3GScottishUser
5th September 2005, 05:41 PM
From Mobile Today (05/09/2005):
Vodafone has identified 3 as its key rival in its plans for an aggressive acquisition drive before Christmas.
It is looking to match 3s deals by putting bigger subsidies and commissions into 3G handsets and even offering customers a bigger cash bounty to churn off 3. Vodafones 350 stores have been offering £100 to customers (invariably from 3) who trade in their old 3G phones when they sign up to a Vodafone 3G contract. Customers who swap a 2G handset have £50 credited to their account.
Vodafones big 3G deal bears an uncanny resemblance to 3s tariffs, leaving little to choose between the two propositions. Vodafone is punting the Sony Ericsson V600i free to customers on the deal, the same handset that is currently taking top billing on 3s portfolio.
The move comes ahead of an anticipated tariff shake-up from 3 this month, which is expected to raise its own game.
Vodafone unveiled a new student deal today (Thursday), with the intention of taking on 3s own recently launched campus offering.
NUS members who sign up to a Vodafone 3G contract ranging from Anytime 125 to Anytime 3,000 are being baited with a free Samsung Z500 as well as unlimited free texts and picture messages.
One Vodafone store salesman said: Were trying to take 3s customers. Were emphasising that our call centres speak English [as a first language] and our better coverage. And now the value of 3s calls and texts are only a couple of quid cheaper. Our handsets are better too.
Independent retailers said Vodafone was pushing its 3G handsets and tariffs with the aid of a hefty uplift in commissions. [Selling] the 500-minutes tariff gives us £350 commission, said one dealer. He added that a comparable tariff on Vodafone previously paid £210.
Operators and retailers said Vodafone was looking to exploit the vulnerable situation of 3 as the large numbers of customers who signed up last year come to the end of their contracts. A market analyst at one of Vodafones rivals said: Vodafone is going to go all guns blazing on 3G now.
Retailers said Vodafone had a two-tier subsidy strategy, offering preferential commissions for 3G handsets over 2G handsets.
A spokeswoman for Vodafone said: 3G is important to us; that is reflected in the offers we do.
How the tariffs stack up
The main offer
3: £17.50 per month for six months; £35 per month for 12 months.
400 minutes, 250 texts, 25 video minutes, 25 photo or video messages, £5 credit to spend on content.
Vodafone: £20 per month for six months; £40 for 12 months.
500 minutes, 100 texts, 50 minutes of video calls, free evening and weekend video-calls between June and September, free content for the life of the contract, stop the clock offer.
The student deal
3: £20 per month. 100 minutes of voice calls and 1,000 text messages.
Vodafone: Unlimited texts and picture messages on six tariffs ranging from Anytime 125 (£25 a month) to Anytime 3,000 (£99).
http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/artman-test/publish/article_687.shtml
Vodafone has identified 3 as its key rival in its plans for an aggressive acquisition drive before Christmas.
It is looking to match 3s deals by putting bigger subsidies and commissions into 3G handsets and even offering customers a bigger cash bounty to churn off 3. Vodafones 350 stores have been offering £100 to customers (invariably from 3) who trade in their old 3G phones when they sign up to a Vodafone 3G contract. Customers who swap a 2G handset have £50 credited to their account.
Vodafones big 3G deal bears an uncanny resemblance to 3s tariffs, leaving little to choose between the two propositions. Vodafone is punting the Sony Ericsson V600i free to customers on the deal, the same handset that is currently taking top billing on 3s portfolio.
The move comes ahead of an anticipated tariff shake-up from 3 this month, which is expected to raise its own game.
Vodafone unveiled a new student deal today (Thursday), with the intention of taking on 3s own recently launched campus offering.
NUS members who sign up to a Vodafone 3G contract ranging from Anytime 125 to Anytime 3,000 are being baited with a free Samsung Z500 as well as unlimited free texts and picture messages.
One Vodafone store salesman said: Were trying to take 3s customers. Were emphasising that our call centres speak English [as a first language] and our better coverage. And now the value of 3s calls and texts are only a couple of quid cheaper. Our handsets are better too.
Independent retailers said Vodafone was pushing its 3G handsets and tariffs with the aid of a hefty uplift in commissions. [Selling] the 500-minutes tariff gives us £350 commission, said one dealer. He added that a comparable tariff on Vodafone previously paid £210.
Operators and retailers said Vodafone was looking to exploit the vulnerable situation of 3 as the large numbers of customers who signed up last year come to the end of their contracts. A market analyst at one of Vodafones rivals said: Vodafone is going to go all guns blazing on 3G now.
Retailers said Vodafone had a two-tier subsidy strategy, offering preferential commissions for 3G handsets over 2G handsets.
A spokeswoman for Vodafone said: 3G is important to us; that is reflected in the offers we do.
How the tariffs stack up
The main offer
3: £17.50 per month for six months; £35 per month for 12 months.
400 minutes, 250 texts, 25 video minutes, 25 photo or video messages, £5 credit to spend on content.
Vodafone: £20 per month for six months; £40 for 12 months.
500 minutes, 100 texts, 50 minutes of video calls, free evening and weekend video-calls between June and September, free content for the life of the contract, stop the clock offer.
The student deal
3: £20 per month. 100 minutes of voice calls and 1,000 text messages.
Vodafone: Unlimited texts and picture messages on six tariffs ranging from Anytime 125 (£25 a month) to Anytime 3,000 (£99).
http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/artman-test/publish/article_687.shtml