Editing Vodafone live!

[[File:Vodafone live logo.png|thumb|Original logo]]
'''Vodafone live!''' was the brand name for the multimedia portal service of [[mobile phone]] operator [[Vodafone]], offering news content, picture messaging, [[instant messaging]], email, and downloadable ringtones and games.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWv8cIcwC7YC&q=%22vodafone+live%22+%227650%22&pg=PA10 |title=MMS: Technologies, Usage and Business Models |author1=Daniel Ralph |author2=Paul Graham |pages=10–12 |publisher=Wiley |date=10 October 2003 |isbn=9780470861165}}</ref> The service officially launched on 24 October 2002, originally in eight countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vodafone-gambles-on-biggest-ever-launch/ |title=Vodafone gambles on 'biggest ever launch' |author=Tony Hallett |publisher=ZDNet |date=24 October 2002}}</ref> The first compatible phones were the Japanese Sharp GX10 and Panasonic GD87, and the [[Nokia 7650]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2002/oct/31/internet.mobilephones |title=Mobilising the forces |author=Victor Keegan |date=31 October 2002 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

It was initially developed by Japan's [[J-Phone]] under the J-Sky brand; Vodafone acquired J-Phone in August 2001,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2731390/Vodafone-wins-control-of-J-Phone.html |title=Vodafone wins control of J-Phone |author=Dan Sabbagh |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=25 August 2001}}</ref> and the J-Sky service in Japan was rebranded in line as Vodafone live! in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.totaltele.com/392404/J-Phone-to-rename-J-SKY-Web-service-Vodafone-Live |title=J-Phone to rename J-SKY Web service Vodafone Live! |publisher=Total Telecom |date=15 July 2003 |author=Reuters Staff}}</ref> In addition, London-based Vizzavi which provided media content was taken full control by Vodafone (previously 50% owned)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2225288.stm |title=Vodafone snaps up Vizzavi web venture |publisher=BBC |date=30 August 2002}}</ref> in 2002 and the brand name was dropped, being integrated into Vodafone live!<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/aug/30/newmedia.citynews |title=Vodafone pulls plug on Vizzavi brand |newspaper=The Guardian |author=Owen Gibson |date= 30 August 2002}}</ref> The service and its content are modelled largely on [[NTT DoCoMo]]'s successful [[i-mode]] service.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/11/newmedia.japan |title=MmO2 mulls over i-mode technology |author=Richard Wray |date=11 October 2004 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

The service was marketed extensively,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/vodafone-backs-live-25m-campaign/162700 |title=Vodafone backs 'Live' with £25m campaign |author=Ravi Chandiramani |date=31 October 2002 |publisher=Campaign}}</ref> using stars such as footballer [[David Beckham]] in the UK, Spain and Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/vodafone-signs-david-beckham-year/219711|title = Vodafone signs David Beckham for another year}}</ref> As of May 2003 there were 1.5 million customers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2853212/Vodafone-paid-1bn-too-much-for-3G.html |title=Vodafone paid '£1bn too much' for 3G |newspaper=The Telegraph |author=Dominic White |date=28 May 2003}}</ref> In the UK market its main competing [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] portals were [[O2 (brand)|O2]] Active and [[Orange SA|Orange]] World.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1018973/uk-grows-i-mode-fastest-outside-japan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015201415/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1018973/uk-grows-i-mode-fastest-outside-japan |url-status=unfit |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |title=UK grows i-mode fastest outside Japan |publisher=The Inquirer |author=Tony Dennis |date=7 June 2006}}</ref>

While the service itself could be looked at with any WAP browser, Vodafone live! handsets marketed by the company integrated the service with each handset's core functions. All handsets included a colour screen, a digital camera and the capability to send and receive email, [[SMS]] and [[Multimedia Messaging Service|MMS]] messages. Vodafone live! had an icon-driven interface that was the same on all compatible models regardless of [[operating system]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2003/press_release26_03.html |title=One million Vodafone Live! customers |date=26 April 2003 |publisher=Vodafone Press Release}}</ref>

In December 2004, Vodafone live! with [[3G]] services was launched.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2004/press_release10_11.html |title=Global launch of Vodafone live! with 3G |publisher=Vodafone |date=10 December 2004}}</ref>

Vodafone live! was struggling against competitors [[i-mode]] and [[EZweb]] in Japan, and in 2006, it announced that its Japanese division will be sold to [[SoftBank Group]]. Vodafone live! was replaced there by [[Yahoo! Keitai]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurotechnology.com/2006/10/09/yahoo-keitai-replaces-vodafone-live/ |title=Yahoo!-keitai replaces Vodafone-Live! |date=9 October 2006 |author=G Fasol |publisher=Eurotechnology}}</ref>

In September 2009, [[Vodafone 360]] and [[Vodafone My Web]] were announced to replace Vodafone live!<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/09/24/vodafone-360-takes-on-the-mobile-app-stores/ |title=Vodafone 360 takes on the Mobile App stores |date=24 September 2009 |publisher=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/03/03/foursquare-checks-in-with-vodafone-uk/ |title=Foursquare checks-in with Vodafone UK |author=Steve O'Hear |date=3 March 2010 |publisher=TechCrunch}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template11&pageID=MI_0009 Official site]

{{vodafone}}

[[Category:Vodafone|Live]]
[[Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 2002]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2002]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2003]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2009]]