Twenty nine New Years’ Eves and one hangover!

Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 12:59 am
Press Release: Vodafone

20 December 2005

Twenty nine New Years’ Eves and one hangover!

Share the summer holidays with your parents-in-law in Taupo without leaving the beach at Pauanui, experience your first white Christmas without buying an airfare, have 29 New Years’ Eves around the world with only one hangover.

Sound too good to be true? This is all now a reality with Vodafone’s Video Calling bringing family and friends around the world closer together this Christmas.

“Real time, face-to-face calling brings new possibilities to the way New Zealanders will be able to celebrate this Christmas,” said Vodafone General Manager of New Ventures, Kieren Cooney. “Only Vodafone customers can experience the way Video Calling provides a richer, more personal way of communicating from their mobile.”

“The constant dilemma during the festive season is trying to be everywhere and see everyone at once – now with video calling you can be in two places at the same time,” said Cooney. “An example of which was when a staff member who is now working in the UK video called to our Christmas party in New Zealand so they didn’t have to miss out.”

The launch of Vodafone Australia’s 3G network in October means that only Vodafone New Zealand customers can now enjoy real time, face-to-face mobile conversations with friends and family in Australia.

“Given there are now over 460,000 kiwis living in Australia, this is sure to be a very popular way to communicate with expats across the tasman this Christmas,” said Cooney.

While it is still free to video call within New Zealand (from 1 January 2006 video calling will be the same price as a voice call) it costs $1.99 per minute to video calls overseas. Vodafone customers will be able to video call friends and family who subscribe to one of 58 networks across 29 countries around the world.

Video calling while roaming is now also available when travelling to Australia, UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Malaysia, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden.

It is possible to video call either domestically or internationally from any of the centres throughout New Zealand with 3G coverage which includes popular holiday destinations such as Pauanui, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, Taupo, Queenstown and Napier.

Video Calling is one of a range of services Vodafone brings its customers to make the most of their holiday season including Vodafone MusicStore, Mobile TV, increased coverage throughout New Zealand, sending PXTs between networks and enhanced roaming services for those travelling around the world this summer.

“Traditional voice calls, text and video messages will continue to be popular services over the festive season, but video calling really does take it to a whole new level.”

ENDS

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