Vodafone Business History

In two decades, Vodafone became the telecommunications leader in Global Systems for Mobile networks (www.associatedcontent.com). Vodafone provides innovative and cutting edge telecommunications services on the largest wireless network on earth. In this article, I will discuss how Vodafone was started and the growth of one of the world's largest company.

Vodafone was formed in 1983 as a joint venture between Rascal Electronics (a UK electronic firm) and Millicom (a US telecom company), and was granted one of two mobile phone licenses in the UK (www.associatedcontent.com). That became the UK's first mobile license. The name Vodafone came from the firm's goal to establish a voice and data services over cellular telecommunication networks. In which, the VO is represents voice and the DA symbolizes data, hence Vodafone (www.associatedcontent.com). In 1985, Vodafone launched its service but as a Rascal subsidiary (www.vodafone.com).

October of 1987, Vodafone launched Vodapage. Which, is a paging network covering over 80% of the country (www.vodafone.com). In 1988, Rascal offered 20% of Vodafone to the public and would become Vodafone Group (www.associatedcontent.com). The beginning of the 1990s, Vodafone moves beyond the UK. In 1990, Vodafone customer base reaches 500,000 (www.vodafone.com). In October of 1992, Vodafone begins Commercial services. Vodafone was the first Portuguese company to offer a Customer Care Service available twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week (www.vodafone.com). Also, in 1992 Vodafone was named Company of the Year at Business Enterprise Awards (www.vodafone.com).

By 1993, Vodafone's international reach extends, with licenses and partnerships in Germany, South Africa, Fiji, Australia, and Greece (www.vodafone.com). Vodafone started networks for mobile phones in these other countries. Their strategy was to acquire competitors in order to knock out competition and become more competitive than its rivals (www.associatedcontent.com). March of 1994, Vodafone joins up with the Globalstar consortium to develop and launch low orbit satellite capability to supplement land-network coverage (www.vodafone.com). Also, in November of the same year Vodafone launches digital data fax and SMS (Short text messaging) service (www.vodafone.com).

In 1995, Vodafone kept expanding in the Netherlands, Uganda, Hong Kong, and France (www.vodafone.com). November 1997, Vodafone launch of their digital ‘Pay As You Talk' pre-paid service for their frequent users (www.vodafone.com). In 1998, Vodafone is the first Portuguese mobile operator offering and introducing mobile phone in the market offering both bounds, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz (www.