Vodafone moves into middleware

THE PROSPECT of Vodafone UK morphing into an IBM - or indeed a BT - is upon us. The operator has just turned itself into a "total communications provider."

Through a new service known as the Vodafone Applications Service, the company can now provide customers with 'bespoke' software built around middleware such as - Salesforce.com, Oracle, SAP, Siebel and Remedy.

The crucial point is that the whole thing will be delivered, billed and supported directly by Vodafone UK. Significantly, the end devices can be Symbian, Pocket PC or Blackberry based - with no mention of Palm.

One of the benefits of such systems trumpeted by Vodafone is "improved two-way communication giving non-mobile workers immediate access to mobile workers' data updates."

The company is claiming that "for the first time, a mobile network operator can offer customers a complete end-to-end solution, including the device, connectivity, mobile application, integration and the enterprise application itself."

Plus - thanks largely to the acquisition of Aspective back in December 2006, it is offering a fully managed service if the customer requires it.

This is a long way from the days of the - take this 3G data card for your laptop and get on with it - atttitude which had previously characterised network operators' approach to complex IT projects.

Vodafone does, apparently, not wish to totally alienate the channel with this move - saying that the new service is "complimentary" to the Vodafone Applications Portfolio which is fulfilled through partners. µ

L'INQ
Vodafone UK