Vodafone

Vodafone: An International Cell Phone Service Provider

Vodafone Group plc is based out of England, but it is a part of providing cell phone service to a total of 59 countries around the world. While their presence may not be immediately obvious -- there are several brands by which the Vodafone mobile service is known -- it is the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world. In fact, the market value for Vodafone Group, as of June 2006, is about £60 billion (approximately US $114 billion). While you may associate Vodafone more with their services in Europe and beyond, Vodafone has a very significant interest in Verizon Wireless. The Vodafone name covers five continents, though they may not have any actual ownership of several service providers that fall under the Vodafone umbrella.

What's In A Name?

The name "Vodafone" is a short form for Voice data fone, emphasizing that the company offers both voice and data services on their mobile phones.

Vodafone in Europe

Vodafone can be found in a number of European nations and their branding features prominently in several sporting events. In fact, Manchester United is sponsored by Vodafone and as such, the Vodafone logo features prominently on their football kits ("soccer jerseys"). Countries in which you'll find Vodafone operating under their own name include Albania, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and -- naturally -- the United Kingdom. Other brands in Europe that are either affiliated or partnered with Vodafone are Swisscom (Switzerland), Telsim (Turkey), Proximus (Belgium), SFT (France), and Plus GSM (Poland), among others.

Popular Vodafone Handsets in the UK

In the United Kingdom, Vodafone is known for keeping up with the latest in fashionable cell phones and their lineup reflects a dedication to not only keeping up with the latest designs, but also with the latest in technological innovations. Some of the better looking phones that Vodafone carries include:

• Samsung D900: Samsung is known for producing some of the skinniest phones on the planet and the D900 (also known as the Ultra Edition 12.9 in some markets) is no exception. Measuring just 12.9mm thick, this slim slider rocks a 3.15MP camera, integrated MP3 player, Bluetooth v2.0, TV output, and 60MB of internal memory to go with its microSD expansion slot.

• Sony Ericsson K800i: Samsung isn't the only one with fashionable cell phones. Sony Ericsson has put together quite the impressive package with the K800i. This UMTS-ready candybar also packs a 3.15 megapixel camera, but it comes with the backing of Sony's Cybershot branding. Other key features include a music/video player, TrackID music recognition, picture blogging, and Memory Stick Micro (M2) expansion.

• LG White Chocolate: Personally, I find the European version of LG's Chocolate Phone much more attractive than the rendition we receive via Verizon Wireless in the United States. The soft touch buttons on the face are absolutely delectable, and its overall look is simply delicious. Too bad it doesn't sport the high-end specifications to match: there's no memory card slot and only a 1.3 megapixel camera. It does have an integrated MP3 player, though you'll find the 128MB of on-board memory a little lacking.

Vodafone in the United States: Verizon Wireless

Vodafone owns 45% of Verizon Wireless, carrier of the popular LG Chocolate Phone. Verizon Wireless it the second largest mobile carrier in the United States, and the majority of the company is owned by Verizon Communications. As a result, the Vodafone name is not used in the United States, nor do Vodafone-branded GSM-based cell phones work on Verizon's CDMA-based network.

For more on Verizon Wireless, check out our articles on their cell phones and cell plans.

North, Latin, and South America

While Vodafone does not have any ownership of the following companies, they do fall under the Vodafone family. Some of the service providers you'll find in the Americas include: Telcel (Mexico), Claro (Peru, Brazil), CTI Movil (Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay), Porta (Ecuador), Claro Chile (Chile), Enitel (Nicaragua), and Comcel (Colombia).

Vodafone in Japan and the Rest of Asia

Vodafone K.K. (also known as Vodafone Japan) is one of the largest mobile service providers in the land of the rising sun, but as of October 1, 2006, the company is being sold to Softbank Japan and an appropriate name change will likely ensue. Vodafone will likely maintain a very small percentage of preferred shares after the hand off.

Vodafone also operates in a number of other Asia-Pacific countries under its own banner, including Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. Some Vodafone affiliates include M1 (Singapore), Celcom (Malaysia), China Mobile (China), and AirTel (India).