One of the biggest news stories in the last week was the announcement by Vodafone, regarding the new mobile service they are pioneering called Vodafone 360. This is a new approach to integrating online services via a mobile device, and will eventually replace the Vodafone Live service. Currently the Vodafone 360 is projected to work on the Nokia N85, Nokia 6730 (Both Symbian devices) plus also on two new and yet to be released phones, the Vodafone 360 M1 and 360 H1. Both of the devices will run on the new LiMo Operating System, which is an open source OS, allowing for easy installation of third party apps, games and widgets.
An interesting point regarding the Vodafone 360 service is that users on other networks will be able to download the 360 application, if they have a compatible device (which will include other Nokia devices, Sony Ericsson and Samsung, with Vodafone working on a solution for the iPhone and ‘Android devices’) Once the application has been installed, access will be available to some of the Vodafone 360 services, including the App Store, which sees Vodafone offering a possible revenue stream to customers from rival networks. It will be interesting to see how they respond.
The importance to Vodafone, and the general mobile industry, of Vodafone 360 cannot be over stressed. This is the first attempt by a mobile network to offer a fully integrated service, incorporating a combined place of access to major social networking and instant messaging services. It will be interesting to see if the general public are ready for such a service, or not.
In other news, we find that the persistent rumours of a new HTC handset are growing in fervour. Dubbed the HTC Leo, it seems the final production name for this product is going to be the HTC HD2. Information on specification is still scarce, but once details are confirmed, we will have a full review available here. The expected time for release of the HD2 is mid to end October, and latest information suggests that at least O2 will be taking this device in the UK.
And O2 feature in our next news item, as it seems the much hyped Palm Pre is going to be sold on O2, and is also expected to be available on contract deals from mid October. The Palm Pre is a well designed, well featured smartphone, with a strong, if not spectacular line-up of features. What really makes the Pre stand out from the opposition is the implementation of the Palm WebOS, which integrates seamlessly with all your standard contact and information services. For example, the layered calendar features Palm Synergy, which brings all your Outlook, Facebook and Google calendars together, making the view of your social and work life appear in one, easy to read format. The Pre also offers a combined messaging facility, with intuitive notifications of messages and alerts. The Pre is a strong media device, offering a central storage point for your music, photos and videos. With email, WiFi and GPS, it is easy to see why the Palm Pre is a much sought after handset.
One news item that didn’t get too much attention initially was the announcement of a new MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) here in the UK. Now, MVNO’s are nothing new, with Virgin and Tesco Mobile being two of the biggest. But this new network, called GiffGaff, has a unique approach to the market, and it will be interesting to see if it catches the appeal of enough users to make a success of things. Running on the O2 network, the approach of GiffGaff is clear if you understand why they have this silly sounding name.
According to the official website, GiffGaff is an Olde Scottish expression, which means you give me something, I give you something back. Marketed as a people powered network, GiffGaff rewards users who get involved with the network, allowing users to earn back up to 100% of their top up spend. For example, there is no customer support phone line from GiffGaff, so all queries are routed through a website. Users can help each other with enquiries, with each helper being able to earn back a percentage of their spend, the more they help. This is just one of the ways subscribers to GiffGaff can earn rewards, as users are encouraged to get involved in all parts of the network, from customer support to designing marketing ideas. The network won’t be supplying any phones, the only product they will offer are GiffGaff SIM cards, which can be used in any unlocked GSM handset.
There are no confirmed tariff options from GiffGaff, all we know so far is the tariff will offer one simple pricing structure for voice, text and data. If the tariff is competitive, GiffGaff have every chance of making this unique operation work, but much will depend on the willingness of subscribers to do their bit to earn their rebate rewards. GiffGaff are putting the final touches to their offering, and the MVNO expects to launch before Christmas. Check out their promotional video below for more details.
