3, Ireland’s newest mobile phone network, has announced that classic clips from legendary cult comedy sitcom, Father Ted, have been made available to all 3 customers to download direct to their mobile phones.

It is the first time that snippets from this award winning comedy can be viewed on mobile handsets in Ireland, with five classic Fr. Ted clips available for 3 users to view at any one time. This latest addition to 3′s content repertoire is available to both bill-pay and pre-pay customers and costs only 49c for each Father Ted download.

The most popular clip is updated twice a week so users are guaranteed a laugh from their favourite escapades with Father Ted Crilly, the simple-minded Father Dougal McGuire, alcoholic, foul mouthed Father Jack and manic tea-maker Mrs. Doyle.

The best Father Ted bits like the re-enactment of ‘Speed in the Milk Delivery Cart’, can be saved to the phone handset’s video library, so it can be viewed again and again.

Robert Finnegan, Managing Director, 3 Ireland, said: “3 is delighted to announce our latest addition to our entertainment content. Father Ted is classic Irish comedy at its best. The availability of these comedy sketches adds to 3′s strong music, entertainment and sport offering. In keeping with our reputation for progressive 3G content, excellent service and exciting programming, 3 can now even guarantee a laugh to our customers!”

Cavan people who want to develop an environmental project, but do not have the necessary funds to complete it, can now apply to the Vodafone and Conservation Volunteers Ireland Nature Fund for a grant. To date over EUR 130,000 has been awarded to environmental groups from 19 counties in Ireland and another EUR 20,000 is due to be awarded within the next few months.

Co. Cavan have already benefited twice from this unique conservation funding scheme, with a Cavan based environmental group – Bat Conservation Ireland – awarded two grants, one in September 2004 and a second in May 2006, to assist them develop specific projects. Now Vodafone and Conservation Volunteers Ireland (CVI) are inviting County Cavan based groups to apply for support from the upcoming round of funding.

Vodafone and CVI are aware of a number of groups in the Cavan area who have projects needing funding and now encourage them to finalise their application forms and return them by Monday 14th August for consideration for a grant. The Vodafone and CVI Nature Fund aims to encourage the appreciation and protection of Ireland’s unique natural habitat through the funding of locally based environmental projects and initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and enhancing Ireland’s treasured landscape. All funding for this grant scheme comes directly from the proceeds of the Vodafone Mobile Phone Recycling Programme.

Applications are invited from environmental projects from across the community, including schools, businesses, local authorities, residents associations, charities and voluntary groups, as well as individuals whose projects and initiatives display a practical commitment to understanding, enhancing and protecting our environment.

The application process is very simple; you can download an application form from www.cvi.ie or e-mail info@cvi.ie to have one e-mailed to you. When completed applications are received, a panel of judges, including, Mairead McGuinness MEP, will review all the applications and select the projects to receive funding.

According to Olivia Dobbs, “The fast pace of technology in the mobile phone industry means phones are rapidly becoming obsolete. This partnership with CVI raises awareness of the importance of our collective responsibility to our environment. This programme gives Irish communities the opportunity to implement a sustainable difference in their local area”.

The next round of grants will be awarded to those successful groups at an Awards Ceremony to be held in early autumn.

Vodafone Ireland has become the first mobile operator in the country to launch a flat-rate 3G mobile Internet service on Vodafone’s superior 3G network. Called Vodafone Unlimited Data and available on July 1st, the new solution will cost just 49 Euro per month (inc Vat), representing the best value in 3G services in Ireland. The launch marks a first in telecommunications in Ireland, making it possible for customers to have unlimited access to e-mail and the Internet anytime, for a fixed monthly price.

Later this year, Vodafone will officially launch its 3G broadband network using High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology. Initially in Dublin, then expanding throughout the country, Vodafone 3G broadband marks the next phase of 3G technology. This will allow customers to access the Internet at speeds of up to 1.2 Megabits per second for just 49 Euro per month (inc Vat) as part of the Vodafone Unlimited Data package. The technology will utilise Vodafone’s 3G network which already caters for Vodafone’s 250,000 3G customers.

“These announcements mark yet another first for Vodafone Ireland,” said Teresa Elder, Chief Executive, Vodafone Ireland. “We were the first to launch 3G services; the first with pre-paid 3G; the first to launch a 3G Mobile Connect Card for laptops and now we are the first company to launch a nationwide mobile data flat-rate, a price comparable to that of fixed-line providers. I believe that this is very significant for Ireland’s economic development as it will unlock the potential for many people who wish to be able to work on the go without the constraints of a fixed line. Later this year, we’ll up the ante further and will become the first to launch 3G broadband, or HSDPA, as well as laptops with built in 3G broadband data cards through our partners Dell and Lenovo..

Also launching this year from partners such as Dell and Lenovo are a range of laptop computers which come with built-in 3G/3G broadband Vodafone SIM cards and GPRS/3G/3G Broadband radios, allowing for “out of the box” mobile connectivity.

“Solutions such as Vodafone Business Email, BlackBerry from Vodafone and our hugely successful 3G Mobile Connect Card have proven our dedication to mobilising Ireland’s workers,” said Carolan Lennon, Marketing Director, Vodafone Ireland. “Vodafone Unlimited Data is another example of our commitment to providing the most advanced mobility solutions to businesses and employees throughout Ireland. Our customers have demanded a simplified service that does not include any per megabyte charges. We have listened and responded with Vodafone Unlimited Data.”

Survey indicates strong demand for mobility solutions

Research carried out by AmГЎrach Consulting on behalf of Vodafone Ireland shows that demand for services such as Vodafone Unlimited Data is strong, with 24 percent of people who work outside the office (referred to as mobile workers) already taking advantage of remote access technologies, and 19 percent looking for the right tools to work remotely. According to the study, which consisted of 300 interviews with employees and 210 employers who work outside the office and have a post paid mobile phone, a full 92 percent of mobile workers would like remote access to e-mail, while 73 percent would like Internet access. Other details in the study showed that 54 percent of respondents felt that mobile working would free them from the office, while 36 percent agreed that that it would make their job easier.

Other key results from the survey showed that:

22 percent of employers have advocated mobile working “fully” or “a lot”;
14 percent of respondents say mobile working can help attract and retain staff;
21 percent of respondents argue that mobile working offers firms a competitive advantage;
33 percent of respondent said improved responsiveness is a key benefit of mobile working technologies;
19 percent of respondent said having more manageable working hours is a major advantage;
27 percent of respondent said more satisfied customers is a prime benefit of mobile working technologies.
“AmГЎrach Consulting’s research has also clearly shown that over 56 percent of employees are losing at least an hour a day downtime, with 26 percent losing between one and two hours per day,” said Carolan Lennon, Marketing Director, Vodafone Ireland. “These hours are lost to travel, and waiting for meetings to begin, and other routine activities. Recouping this time would have major benefits not only to the companies and the overall economy, but to individuals who would have the opportunity to work in a flexible manner, enhancing their own work-life balance.”