E-commerce and logistics partners, Marketworks and Royal Mail, develop new online sales channel for yesterday’s handsets. London, (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) 27th April 2006 — A recent trial to sell end-of-line and surplus stock using the ubiquitous online sales channel, eBay, has resulted in unprecedented success for handset manufacturer, Vodafone. Traditionally, Vodafone had sold its older handsets through the retail channel or to third party repair dealers for spares. But these methods typically only recoup just 30 per cent of a handset’s cost price. Using eBay, Vodafone is now seeing purchase prices of at least double that achieved via the spares market and significantly higher than through retail outlets: purchase prices are now 60 to 70 per cent of cost price. In addition, purchasers pay via PayPal instead of by cheque, so Vodafone enjoys the added benefit of funds being deposited directly. Mobile phones are high fashion items as well as high tech products. Vodafone’s handset range changes every quarter, leading to an ever-increasing tail of products. The level of depreciation is fast – a phone on sale for £100 at launch will typically command just £50 just three months later. Lack of consumer demand for older models is exacerbated by restricted shelf space in-store and retail incentives that encourage sales staff to promote the latest models. ‘We really needed to initiate a new way to move these less fashionable handsets quickly with maximum returns,’ says Simon Griffiths, Liquidation Manager, Vodafone. ‘The spares market is unpredictable and can often reach saturation – and the retail environment doesn’t favour older handsets.’ Marketworks’ enterprise software solution was chosen to build and manage the new channel and Royal Mail to handle the logistics operation. Ecommerce expert, Kyle Antcliff, VP International, Marketworks, said, ‘Vodafone was looking for a new highly effective cost recovery solution for their end-of-line handsets. The outsourced Marketworks/Royal Mail solution using eBay has achieved excellent results, with up to 3000 handsets a week being sold directly to consumers through this new channel”. ‘It’s a very neat solution,’ says Simon Griffiths. ‘Marketworks and Royal Mail work very closely together on our behalf. Marketworks provides their eBay platform and relevant IT expertise and support, with Royal Mail handling the logistics, including the warehousing. The items are shipped off to the Royal Mail warehouse and held until there is a winning bidder. Then they’re picked, packed and despatched, with a Vodafone invoice. The ease of the solution and automated sales reporting tools have resulted in significant savings in management time.” Griffiths added, ‘The reserve price on eBay means that we’re guaranteed to achieve a minimum price online. Just as important – and in contrast to the spares market solution – subsequent use of the handset provides us with another revenue stream, airtime usage.’ Robin Mar, Head of New Business, Royal Mail said, ‘The sale process is fast, simple and effective. While Marketworks handles the online aspect, Royal Mail dovetails into their and Vodafone’s organisations to provide a seamless service – one that takes full responsibility for the process, from receiving the handsets from Vodafone to delivering them to successful bidders’. About Marketworks UK Marketworks UK is a leading provider of ecommerce software, ecommerce storefronts ebay auction management software, sales automation software and marketing services for multi-channel online selling. As eBay’s first and largest Certified Solution Provider, and with an international presence in six countries, Marketworks is committed to driving customers’ sales and profits by eliminating operational, channel and geographic barriers associated with selling online. Marketworks has branches worldwide, including the UK, Germany, Australia, and US. For further information on the Atlanta-based company, please go to www.marketworks.com.

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Vodafone has begun consulting staff on plans to sign a major IT outsourcing deal that will see a number of employees transfer to a third-party supplier.
The mobile operator notified employees of the decision to go ahead with the IT outsourcing proposal late last week, although it said the plans are still at an early stage.
It was reported earlier this year that IBM had been lined up for the outsourcing contract, but a Vodafone spokesman said no decision has yet been made.
“It’s all very early days. We have had an internal talk with staff and we are at the exploratory stage with vendors,” he told technology website Silicon.com
Vodafone confirmed that it expects some people to transfer across as part of the IT outsourcing deal, but declined to say how many staff would be affected.
To know more about this visit: outsourcingworld.com

manjot kamal

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Technology is progressing at a rapid pace unleashing many a opportunities for the mankind. It has been a constant effort from the side of the mobile manufactures to offer you the best in features, best in technology. To a large extent, we have reaped the fruits and more ripen endeavours are to be exhibited soon. Yes, the mobile phone industry is marching ahead with arms wide open – it won’t take much time to see man and machine becoming one!

Let’s have a look at the current mobile market trend in the UK. Undoubtedly, the UK is a huge and lucrative market for all the leading mobile makers. Almost all the companies have come up with manufacturing units in the country and all are doing great jobs. There are also a number of mobile network service providers in the UK covering every corner in the country. However, Vodafone enjoys the peak position in terms of customer subscription – all credit goes to Vodafone’s solid technological wizardry.

Vodafone Group Plc. is the largest mobile network service provider in the country with its headquarters situated in Newbury, Berkshire, England. Till June the company has recorder a market value of £84.7 billion. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 27 countries and Partner Networks (networks in which it has no equity stake) in another 40 countries. The seven markets where Vodafone has more than ten million proportionate customers are Germany, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Vodafone has very good and attractive mobile phone deals to suit to the needs and requirements of every segment. A number of mobile phone plans like contract Phones,deal pay as you go mobile phones, sim free mobile phones are available online on Vodafone networks with all the online mobile phone shops. Buying a mobile phone with a Vodafone connection won’t be a bad idea if you are looking for a cost effective mobile plan.

Dylan is professional internet marketer. He has written several articles and review, on mobile phones and networks like vodafone Contract Phones network, o2, Orange Mobile phones and 3.

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Vodafone network is one of the best mobile networks in the UK. Vodafone mobile phone networks provide a full range of mobile telecommunication services all over the Europe. You can choose a variety of handsets from some of the best mobile manufacturers such as Sony Ericsson, Nokia, LG, Motorola, Samsung, etc.

Vodafone networks offer attractive packages in their contract mobile phones deal and consumers get maximum benefits from their cost effective plans. Vodafone networks also provide good connectivity without any disruption even in remote areas also. If you are looking for a handset and the connectivity, why choose other networks as you have a superior choice with you. Though there are six mobile networks in the UK and all have their own mobile phone plans, Vodafone networks offer one of the best deals to help consumers in getting their handset as well as the connectivity at a reasonable rate. All you need to do is to connect through the network. The price range for the tariff plans set for different handsets vary. You may get free minutes, free text, evening under Anytime plans and Weekend plans include off peak free minutes, free off peak calls to any Vodafone mobile phones, etc.

Apart from the mobile phones, mobile phone network also plays a crucial role. A good connectivity is also very important. Vodafone gives you the best connectivity even in places where other networks may not work properly. Therefore, choose one of the best networks and stay connected with the people anytime-anywhere. Mobile phones have become an essential gadget for everyone. The reason is obvious–no other gadget provides you to communicate with people; keep you updated with the latest information through the Internet and above all entertain you through music players, games, camera features, etc.

What are you waiting for! Get your handset and connect through Vodafone networks for a seamless connectivity all through the year.

Carly charu is the webmaster, specializing in the different Vodafone mobile network dealsand Vodafone mobile phones.

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We start the discussion by putting a straightforward question – what are mobile phone networks and what are the uses to which such a network can be put? As an answer to this query, quite a lot of technical information can be cited. In simple terms, however, it can be said that a mobile phone network is the backbone of mobile communications; it ensures effective “on-the-move” communications using mobile phones. One cannot enjoy the sophisticated capabilities of even the latest handsets without the support from such a network. A network puts life into handsets and enables people to connect and communicate effectively.

Different countries have different network operators. Among them some are MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator); they lease the underlying network from some other company. In the area of mobile communications and related services, the UK is witness to a lot of activity. As many as six major network service providers cater to the mobile telecommunications sector in the UK. These are O2, Orange, T mobile, Virgin mobile, Three mobile and Vodafone.

Withstanding the stiff competition in this sector, Vodafone mobile phone network has managed to maintain its position and grow with time. The services are innovative and have helped this network service provider to create a distinct identity for itself in the fast evolving mobile phone sector in the UK.

As a matter of fact, the Vodafone mobile phone network offers a full range of mobile telecommunications services to its subscribers that include voice and data communications. This network service provider covers around 99 per cent of the population in the UK. High level of call quality is guaranteed and costs of the services delivered are kept quite competitive.

With its innovative and well thought-out price plans representing the needs and requirements of different sections of phone users and unparalleled customer service, the Vodafone mobile network is garnering a lot of positive attention.

Vodafone Mobile Phones

Choose your favorite handset with Vodafone Mobile Phone Network, leading mobile phone network in UK.

Keith Rickwood is webmaster of www.mobilerainbow.co.uk. This website deals in contract mobile phones and Sim free phones on major six mobile networks in UK. There are best mobile phones deals with latest handset and cheap mobile phone plans on popular mobile networks.

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