pre-loaded with Usher’s latest album, “Hear I Stand”. In tandem with that announcement was the launch of “Vodafone Music”, a more visual way of accessing Vodafone’s music store. The company wrapped the week with the launch of Vodafone Soundbites, a service that has been set up in partnership with MTV, aimed at prevailing interest in the minutiae of the music scene. This service is currently available through broadcast TV.

Vodafone UK launches Sony Ericsson W980 exclusively with Usher’s new album Here I Stand

Aug. 6, 2008 -- From this week Vodafone UK customers will be able to exclusively buy the Sony Ericsson W980 with Usher’s latest album Hear I Stand preloaded. The phone will be from free on contract or £300 for pay as you talk customers.

Here I Stand is the latest album from the best selling artist following on the success of Confessions which was the most successful album of 2004, selling 20 million copies worldwide. ‘Yeah’, ‘Burn’, and ‘Confessions Part II’ were all up there, topping Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart - immortalizing Usher as the first solo artist in history to have three singles in the top 10 simultaneously.

Customers who purchase the W980 will also be invited to become a part of ‘Ushers Entourage’, a special online community that will give them access to enter a competition to win a pair of tickets to Usher’s UK tour, watch Usher’s latest video, read an exclusive interview with the star and be first to get information on tour dates.

There is also a special Usher WAP site where customers can download extras including:

* Mobile wallpaper
* Entourage theme
* Exclusive Burn remix
* Exclusive Love In This Club remix
* Here I Stand animated screensaver
* Love In This Club ringtone
* Love In This Club video

The Sony Ericsson W980 Walkman has excellent music features that Sony Ericsson mobile lovers will have come to expect with impeccable sound quality and added features such as shake control and direct music control keys. The W980 has unique audio enhancing quality which ensures music sounds true to the original recording and comes with integrated stereo speakers and a stereo hands free headset. It also has a built-in FM receiver and transmitter making it easy to share music that’s being played with friends. It also comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera. The W980 has built in memory of 8GB and with its large high quality display its ideal for accessing the internet and checking email.

Ian Shepherd, consumer director for Vodafone UK, says: "“We are really excited to be able to offer our customers yet another great value phone with exclusive content from one of the world’s best selling artists. The Sony Ericsson W980 is a great music phone with high quality sound that will really bring alive Usher’s album.”

David Hilton, Marketing Director Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications UK & Ireland commented: "The W980's unique clear audio sound means that Usher's fans can now hear 'Here I stand' exactly as it's meant to be heard, which combined with the exclusive content available to them will help them feel closer to Usher than ever before."

In May Vodafone launched new price plans for contract customers that include access to the mobile internet and mobile email so customers can browse and keep up with their inbox while on the move safe in the knowledge of paying nothing extra. Combined with a great choice of mobile phones, and great music and sat nav services there has never been a better time to be with Vodafone.

Vodafone UK Launches New Music Experience

Aug. 6, 2008 -- Vodafone UK has launched “Vodafone Music” a new, simple way to allow customers to discover and buy music anytime and anyplace.

With Vodafone Music, customers can preview songs they’ve never heard before for free or download their favourite tracks straight to their mobile and immediately play them through the music player on their phone. Already included on selected Vodafone live! handsets, and available to download via Vodafone live! on others, it is fully integrated with the Vodafone live! Music Shop, powered by RealNetworks.

Vodafone customers will now be able to buy and download songs and albums using the new user- friendly interface, which has been developed, with its innovative features, to provide the ultimate mobile experience for music lovers.

The key to Vodafone Music’s simplicity is its enhanced visual library, which allows users to browse for tracks using the “Smart” search option. Consumers need not waste time inserting the full name of the artist, track or album to find what they are looking for - the search will bring up the options automatically for total ease of use.

The search option also allows customers to ‘try before they buy’ and listen to free 30 second previews of songs with no obligation to purchase – something that will come as music to customers’ ears. Users will also be able to search for and purchase album art as well as being able to browse the latest charts for new releases, top downloads and local sales charts.

Music fans who have recently bought a new handset can use the “Activate My Phone” feature within the menu, which allows them access to all their existing and previously purchased music from Vodafone live! completely free of charge, providing them with an easy and stress free way of retrieving all their downloaded tracks.

Key features of Vodafone Music:

* User friendly visual library – search by track, artist, album or genre to find what you are looking for quickly and simply
* View album art and preview songs before buying
* Improved charts including new releases, top downloads and local sales charts
* Previous customers with a new handset can use the “Activate My Phone” option to gain access to and retrieve all previous downloads at no extra cost
* All downloaded music can be played in the music player on the phone

Shopping and Previews:

* Singles and albums cost on average £0.99 and £7.99 respectively
* Browsing the music store is free of charge
* Vodafone Music is currently available on 11 handsets: SonyEricsson W910, W890, W880, W850, V640, V630, K850, K800, K770, K610 and Nokia N73
* Vodafone Music is downloadable from Vodafone live! free of charge

“With Vodafone Music, customers will be able to make the most of the Vodafone Music store as well as gaining an entirely new musical experience on their phones,” says Tom McLennan Head of Music, Vodafone UK. “Our commitment to music and our handset technology allows for the ultimate user experience coupled with great value for money.”

Vodafone Music has been developed by Vodafone UK and RealNetworks with customer input from the outset to ensure ease of use and complete user satisfaction.

About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK has 18.5 million customers and is part of the world’s largest mobile community offering a wide range of voice and data communications. Vodafone customers can now use Internet on their Mobile to view and navigate web pages and their favourite sites such as YouTube, eBay and the BBC. In addition, Vodafone connects customers across the globe with roaming agreements worldwide. It provides 3G roaming in 29 countries and offers great roaming value with Vodafone Passport.

Vodafone Partners with MTV for Launch of New Multi-Platform Music Series, Vodafone Soundbites

Aug. 8, 2008 -- Vodafone and MTV today announced the launch of a new multi-platform programme, Vodafone Soundbites.

Vodafone Soundbites explores every aspect of the global music scene. Featuring international artists' interviews at gigs and festivals, bands' fantasy group line-ups, pre-show rituals and performers describing their first time on stage, Vodafone Soundbites brings an authentic behind the scenes insight into the world of music.

Vodafone Soundbites will be available on TV, via a website (http://www.mtv-vodafonesoundbites.com) and on mobile (wap.mtv-vodafonesoundbites.com) as a series of twenty one, three minute shows from early August. The website and mobile service will carry additional footage, as well as editorial and news elements.

Vodafone Soundbites will be available in seven languages on MTV in Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the UK and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and on the MTV European feed, covering sixteen countries. Vodafone Soundbites is supported by an MTV created promotional spot, driving viewers to the premiere of each show. Each show will air four times in each territory on TV.

Vodafone and MTV recently joined forces by launching an online global interactive profile hosted by Myspace, 'Vodafone Music Reporter', offering music fans in some countries a chance to become an MTV reporter in an online and mobile Vodafone Soundbites episode.

"Through our partnership with MTV, Vodafone is successfully building on its long-lasting music heritage and continues to bring music to its customers whenever they want it, wherever they are. Vodafone Soundbites is a pioneering multiplatform communications show, will be delivered in 29 countries and will allow millions of fans to experience music on mobile through Vodafone and its partners' high speed, reliable networks, online and TV." commented David Wheldon, Global Brand Director, Vodafone.
Kevin Razvi, EVP of MTV Networks International and VBSI said, "We are delighted to once again partner with Vodafone on this new and deeper initiative. We always strive to offer our partners bespoke, creative opportunities. Leveraging on both our global reaches and MTV's multi platform offering, Vodafone Soundbites will engage music lovers everywhere at anytime through their preferred means. Music and especially live performance is something that everyone can enjoy and this new series reflects the truly global nature of both MTV and our partner, Vodafone."

About Vodafone Music Unlimited

Vodafone Music Unlimited is the overarching idea to deliver creative consistency across all Vodafone music activity via multi-media platforms and channels including the announced partnership with MySpace, Music Unlimited festivals across Europe and Online activities. The Vodafone Music Unlimited brand identity was first piloted globally, for the Vodafone's mobile exclusive release of Madonna's latest album, Hard Candy and has to date been activated in 11 Vodafone markets. For further information please visit http://www.vodafone.com/music.

About Viacom Brand Solutions International:

Viacom Brand Solutions International (VBSI), is Viacom's international in-house brand solutions sales business.

VBSI represents all the TV, digital and mobile channels of MTV Networks International - Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One, Neopets, GameTrailers, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films and Xfire. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 560 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via more than 150 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 350 digital media properties.

VBSI delivers advertisers creative cross platform solutions that engage consumers by investing in significant insight and by utilising the strengths of our youth and entertainment brands across multiple markets. These solutions are founded upon definitive creativity and innovative solutions constructed around branded content, sponsorship, promotions, events, new media and licensing opportunities.


Information Source:    Vodafone