Vodafone UK has launched a new social media integrated internet service facilitating easy access to a range of social media based networks and applications. This service is mainly aimed at attracting heavy Online users to its fold.
The web-based service named ‘Vodafone 360’ would be supported by LiMo (Linux Mobile) operating system, an open source mobile device OS. The service brings together content and contacts from social networks in one place. Vodafone has also revealed that it plans to make this service interoperable rather than working on justLiMo.
The service would allow subscribers to embed a universal contact list in their cell phone thus having access to all the contact info of their contacts on Twitter, Facebook, Google talk and a range of other services.
The ‘Vodafone 360’ service would also allows subscribers to access a whole range of social networking service like checking activity feeds, updating status on Social networks. The service is launched in UK and would soon roll out in other western markets operate by Vodafone.
Vodafone’s plans for such services?
Vodafone basically wants this services to serve as a retainer base for its subscribers at the same time increasing billing usages of data plans. This sort of service integration initiatives are very less seen from telcos but may soon become an ongoing process across the globe looking at the increasing might of  Social Networks these days. Today social networks cover a span of spending population in every Internet connected country and thus could serve as a viable tool for telcos to attract new subscribers  and increase revenues.
This VAS service also helps in increasing revenues multi-fold for telcos as voice and SMS charges are on a severe decline and thus the effects needs to be negated by introducing new services. The telco also wants to negate the effect of Apple iPhone exclusive tie-up agreement with other carriage providers in important markets like UK. The telco even wants to roll out the service as an app to iPhone platform.
Vodafone would also be fighting tooth-and-nails to sell more Apps through its Online and telecom platform rather than hardware vendor platforms. This can help it to monetize its users in more than just telecom services. The Telco also wants to provide similar platforms to sell more VAS content like music and other subscription services to increase revenues.
Will ‘Vodafone 360’ Come to India?
There is a fair chance that Vodafone may introduce the same services in Indian market but it will take quite a time. Indian Telcos in recent past has been tying up with social networks by introducing network apps although a full range of support for umbrella of social network services is still a distant dream.
This services if introduced in India and supported on platforms like windows mobile and symbian could find many takers as sale of high range phones has been on a rise and even social networking services has seen a prolific adoption in recent times. 3G in India may still take time but services and apps like this are very much required from telcos in advance so as to benefit heavily from 3G.
Vodafone ‘360’ service would serve as precedence to  similar moves by other telcos as many hardware vendors are crossing their line of just supplying phones thus posing strong challenges to the already baffled Telco’s.
