Dec 06/Jan 07

Vodafone has taken what looks a decisive step to extend its presence in mobile business services with two significant acquisitions. One of the companies in question, Aspective, is an established specialist in mobile enterprise applications, while the other, Isis Telecommunications Management, is a specialist in mobile voice, data and airtime provision.

Aspective will be well-known to many m.logistics readers as a specialist in the mobilisation of enterprise applications such as customer relationship management and field sales automation. Vodafone UK is understood to have seen a significant growth in demand for such resources from its enterprise customers.

All the mobile networks are currently seeking ways to extend their territory beyond core phone and data services, and one of the ways they have been approaching the move is to launch tracking and satellite navigation options (see news item on Orange in Products and Services, page 28).

However, Vodafone's latest moves are targeting the wider field service and mobile enterprise market. The company describes them as "part of its longer-term plan to evolve from a mobile-focused company to a total communications provider offering seamless communications to its customers".

 

Alongside its acquisitions, Vodafone has also established a deal with Fiberlink under which it will us this company's secure mobile access solution exclusively in the UK for mobile workforce services.