Orange and Vodafone to sell iPhone 3G and 3GS, spelling end of exclusivity for O2

Orange UK and Apple have reached an agreement to bring iPhone 3G and 3GS to Orange UK customers later this year. Orange globally now offers iPhone in 28 countries and territories. Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell iPhone in all Orange direct channels including Orange shops, the Orange webshop and Orange telesales channels, as well as selected high street partners. A pre-registration site for customers to log their interest has been launched at www.Orange.co.uk/iPhone. (read more…)

Vodafone 360 lands to replace Live

So after much anticipation, Vodafone 360 has landed! V360 integrates a host of social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, and includes a store of applications that will eventually be available to the company’s more than 315 million global customers.

It will replace the Vodafone Live suite of mobile internet services, which was heralded as the company’s most important launch ever when it was unveiled seven years ago but has been made to look “tired” by the recent proliferation of mobile applications and the success of devices such as the iPhone, Palm Pre and handsets using Google’s Android software. (read more…)

The Big Interview: Rory Sutherland

Rory Sutherland is one of the most influential men in modern day advertising.

As president of the Institute of Practioners in Advertising (IPA), Rory Sutherland is now also the ad industry’s most important ambassador. The vice-chairman of Sir Martin Sorrell’s ad agency network Ogilvy Group UK and executive creative director of its direct marketing company, OgilvyOne London, Sutherland succeeded the M&C Saatchi chief executive, Moray MacLennan, at the head of the IPA in April.

I saw Rory speak at the Mobile Advertising UK event in June, and he is a truly passionate individual, who is becoming a solid supporter of mobile as a marketing channel. And here he is answering questions on mobile advertising for Mobsessed. (read more…)

My Handset History: 2000-2009

So what quantifies me as being mobsessed?

I do not think there is a straight answer to that question, but having over 15 phones in 9 years certainly goes great lengths to contributing towards it. Below you will see a rather lovely visual representation of my mobile handset history. These are the phones that stick out for me one way or another (plus there are some I cannot remember!) however the bigger impact they had on me as a mobile user, the bigger they are represented on the diagram. (read more…)