Verizon Wireless & Vodafone form global partnership

Stuart Corner
Saturday, 17 November 2007 00:31

Opinion and Analysis

Vodafone which operates mobile networks in 25 countries, has teamed up with US cellular operator, Verizon Wireless, to offer business customers a more consistent approach to services and pricing across different countries. Curiously, the announcement makes no mention of Verizon Business, the arm of Verizon that operates worldwide serving global multinationals and other large businesses. Specifically, but without giving much detail, the two say they the move is " aimed at giving select business customers an enhanced global communications experience...The new program allows both companies to meet the needs of global business customers, while providing a consistent approach to products and pricing. In addition, business customers served by a global account team will be able to have one contract to cover their mobile needs - in the United States, Europe and elsewhere in the world."

According to Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, "Increasingly, enterprise customers are competing in the global market and wireless solutions are integral to their ability to be responsive to their business." Vittorio Colao, deputy CEO of Vodafone, said: "This unique Vodafone Verizon Wireless offer delivers more predictability and consistency to the communications needs of international businesses. It provides our customers with a single point of contact that makes it easier to do business with both companies. We are confident that this cooperation will provide immediate benefits to our customers and set a new standard in enterprise account management."

Vodafone has over 241 million proportionate customers and equity interests in mobile operators in 25 countries across five continents and a further 40 partner networks worldwide. However these all operate as separate entities serving their local customers. And Verizon Wireless is a purely US cellular network operator. Verizon Business, on the other hand already operates globally and is accustomed to provided global solutions to the global communications needs of multinationals: it would seem to be the best placed organisation to exploit the partnership with Vodafone to offer those customers a consistent approach to mobile services.