MEDIACOM-RELEASE-VODAFONE-NEW-ZEALAND
WAP FOR VODAFONE CUSTOMERS
Vodafone New Zealand has announced that its customers will be able to use WAP (Wireless Application Protocol).
Vodafone has taken the lead in the much-talked about WAP technology and is delivering this service to its customers on
Friday, May 19. "I'm delighted that Vodafone customers will be the first to use this leading edge technology in New
Zealand," said John Rohan, Managing Director, Vodafone New Zealand.
"This is an exciting step in mobile communications and means we're enabling New Zealanders to access information they
want while they are on-the-go."
By using a WAP handset, Vodafone customers are now able to access information from the Internet, via web sites that have
been specially designed for this purpose.
Vodafone customers will be able to read and reply to their emails and access information such as the latest national or
international news items, weather forecasts, sports results and share prices - all from their mobile phones.
They will also be able to create their own list of hot WAP sites, just as many people "bookmark" their favourite web
sites.
In order to provide a fully integrated WAP service, several components are needed;
* A gateway or server so that information contained on the Internet can be accessed by mobile phones via the Vodafone
network.
* A portal, which contains the information that people want. Customers will access this information via Vodafone's WAP
portal at vodafone.net.nz. It contains information such as the latest news, sports results, weather information and even
your daily horoscope.
* WAP handsets. Currently, Nokia and Ericsson WAP handsets are available to Vodafone customers.
About Vodafone
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd is part of Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world's largest mobile telecommunications company with
more than 53 million customers, excluding paging customers. The company has interests in 25 countries over five
continents. Vodafone New Zealand now has 473,000 customers on its fully digital network and provides coverage to more
than 96% of the population.
ENDS