LONDON—Vodafone Group plc will narrow its terminal platforms to three standards—Symbian Series 60, Linux and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile—to be more efficient at device support, the network operator announced. The operator also announced a deal with Microsoft to develop software to cost effectively speed time to market for devices.
Specifically, the Vodafone/Microsoft agreement will integrate Vodafone’s applications and services with Microsoft’s software, speed the convergence of mobile devices and computers and increase the breadth of applications and services the operator offers.
Under the operator’s plan to streamline its platform portfolio—to take place over the next five years—the first device rollout is planned with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and expected to launch in the first half of next year.
“By focusing on these three core terminal platforms, Vodafone expects to be able to reap the benefits of a range of efficiencies such as reduced handset development costs, as well as quicker and more cost-effective rollout of new services,” said Jens Schulte-Bockum, global director of terminals for Vodafone. “This initiative aims to ensure that we do not have to create a different set of software to provide services on a wide range of platforms, so that our customers benefit from enhanced, yet simple-to-use services and lower costs.”
