Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Vodafone markets 12 month smartphone deals

Operator to launch marketing campaign throughout retail estate in order to raise awareness about reintroduced 12 month smartphone contracts

Vodafone is to launch a marketing campaign running throughout its retail estate, early next month to boost awareness about its 12 month smartphone contracts, the operator has confirmed to Mobile News.

Vodafone reintroduced smartphones on 12 month contracts earlier this month but is yet to advertise this move.

It has offered SIM only 12 month deals for some time.

Handsets available on one year deals will include the HTC Desire HD, BlackBerry Torch, the Google Nexus S and the Nokia N8 amongst others. Prices will start from 35 a month.

No one was available to comment further on the campaign, however the company did supply Mobile News with a copy of one of the adverts (pictured) which will appear in store windows.

Other operators Everything Everywhere, Three and O2 do not currently offer smartphones on a one year contract, but Tesco Mobile has marketed it’s sale of smartphones on such contracts heavily.

Tesco Mobile would not provide comment on Vodafone’s push into this sector but re-iterated its position in the market.

A Tesco Mobile spokesperson said: “Tesco Mobile was the first to launch a comprehensive 12 month contract range for customers.

“We will continue to offer customers this choice alongside a range of great value pay monthly tariffs.”

The new marketing campaign by Vodafone comes two months before EU laws are expected to implemented forcing operators to offer 12 month contracts (SIM only contracts are deemed acceptable).

However a Vodafone spokesperson said the timing of the campaign with new legislation was “coincidence”.

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