Vodafone launch first 3G HSDPA phone in Portugal

July 6, 2006

With the commercial launch of the Samsung ZV50, Vodafone becomes the first Portuguese operator to offer 3G Broadband - also known as 3.5G or HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) - phones.

Following the introduction in Portugal of the first 3G Broadband service, the Vodafone 3G Broadband Mobile Connect Card, Vodafone is offering from today the first phone with a broadband access speed of up to 1.8Mbps, over 4 times the speed offered by Third Generation (3G/UMTS).

The Samsung ZV50 3G Broadband phone, exclusive to Vodafone, is available from today in the usual Vodafone sales outlets at a basic price of 449.90 euros.

Vodafone's 3G Broadband coverage is already available in 81 cities in Portugal including Almada, Amadora, Angra do Heroísmo, Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Caldas da Rainha, Cascais, Coimbra, Covilhã, Évora, Faro, Funchal, Guimarães, Horta, Lagos, Leiria, Lisboa, Loulé, Loures, Maia, Montijo, Oeiras, Oporto, Ponta Delgada, Portalegre, Portimão, Setúbal, Sintra, Torres Vedras, Viana do Castelo, Vila Nova de Gaia, Vila Real, Vila Real de Santo António and Viseu.

Vodafone's 3G Broadband coverage is being progressively extended and by the end of 2006 will reach a total of 150 cities and other urban areas. When a customer moves into areas still without 3G Broadband coverage, the 3G Broadband equipment automatically switches to 3G or GPRS, which are available throughout Portugal.

Vodafone has always been at the forefront of the introduction of new technologies and the development of mobile data services. It pioneered the launch of 2.5G (GPRS), 3G (UMTS) and 3.5G (HSDPA) services in Portugal.