Talk:Vodafone

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[edit] Vodafone in Europe

                welcome to vodafone

Vodafone necessarily operate in all the countries shown. In several of them it has a licensing arrangement with other independent operators. If it's not called Vodafone then it probably isn't a wholly owned part of Vodafone (although it's quite possible that Vodafone is a part owner - as it is with Verizon for example). This is certainly true for Swisscom and SFR for example. Mpntod 19:12, Nov 29, 2004 (UTC)


This is a pretty weak article. Yes, it should point out that Voda owns 44 percent of SFR (and wants the rest, having only failed to acquire it due to a quirk of French corporate law), 25 percent of Swisscom, and so on. The lists of operators don't tell us much. It also has partner arrangements with some networks that license the branding (such as Smartone-Vodafone and og Vodafone). The company would like a brand presence in the US but has an unhappy though lucrative arrangement with Verizon, tried to buy AT&T Wireless, and so on.

I might add some of this detail, if I have time. --ProhibitOnions 18:09, 2005 May 22 (UTC)

--- I have changed the infobox-template to indicate the some percentages + names for the join ventures. I haven't done the whole thing - Just testing the waters... Comments? JoshFarron (talk) 15:46, 14 December 2007 (UTC) ---

The whole article needs to be rewritten. At the moment there is nothing on stategy or competitive position and the article doesn't make it clear what the key developments in Vodafone's history have been; Airtouch isn't even mentioned, and that deal was fundamental enough for Vodafone to change its name to Vodafone Airtouch for a while! I'm going to make a start by adding a finance section. Carina22 12:08, 21 July 2005 (UTC)

Good work, and I'll add more history when I have time. I have removed the recent Controversies section, which someone added near the top of the article, and which is very POV. It was evidently written by a UK user with an axe to grind, as it mentions the likes of Oftel and Who Wants to be a Millionaire without any context. ProhibitOnions 13:49, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

You can either regard the controversies as POV or simple fact. I have checked the sources, it is fact. It makes no difference whether there is an axe to grind or not - if this is something Wiki readers should know, it should be included. What do you mean by context? This is the context within which the company operates. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Context . I don't know what ProhibitOnions' connections with Vodafone are (if there are any), but you cannot use Wikipedia as another advertising stream. It is an encyclopedia. All is relevant. See entries on other companies which have committed misdemeanors, e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen . 21:42, 18 October 2005 (GMT)

It may not be POV if these are factual statements, but the current complaints section is overkill. Vodafone is a large company and it is expected to have issues with various authorities. If you cite the references for these complaints (e.g. newspaper stores, link to the Ofcom website etc) then the addition can remain in a smaller form - about three lines. --PhilipO 20:56, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

Sadly two of these references are print only - so by your rules are not worthy of inclusion. It all sounds rather peremptory. I think Wikipedia can be a force for good - but it's certainly not worth my time reinstating other people's pro-corporate deletions the whole time, so I shall say goodbye.

Another victory for Vodafone.

  • I disagree. --PhilipO 21:00, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

21:12, 18 October 2005 (GMT)

Citing a print source is fine. Wikipedia is a intended to be an encyclopedia, not a consumer complaints website or a corporate advertising medium. Complaints are accepted but they need to be cited and generally should be from an reptuable source. Joe Davis's community newspaper for example is unlikely to be a reputable source but something from the Guardian for example would be... Nil Einne 13:03, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] United States in Europe?

The current revision has the united states listed in the europe section (aswell as the americas). I havent fixed this incase it was intended, but it seems like it should be removed to me? PaulLakin 23:54, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Proportional customers

Can someone please explain "proportional" Vodafone customers in Paragraph 2, and how they relate to the numbers posted? In this mix of numbers, the author links to a British site that states simply there's a 179 million subscriber base. Why not say straight up how many subscribers there are, like the China Mobile wiki entry, which says 200 million?

DonL

I am presuming that it is on the basis of holding in the network operator whose subscriber numbers are listed. Can someone identify that?

Venkatesh 11.52 AM IST (+0530 GMT)


Correct me if I'm wrong but the article reads proportional customers as of 26th January "2007", but the reference links to an article last updated January 2006. So surely this information is a year out of date?

212.219.27.120 14:36, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] What about 50%

The article suggests if it owns more then 50% it's a subsidiary, less then 50% it's an affliate, 0% a partner. But what about 50% (joint owner-ship or 50% with small partners)? I suspect it's an affliate but then again, Vodacom is evidently going to be branded Vodafone even though it's a joint ownership... Nil Einne 13:05, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

We'll see about that (note that Vodafone does not own a majority of Vodafone Fiji), but AFAIK Voda has already made overtures to Telkom to buy a controlling stake. I think Vodafone is less averse to significant minority shareholders in developing countries, possibly for political reasons.
I'm also curious whether Vodafone Japan will retain the Vodafone name (a la Vodafone Sweden) once it no longer belongs to Vodafone; becoming a franchise (another category, though not one that Voda currently recognizes). ProhibitOnions 16:58, 30 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Vodafone Logo Rollout

I can see there is a lot of movement here to re-write the article. Would you consider adding a section on the progress of rolling out the new 3D logo (and 3G services)? - just a suggestion. The only details of those are in the history section which can be confusing.

I have removed the suggestion that the name is VOice DAta FONE. Whe nit launche dit was an analogue only cell phone firm. There was no mobile data and I very much doubt management envisioned it.

  • Firstly, please remember to sign your comments using 4 tildes (~). Secondly looking at Vodafone's offical website, specifically http://www.vodafone.com/article/0,3029,CATEGORY_ID%253D30102%2526LANGUAGE_ID%253D0%2526CONTENT_ID%253D231491,00.html? it states that in 1982 "Vodafone is chosen as the name of the network, to reflect the provision of voice and data services over mobile phones." Data was added in 1987 with AA Roadwatch and Financial Times CityLine. Vodafone launched a digital GSM service in 1991. Therefore they had data in the analogue-only era and so it is likely the name does indeed stand for VOice DAta FONE. I'm putting it back in the article, citing the above source. Alexj2002 11:04, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

Without revealing to much info - i worked for Vodafone for many years- during induction we were told specifically where the name came from. and vo da fone is indeed correct.Ukbn2 23:47, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

That's right. When Voda started out it the "Voda" part was applied to Vodapager as well, which was obviously a data service. (Look at the company's annual reports prior to 1991, available at www.vodafone.com; the concern was styled Voda - Racal Telecom.)  ProhibitOnions  (T) 10:28, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chris Gent

To the person who removed the reference to Gent, please read Chris Gent. Shouldn't this resource be consistent in itself?! 86.7.208.240 23:51, 21 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] List of CEOs

How about a section that lists the CEOs of Vodafone since incorporation?

Venkatesh 11.55 AM IST (+0530 GMT) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Venkatesh.sridhar (talk • contribs) 06:26, 12 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] A suggestion for the Vodafone page

Okay, just something that I think could make it easier for people not familiar with Vodafone. Would it be okay if someone put in a section on the main services that Vodafone offers globally, using the UK as an example? -Daniel Blanchette 21:32, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] became 4th largest in india

Today Vodafone took over Hutch in a big deal; V bid 19 bn $ for hutch. Hutch was the 4th postion in india. Kittu 12:35, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia

What was the reason for removing my Trivia? (that vodafone has no coverage in Madhya Pradesh, the Indian state in which its CEO was born?) Tri400 02:16, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Seconded. This seems like interesting and appropriate content. Shax 19:32, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Trade union advert

There was a blatent advert for the Connect trade union at the bottom of the summary that read "Vodafone's UK workers are represented by Connect, The trade union for professionals in communications". I don't know who added it but I have removed it. No propaganda on Wikipedia please! Shax 19:32, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] What's the thing at the bottom?

At the bottom of the page, the tab that says Vodafone Group has a paragraph which reads:

"Criticisms Carphone Warehouse staffs, as a norm, verbally ask any customer who enters into a mobile phone contract to provide a landline telephone number. The number will then be promptly switched from BT to TalkTalk without the customers even knowing it. Certain organisations have complained about the practice. Carphone Warehouse's response is that this constitute a binding contract though they do return the line to the original service provider, i.e BT."

I don't understand why that is there... Fatla00 13:04, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] User: Jnason

Why does User: Jnason keep adding statements similar to what I have just deleted which are not referenced and are not accurate? For example, today I removed "is very surprising as at the time of taking the name, Vodafone provided only analogue voice services, and had no knowledge of, or services for, data.)" Surely Vodafone had paging when they were first set up, which is a form or DAta? Darkieboy236 07:39, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

- answer because Reference 1 is invalid, and the statement is correct. There was a separate company Vodata which was for data (mostly SMS), a separate Paging unit Vodapage, and a separate X25 unit.. I worked for these companies. Please update Reference 1 before you make any future accusations. Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Vodafear (talk • contribs) 16:28, 6 September 2007 (UTC) Vodafear 05:47, 7 September 2007 (UTC)
Info added to Wiki needs to be verifiable. The info that User: Jnason appears to have entered was not reference or sourced, this is why it primarily was removed. Furthermore, the info did not meet Wiki standards. Also, Vodafone state on their website - 1982 The Racal Electronics Group wins its bid for the private sector UK Cellular licence. It sets up the Racal Telecomms Division and names the new network ‘Vodafone’ to reflect the provision of voice and data services over mobile phones. The correct link to this has been added, the previous link having become obsolete due to Vodafone's new website. Any discussion should take place on this page, not on the actual entry page. Darkieboy236 09:02, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] User: Darkieboy236

Please see the comments in the paragraph above. Reference 1 is not valid. Jnason 17:10, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Vodafone Logo.jpg

Image:Vodafone Logo.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 23:55, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bill Morrow

I've added a short note about Bill Morrow in the European history section. From what I can read online, Bill Morrow had a large involvement with the company, and I think there could be more references to him, especially in regard to the Japanese devision, in the article. Please let me know if anyone is willing to work with me, to put more Bill Morrow references it =) Lex Kitten 00:55, 9 November 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Separate Vodafone UK page

I noticed from looking at the infobox template at the bottom of the page that most of the Vodafone networks (ie. in each country) have separate pages. I created a brief one of the German net. BUT... The the tag Vodafone UK redirects BACK to this page - breaking the consistency of one page per Network. Does anyone want to take a crack at writing an brief article for Vodafone UK that we can expand upon later? JoshFarron (talk) 15:50, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

I have created the page. You can continue working on it.--Dima1 (talk) 16:26, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vodafone Essar

I don't get it, how can Vodafone Essar be both a Majority Owned network in India, as well as a Minority Owned network? --Rsrikanth05 (talk) 16:41, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

-- Because the minority-owned network listed is not Vodafone Essar, but AirTel, where Vodafone stills owns 4.4% —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.106.140.125 (talk) 08:08, 14 January 2008 (UTC)