International videotelephony for Vodafone 3G customers

June 29, 2004

A few weeks ago, Vodafone heralded the onset of the videotelephony age for Vodafone customers when it introduced the Samsung Z105 UMTS mobile telephone. Meanwhile, the Z105 has been joined by the SonyEricsson Z1010, another videotelephony capable UMTS mobile phone, and Vodafone Germany has gone one step further by introducing international video calls. Videotelephony roaming will initially be available in Vodafone's UMTS networks in Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands and Spain, and further overseas networks will follow in the near future. What's more, it has introduced the perfect offer for the holiday season: video calls from Germany to the overseas networks and vice-versa can be made at voice call tariffs with no additional charges during the introductory phase until 30 September 2004.

The fast UMTS transmission rates enable the parties to see each other during the call - provided that they both have a videotelephony capable mobile telephone and UMTS network coverage - irrespective of whether the video call is made from the above-mentioned Vodafone networks to Germany or vice-versa. There are no more obstacles to the transmission of live images from holiday beaches or the Euro 2004 championship in Portugal!

In the introductory phase until the end of September 2004, both video calls within Vodafone's German UMTS network, as well as to and from Vodafone's overseas networks, will cost the same as voice calls. For example, a video call from Germany to a German Vodafone customer in Italy costs exactly the same as a normal mobile phone call within the German Vodafone network. The person receiving the video call in Italy pays the costs for the onward routing of the call in the foreign country, which is billed in the same way as an international telephone call.

If the Vodafone customer is located in another country, the call is billed as follows: an outgoing video call from the foreign Vodafone network is billed in precisely the same way as an outgoing voice call. The customer does not pay any more for an incoming video call than he would for a conventional incoming mobile telephone call. In short: Vodafone customers can enjoy videotelephony the whole summer long at voice call rates, irrespective of their location.