Vodafone 360 isn’t just one app, or one phone. It’s a range of services just launched today from the network, covering everything from social media address books to mapping and app downloads but here’s the twist: it’ll run on supported phones on other networks too. And Vodafone says that will include the iPhone in future. What’s Apple going to make of that one?
Speaking at the Vodafone 360 launch event today in London, Vodafone corporate strategy director Bobby Rao confirmed that it intends to get at least one aspect of the service, Vodafone People (the address book that hooks up to your social networks), on to the iPhone.
He didn’t give a precise release date but said it had not been submitted for approval yet, but would be “available shortly”. That’s if Apple is cool with that, mind. Vodafone 360 isn’t quite as advanced as the MIA Google Voice app would have been, but in acting as an address book it could be seen to emulate key components of iPhone OS, the reason Apple gave for at least not yet approving Google’s software.
Making Vodafone 360 available to phones on other networks is an interesting move in an attempt to win hearts and minds and woo other customers, and Vodafone confirmed at the launch that the Vodafone People app will be free, but will it ever reach the iPhone, the jewel in O2′s crown? We’ll let you know.
Out TBC | £TBC | Vodafone
