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Vodafone launches 2 new Programs for partners and distributors
April 13, 2005;
Vodafone is number one - the biggest - cellular network operator in the world, so it is worth seeing what it is doing...

Vodafone launches two initiatives to significantly benefit its key content providers

- a new Global Games Marketing and Distribution Program

- a Preferred Partner Program

Vodafone announces the launch of two major initiatives both designed to improve speed to market and lower costs for its key Content Provider partners.

Global Games Marketing and Distribution Program The Global Games Marketing and Distribution Program will maximise marketing and distribution efficiencies for Vodafone's content partners across multiple territories.

Under the plan, Vodafone's key partners will be able to centrally secure guaranteed distribution within pre-set timelines across multiple Vodafone live! operating markets.

Additional portal placement and marketing commitments will also be offered to leading games titles on a tiered approach, with Gold, Silver and Bronze status offering different levels of commitment in return for reciprocal co-marketing from the Content Providers.

The program also offers significant operational efficiencies. This will be of considerable benefit to the Content Providers as the list of supported handsets continues to increase and development costs rise due to the new technologies such as 3D and Connected. Through this targeted support for its key partners, Vodafone can maximise efficiencies and distribution.

The result will be an unsurpassed multi-market delivery network, utilising local expertise to deliver on the ambitions and objectives of the Group and drive higher and more consistent revenues for Vodafone and its partners alike.

'Having pre-agreed, pan-regional marketing and distribution capacity will allow us to run multi-territory co-marketing more easily, improve efficiencies for our partners and benefit the industry as a whole,' says Tim Harrison, Head of Games at Vodafone Group Services. 'Vodafone has invested heavily in marketing its games offering, and has always benefited from its distribution footprint but this initiative seeks to take mobile games marketing and digital retail to the next level.'

The Marketing and Distribution Plan will be in place in all major Vodafone Operating companies by the end of April, and will be rolled out to the remaining Vodafone Operating Companies and partner markets by the end of Q3 2005.

Preferred Partner Program

Also launching in April is Vodafone's Preferred Partner Program. This gives key Content Providers - with the best track record in terms of quality, consistency and timely delivery - priority information on handsets, launch presence and the benefit of a reduced certification procedure. In short, this will greatly improve the speed to market for the Content Providers' games.

'Vodafone has always had the strongest belief in delivering the highest quality content to our customers,' says Harrison. 'Granting preferred status to our key partners who have consistently delivered, is both a recognition of our trust in the quality of their product, and of the market's increasing maturity.'

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