ASIA
: Vodafone today announces the signing of a new Partner Network Agreement,
making SmarTone Vodafone's exclusive partner in Hong Kong.
The mutually
beneficial partnership brings together two well-recognised brands;
Vodafone, the world's leading mobile operator, and SmarTone, Hong
Kong's leading mobile operator in multimedia services. SmarTone will
re-brand its business to SmarTone-Vodafone, enabling the Vodafone
brand to be introduced into the significant Hong Kong mobile market.
Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will co-operate in
developing and offering products and services, through the SmarTone-Vodafone
brand, to international travellers and domestic customers.
As a
Partner Network, SmarTone-Vodafone will offer Vodafone and its partners'
customers seamless access to Vodafone's international mobile services
whilst travelling in Hong Kong. SmarTone customers will enjoy the
benefits of Vodafone's roaming services across its extensive global
footprint.
Brian
Clark, Chief Executive Asia Pacific, Vodafone, said: 'Our partnering
with SmarTone is another significant step towards bringing our customers
the key benefits of the Vodafone brand and services in the Asia-Pacific
region. It also clearly demonstrates how Vodafone is leveraging its
global scale and scope to strengthen our international brand profile
and use of global services, creating new sources of revenue for us
and our partners.'
'We are
delighted about our partnership with Vodafone as we move from strength
to strength in delivering even greater value to both our customers
and shareholders,' said Douglas Li, Chief Executive Officer of SmarTone.
'Together with Vodafone's leading position in mobile communications
and its unmatched global footprint, we will be able to develop and
offer enhanced and richer products and services with a shorter time-to-market
and greater cost efficiency.
This
sharpens our competitive edge and further strengthens our brand in
the market.'
Following
today's announcement, Vodafone's portfolio of global services, supported
by its global brand, will be available in fourteen Partner Network
countries: Austria, Bahrain, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
Hong Kong, Iceland, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Singapore and Slovenia.