Vodafone NZ today welcomed TelstraClear’s plans to enter the mobile market with the announcement of its Unplugged service, to be launched in Tauranga next year.

CEO Russell Stanners says Vodafone is encouraged to see a third player investing in mobile infrastructure.

“TelstraClear’s NZD 50 million investment, coupled with Vodafone’s ongoing commitment to invest in its 3G network to provide local calling and broadband services, is a positive step for New Zealand’s mobile market.

“This is an exciting time for the industry. TelstraClear’s new service highlights where mobile is heading, allowing customers to use their phone as a mobile, home phone and for broadband,” Stanners says.

He says the fact TelstraClear is using W-CDMA 3G (Wideband CDMA) for its service is an excellent endorsement of Vodafone’s technology.

“W-CDMA 3G allows consumers access to a variety of services from their mobile. This includes video calling, and mobile TV and downloading music. It also offers 3G datacards, giving laptop users immediate access to internet, email and office applications and 3G mobile broadband.”

Stanners says TelstraClear’s service is a clear indication the market is open to new entrants and further regulation of the industry to increase competition is not needed.

TelstraClear is a long-term partner of Vodafone as a reseller of its mobile products.

Vodafone New Zealand customers concerned about their safety while out and about can now send a free TXT message to 7233 (SAFE) to have their movements recorded on a central database.

The SAFE service is available to Vodafone customers who are both in New Zealand and roaming on its global network, which spans more than 100 countries.

Vodafone Head of Corporate Responsibility Raphael Hilbron said today the SAFE initiative would provide Vodafone’s two million customers with additional peace of mind – no matter where in the world they were.

“You might be walking home alone, or getting into a car at night and realise that no-one knows where you are, or what time you’re due at your intended destination. By TXTing some brief details about your movements to 7233, in the unlikely event you are reported missing the police may gain a valuable lead on what happened to you.”

The service works by customers sending a free TXT message to 7233 (SAFE) – for example, “leaving Viaduct @ 10pm to walk home to Ponsonby via Franklin Rd.” Vodafone records the date, time and content of the TXT against the mobile number. Each TXT sent to 7233 will be acknowledged by an automated response, which advises customers who feel in danger to call local emergency (111 in New Zealand) and request police assistance.

The SAFE service complements safety initiatives introduced by Vodafone, including its ICE campaign, which encourages people to list an In Case of Emergency contact by name and number in their mobile contact book under the moniker ICE.

All 3.8 million mobile customers in New Zealand are now covered by the SAFE initiative, which is also available on Telecom. The idea was suggested following the abduction and murder of German tourist Birgit Brauer.

Vodafone New Zeland customers can keep TXTing for free at the weekends until the end of October 2006, Vodafone said today.

Larrie Moore, General Manager of Brand and Consumer Marketing said Free TXT weekends have proven so popular with customers that the promotion is being extended for the second time. The promotion, launched in May 2005, was due to end on 30 June 2006.

Moore said the number of TXT messages sent on the Vodafone network during the weekend and during the week had increased significantly since the Free TXT weekend initiative was launched.

Moore said the popularity of TXTing had also led to Vodafone developing a new range of TXTing services to meet the different needs and budgets of its customers, starting with TXT 100(TM) at NZD 5.95; TXT 200(TM) at NZD 7.95, TXT 600(TM) at NZD 12.95 and Vodafone-to-Vodafone TXT 1000(TM) at NZD 9.95.