Vodafone Ireland, part of the Vodafone Group, is the largest mobile phone company in the Republic of Ireland, and was previously called Eircell. The mobile phone system in use is a digital GSM 900 system, and also a third-generation UMTS system (currently the only marketed 3G system in the Republic of Ireland; see communications in Ireland). The company offers email in addition to mobile phone products and services. The companies "pay as you go" mobile phone product is called Ready to Go, typically advertised by Republicas song of the same name.
087 is the usual STD prefix for mobile phone numbers serviced by Vodafone. However, following introduction of full number portability by the Commission for Communications Regulation, some subscribers may have 085 or 086 prefixes instead.
The company also sponsored the Irish version of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? quiz show while it ran on RTÉ television.
Eircell
Eircell commenced operation in 1986 as a division of Telecom Éireann. Eircell handled the Irish mobile phone networks defined by the access codes 088 (analogue TACS system) and 087 (digital GSM 900 system) from 1984 until its transfer to Vodafone in 2001. Usage of the service remained low until it became a separate subsidary, Eircell Limited, in 1997. In the late 1990s, Eircell introduced the world's first Pay as you go system under the Ready To Go brand, and turned mobile communications in Ireland into a mass-market product. However Eircell soon faced competition from Esat Digifone, then a joint venture between Denis O'Brien's Esat Telecom Group plc and Telenor AB of Norway. In 2000, Vodafone made an offer for the company, which saw the company demerge from Eircom plc into a separate plc, Eircell 2000 plc (trading name: Eircell Vodafone), which was then acquired by Vodafone. In 2002, Eircell Vodafone was rebranded as Vodafone Ireland plc.
Vodafone
Vodafone saw Eircell undergo a major rebranding exercise on its acquisition by the group. The main rebranding was to associate a shade of deep purple with the company. When Vodafone rebranded with their trademark shade of red, the tagline used was "Red is the new purple, Vodafone is the new name for Eircell".
Vodafone Ireland introduced UMTS services (branded "Vodafone live! with 3G") in 2004, launching the first handsets in November. This means they are ahead of O2 Ireland and 3 Ireland in launching UMTS services.
See Also
External link
Last updated: 10-10-2005 07:01:10
