired marketer in India. 2010: Vodafone crossed 100 million subscribers in India
[3.] Research and development of new mobile technologies :-
"For Vodafone R&D is one of the keys to innovation and seeking out differentiation from the competition"
Research and development:-
The Group R&D function comprises an international team for applied research in mobile and internet communications and their related applications. It supports the strategic objectives of Vodafone by:
contributing leading edge technical capabilities to Vodafone’s consumer offerings in the areas of internet, web and terminal platforms and by directing the standardisation of relevant cross platform technologies;
identifying new and emerging business opportunities for fixed and mobile services; and
industry leadership in the development of future generation network technology through specification of standards, standardisation and systematic engineering trials.
Group R&D work programme:-
There have been several significant advances during the 2009 financial year including:
significant progress in long term evolution (‘LTE’) trials, a global radio access technology, with key partners Verizon Wireless and China Mobile, designed to deliver a range of customer benefits including higher speeds and enhanced throughput performance;
trials conducted to boost backhaul capacity using new ethernet microwave technology, which is expected to ***ruple backhaul capacity in channelling voice and data traffic away from base stations, while enhancing network efficiency and service for customers and offering cost efficiencies;
launch of the Android powered HTC Magic Pioneer smartphone, providing an improved mobile experience and offering scope for personalisation via the application rich Android market. This follows Vodafone’s membership of the Open Handset Alliance, established by Google in 2007 to develop the Android operating system for mobile phones;
commercial development of near field communications enabled mobile phones and SIM cards to reach international standards. Vodafone and other key players drove the contactless technology development with the SIM at the centre of the architecture and have been trialling pre-standard implementations in Germany and France;
development and roll out of a framework for improving mobile access to the internet through small, personalised applications known as widgets. Vodafone has also played a pivotal role in driving the standardisation of this technology across the mobile industry; and
growth and expansion in Vodafone’s developer portal, Betavine, which helps developers to transition their applications to operate on mobile devices. Betavine is also being used as a launch pad for Vodafone’s engagement with the developer community to bring innovation to the Group’s customers and to meet needs in emerging markets through the Betavine social exchange.
[4.] Good Tarrif packages:-
iPhone on Vodafone from Janaury 14th – good tariff, free handset, but…
By PAUL SMITH
Apparently, there may be some of you still reading the site over Christmas, so the boss is demanding we tumble arse-over-tit down the ungritted path to the BW office, so we might continue to ladle news from simmering consumer tech broth. And so it’s to the iPhone and news that Vodafone is gearing up to begin selling the iPhone from Janaury 14th.
Orange and Tesco have entered the iPhone market in the past few weeks – whereas Orange could offer little extra than and slightly cheaper tariff and the hope of better coverage, Tesco went for a tariff that undercut both O2 and Orange – if you were prepared to pay through the nose for your handset. So what’s the good news from Vodafone? A �35-per-month tariff for a free 3G handset (on a 24 month contract) puts Vodafone on a par with O2 and Orange (and to get a free 3G handset through Tesco means paying �60 a month), but unlimited texts on Vodafone may suit plenty more punters:
Vodafone anytime minutes best tariffs:-
Ever thought that Vodafone best tariffs can include so many amazing packages? Unlimited texts, unlimited internet, unlimited music download and many more. Come in to Vodafone best deal portal.
We start our review of Vodafone anytime minutes packages from cheapest ones and will move upwards, step by step. So, the first tariff we would like to introduce is �15, unlimited texts mobile phone tariff. Brilliant package for people who text a lot. This also can be a good package for your kids. They can give you a missed call or send you a text message whenever they want. I know some people who are the "Kings" of texting. They can text 10 text messages in a minute. For them the unlimited texts package will be a great finding.
If you say we need some anytime minutes with this sort of fantastic offer, then have a look here. For �20 a month get 200 Vodafone anytime minutes and guess what else? Yes, unlimited text messages. Fairly good package, right? Now, add a free phone on top of that and you get a top deal online in your pocket. Click here to view what phones you can have with that tariff.
Vodafone anytime minutes packages:-
Usually, you get 600 anytime any networks minutes and unlimited text package for �35 a month be it on O2, Orange or Vodafone. New offers with Vodafone direct will save you �10 on your line rental. So, for all these great benefits you just pay �25 per month for 18 month. Click here to find out more about these deals.
In fact, for �35 a month, Vodafone has got three different Vodafone anytime minutes packages:
600 minutes unlimited texts
700 minutes 200 inclusive texts and unlimited landline calls
200 anytime minutes 1000 text messages and unlimited mobile internet
Next great value tariff is �45 a month 18 month with 900 minutes and unlimited texts. There is a different version of the same priceplan for people who value minutes more: 900 Vodaone anytime minutes, 500 texts and unlimited landline calls. The good news is that you get free internet. Another good new is that you get unlimited internet with your package. Click here to find our more about this tariff and mobile phones availabe on it.
Vodafone unlimited packages, texts, internet, music, landline calls:-
The next tariffs are for massive users. For kings of texting and calling and internet usage. So, �55 a month you get 1500 anytime any network minutes, vodafone unlimited text package and vodafone unlimited internet bundle. How cool is that? Great agree? The package would be great for small business owners or people who are constantly on the phone. The package could also suit someone who uses lots of money �200-�300 a month on top-ups.
The biggest package, so calles "Daddy" Vodafone anytime minutes package gives you 3000 minutes!! Impressed? No? You also get unlimited texts and unlimited internet package built in there. (Internet unlimited bundles are subject to fair usage policy which is 500 MB. 1MB is enough to send 100 email messages. One page on your phone will take roughly 100 KB. So, in total you will get 5000 pages every month. For those who want to practice their math skills 1MB=1024KB)
Vodafone has got some extra bundles to help their customers. One of these amazing bundles is stop the clock. Stop the clock, stops the pricing on your call once you talk more than 3 minutes and the clock keeps stoping untill 59 th minute of your talk. In this way you can save hundreds of pounds on your bills. To get stop the clock you need to contact customer services. It costs �5 extra on your line rental.
One more great bundle is Vodafone family package. Vodafone family will help you to save lots of money if you use your mobile phone call time mostly with your family members. For �5 extra a month you can call four people who you nominate for free every day. Also. they can call you, and they can call each other too. Only condition, everybody needs to be a Vodafone customer. May be PAYG or pay monthly. Only one person pays �5 per month on their contract.
Threats
* Highly competitive market
* Still lags behind major competitors in the US
* Extremely high penetration rates in key European markets
* European Union regulation on cross-border cell phone usage by customers