Vodafone And BSkyB To Pursue New Relationship
Imagine getting previews of your favourite TV programmes on your mobile phone, or perhaps you want to express your opinion on a major issue of the day. Did you miss hearing your team's selection for tonight's big game? Do you want an instant alert when a big news story breaks? Wouldn't it be nice to keep the kids quiet in the back of the car by letting them play a game over the phone with their friends back home? All these things, and many more, may soon be possible following an announcement today between Vodafone UK and British Sky Broadcasting.
Vodafone and Sky share a vision of a world where people increasingly turn to mobile devices to access information and entertainment and to conduct transactions. The two companies are exploring opportunities for delivering a package of compelling sports, news and entertainment content to Vodafone Interactive customers over both WAP ("wireless application protocol") and SMS ("short messaging service") services. Voting and polls, interviews, shopping, TV listings and games could be just some of the services on offer through the Vodafone Interactive service.
The powerful combination of Vodafone Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)- enabled phones which incorporate internet browser technology with Sky's compelling content, editorial resources and packaging skills creates a winning offer for customers. This offer will be further enhanced with the introduction of third generation (3G) mobile technology.
Vodafone Commercial and Marketing Director, Paul Donovan commented: "We believe that in the next few years there will be more people accessing the internet from their mobile phone than from their fixed PC. It is therefore essential that we provide our customers with all the services they need, at their fingertips, where ever they are in the world. Partnering with Sky brings richer content and greater depth to Vodafone's Interactive Services."
According to John Swingewood, BSkyB's Director of New Media: "This relationship is an ideal fit with our strategy to offer Sky on-line content to as wide an audience as possible. We want to make Sky's sport, news and entertainment content available, on a non-exclusive basis, to Vodafone's eight million UK customers. Additionally, our retailing relationships are ideal for the development of mobile e-commerce when this becomes available in the summer."
Vodafone customers can already access Sky's SMS sports alert service, which updates football fans on the progress of Premier League matches.
Later this year, new technology will allow Vodafone Interactive customers, at the touch of a button, to access live sports results, team news and team selections on their mobile phones; as well as hear audio commentary for a variety of sports; and call up statistics, betting odds, quotes and interviews. Breaking news headlines and audio news summaries could also become available alongside showbiz news, TV listings, movie reviews and instant games.