RNS Number : 6272U
Vodafone Group Plc
16 May 2008
16 May 2008
VODAFONE ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF ZYB
Vodafone* today announces that it has agreed to acquire 100% of ZYB, a privately-owned
company based in Denmark which operates a social
networking and online management tool enabling mobile phone users to back-up and share their
handsets' contact and calendar information
online. The acquisition will be made for a cash consideration of Eur31.5 million.
The acquisition of ZYB is a further advance in the implementation of Vodafone's Total
Communications strategy which is delivering new
revenue growth around fixed broadband, mobile advertising and a rich set of internet services
that integrate the mobile and PC customer
experience. ZYB fits into this strategy by enhancing the range of communications services
Vodafone can provide to its customers.
ZYB is unique amongst social networking sites as it is designed with the mobile device at
its heart, allowing customers to share
information and messages between their friends and colleagues who are held in their mobile
phone's address book.
ZYB increases communication choices for customers enabling them to send messages and
images from their PC to multiple mobile devices in
their mobile community, as well as taking advantage of the functionality of an instant
messaging service.
Pieter Knook, Internet Services Director for Vodafone Group, said: "Vodafone understands
that the core of any customer's personal and
business network is the set of contacts they hold on their mobile phone.
"Using a web portal as a link between the PC and the mobile device, ZYB provides an
interactive way for people to nurture, contact and
develop their relationships with their most important friends and colleagues and builds links
with those contacts' wider networks. This is
Web 2.0 in action.
"This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of delivering products and services
which meet our customers' total communications
needs."
Tommy Ahlers, CEO of ZYB, added: "I am delighted that ZYB is to join Vodafone, the world's
largest international mobile community.
"Vodafone and ZYB share the same vision: to create a new mobile experience that builds on
the convergence between the mobile and PC -
and one which works on both platforms.
"By joining a company with Vodafone's global reach, ZYB has more opportunities to bring to
the mobile a further advance to the rich and
interactive communications experience which people already recognise via the internet on their
PC."
ZYB will remain based in Denmark and upon acquisition will be incorporated into Vodafone's
Internet Services Division.
- ends -
* The purchaser of ZYB is Vodafone Europe BV, a holding company of Vodafone Group, based
in The Netherlands.
For further information:
Vodafone Group
Investor Relations Media Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664444
Notes to Editors
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with over 252
million proportionate customers as of 31
December 2007. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 25 countries across five continents
and a further 42 partner networks worldwide.For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com
news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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