Vodafone seeks lead in mobile market

By RICHARD BRADDELL

After giving Telecom a run for its money in the consumer market, Vodafone New Zealand will make an assault on the high-value business mobile market.

Vodafone hopes to capitalise on a technological lead it says Telecom will not be able to match until late next year.

Vodafone has just launched a new data overlay to its existing network. It offers internet capability as well as a host of new business applications such as remote monitoring of vending machines and delivery vehicles.

It says the new technology, known as general packet radio service (GPRS), will give local software developers a head-start in creating applications that could be sold globally.

New Zealand is one of the first countries to use GPRS.

Vodafone's general manager of business, Todd McLeay, rejected the suggestion that the assault on the business market was in response to the tight competition for the consumer dollar.

He said the business market had always been in Vodafone's sights.

While Vodafone had not approached the business market as publicly as its forerunner, BellSouth, it had still been active through direct customer contact.

Vodafone says Telecom will not be able to match the GPRS system until it completes its digital CDMA network next year.

"Our competitor is definitely not ready - there is a real window of opportunity," Mr McLeay said.

In what may be the world's first commercial use of a GPRS network, Vodafone packaged 70 mobile business solutions to demonstrate at shows in Auckland this week.

Some services, such as a system to keep track of delivery vehicles including monitoring temperatures in refrigerated vans, depend on the GPRS network.

Mr McLeay said that even if applications were written in other countries, they would still have to be tested before hitting the market.

He said Telecom would face that problem with its new network.

It would still have to test local software before it could be launched commercially.