Vodafone Group plc has contracted with Cable & Wireless “to facilitate a European General Packet Radio Service data roaming trial,” the companies said March 20.
Cable & Wireless will provide the Internet Protocol-based network connection among nine Vodafone-affiliated wireless operators in Europe that are taking part in the three-month trial. Participating end-users will be able to access their e-mail or corporate intranet over a secure system in any of the nine countries.
In another roaming-related announcement March 20, Comverse Technology Inc., Woodbury, N.Y., said its star*home affiliate will provide its “Virtual Home Environment” to Vodafone customers who roam abroad and to other carriers’ customers who roam into Vodafone’s networks.
Using a “home short code,” subscribers can access voicemail, home customer care, information providers and other services. The “global direct access” feature will provide secure delivery of caller identification information for seamless access to these value-added services.
Wireless users roaming into Vodafone’s coverage areas will, upon registering with the network, receive short message service information about Virtual Home Environment capabilities and general visitor information.
