Vodafone live!
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/Vodafone_live_logo.png)
Vodafone live! was the brand name for the multimedia portal service of mobile phone operator Vodafone, offering news content, picture messaging, instant messaging, email, and downloadable ringtones and games.[1] The service officially launched on 24 October 2002, originally in eight countries.[2] The first compatible phones were the Japanese Sharp GX10 and Panasonic GD87, and the Nokia 7650.[3]
It was initially developed by Japan's J-Phone under the J-Sky brand. Vodafone acquired J-Phone in August 2001[4] and the J-Sky service in Japan was rebranded in line as Vodafone live! in 2003.[5] In addition, London-based Vizzavi which provided media content was taken full control by Vodafone (previously 50% owned)[6] in 2002 and the brand name was dropped, being integrated into Vodafone live![7] The service and its content are modelled largely on NTT DoCoMo's successful i-mode service.[8]
The service was marketed extensively,[9] using stars such as footballer David Beckham in the UK, Spain and Japan.[10] As of May 2003 there were 1.5 million customers.[11] In the UK market its main competing WAP portals were O2 Active and Orange World.[12]
While the service itself could be looked at with any WAP browser, Vodafone live! handsets marketed by the company integrated the service with each handset's core functions. All handsets included a colour screen, a digital camera and the capability to send and receive email, SMS and MMS messages. Vodafone live! had an icon-driven interface that was the same on all compatible models regardless of operating system.[13]
In December 2004, Vodafone live! with 3G services was launched.[14]
Vodafone live! was struggling against competitors i-mode and EZweb in Japan. In 2006 Vodafone announced that its Japanese division will be sold to SoftBank Group. Vodafone live! was replaced there by Yahoo! Keitai.[15]
In September 2009, Vodafone 360 and Vodafone My Web were announced to replace Vodafone live![16][17]
References
- ^ Daniel Ralph; Paul Graham (10 October 2003). MMS: Technologies, Usage and Business Models. Wiley. pp. 10–12. ISBN 9780470861165.
- ^ Tony Hallett (24 October 2002). "Vodafone gambles on 'biggest ever launch'". ZDNet.
- ^ Victor Keegan (31 October 2002). "Mobilising the forces". The Guardian.
- ^ Dan Sabbagh (25 August 2001). "Vodafone wins control of J-Phone". The Telegraph.
- ^ Reuters Staff (15 July 2003). "J-Phone to rename J-SKY Web service Vodafone Live!". Total Telecom.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ "Vodafone snaps up Vizzavi web venture". BBC. 30 August 2002.
- ^ Owen Gibson (30 August 2002). "Vodafone pulls plug on Vizzavi brand". The Guardian.
- ^ Richard Wray (11 October 2004). "MmO2 mulls over i-mode technology". The Guardian.
- ^ Ravi Chandiramani (31 October 2002). "Vodafone backs 'Live' with £25m campaign". Campaign.
- ^ "Vodafone signs David Beckham for another year".
- ^ Dominic White (28 May 2003). "Vodafone paid '£1bn too much' for 3G". The Telegraph.
- ^ Tony Dennis (7 June 2006). "UK grows i-mode fastest outside Japan". The Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "One million Vodafone Live! customers". Vodafone Press Release. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "Global launch of Vodafone live! with 3G". Vodafone. 10 December 2004.
- ^ G Fasol (9 October 2006). "Yahoo!-keitai replaces Vodafone-Live!". Eurotechnology.
- ^ "Vodafone 360 takes on the Mobile App stores". TechCrunch. 24 September 2009.
- ^ Steve O'Hear (3 March 2010). "Foursquare checks-in with Vodafone UK". TechCrunch.
External links
- Official site
- v
- t
- e
and divisions
- Albania
- Czech Republic
- Egypt
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Hungary
- India (defunct)
- Ireland
- Italy (ho-mobile)
- Jordan
- New Zealand (sold)
- Northern Cyprus
- Portugal
- Romania
- Spain
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- Vodafone Global Enterprise
- Vodafone Deutschland
- Vodafone Automotive
- Armenia
- Argentina
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bulgaria
- Cameroon (defunct)
- Canada
- Channel Islands
- Chile
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Polynesia
- Guam
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Iran
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Qatar
- Russia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Gerard Kleisterlee (Chairman)
- Vittorio Colao (CEO)
- Andy Halford (CFO)
- Steve Pusey (CTO)
- Michel Combes (CEO Europe Region)
- John Buchanan
- Alan Jebson
- Samuel Jonah
- Nick Land
- Anne Lauvergeon
- Simon Murray
- Luc Vandevelde
- Tony Watson
- Philip Yea
- Beşiktaş J.K. (2014-)
- England cricket team (1996-2010)
- Kaizer Chiefs (Vodacom) (2012-)
- Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Vodacom) (2005-)
- Orlando Pirates (Vodacom) (2012-)
- Manchester United F.C. (2000-2006)
- Shelby Can-Am (Vodacom) (2000-2005)
- South African Football Association (Vodacom) (2012-)
- South Africa national rugby union team (Vodacom) (1994-2017)
- Team Vodafone (2007–12)
- Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom) (1998-)
- Vodacom Challenge (Vodacom) (1999-2011)
- Vodacom Championship (Vodacom) (2001-2010)
- Vodacom Cup (Vodacom) (1998-2015)
- Vodacom League (Vodacom) (1998–2012)
- Vodacom Players Championship (Vodacom) (1998-2002)
- Vodacom Soccer Spectacular (Vodacom Lesotho) (2008-2011)
- Vodacom Tower (Vodacom) (2009-)
- Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (2007–13)
- Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (2000-)
- Vodafone Park (2013-)
- Vodafone Ski Resort (2005-)
- Vodafone Warriors (1999-)
- AirTouch
- Arcor
- Cable & Wireless Worldwide
- Cheeka
- ihug
- Mannesmann
- Verizon Wireless
- Vodafone live!
- ZooZoo