Vodafone: Telecommunication Giant

Vodafone Group Plc, the popular British multinationalOriginally formed in the year 1984, the Group started
mobile network carrier is the world's largest mobileas a subsidiary of Racal Telecom Limited (known as
network operator based on revenue. With over 427Racal Electronics Plc until the company went defunct
million subscribers across 31 markets, it has obtainedin the year 2000). The company finally went
an estimated market profit of about 71.2 billion GBPindependent after it was demerged from the Racal
back in November 2009. Currently, the companyElectronics Plc in the month of September, 1991. The
operates in 31 countries with partner networks in 40carrier went through a name change to signify their full
more countries.independence and was referred to as Vodafone
Its 45% share of Verizon Wireless has no doubtGroup Plc.
added to its international success. The UnitedAfter being merged with the AirTouch
States-based Verizon has ranked as the largestCommunications, Inc (or simply AirTouch) the carrier
wireless telecommunications operator based on thechanged their name again, this time into "Vodafone
local subscriber count. To sustain its service, VodafoneAirTouch Plc" in the 29th of June in the year 1999.
has more than 79,000 employees across the globe.Finally, after a decision made in a General Meeting, the
Voice Data Phoneshareholders decided to revert back to the company's
The name of the company is actually an abbreviatedoriginal name of Vodafone Group Plc, and it has been
version of the phrase "voice data fone" which wasretained as the company name since then.
chosen in order to emphasize the kind of servicesConsumerism and its effect on the Environment
rendered by the telecommunications company. To beVodafone aims to get recognition as a "green brand"
more specific, it is to "reflect the provision of voice andthat is able to not only reduce the amount of waste
data services over mobile phones".generated inside the company but also the waste
The plain black version of the logo that used to servegenerated by their customers. The goal is to get at
as the company identity was changed back in 1997.least 75% of their long-standing markets to meet the
Called the "Speech Mark" design, it sports a circleenvironmental waste reduction requirements by the
containing a quotation mark inside. It symbolizesyear 2010.
conversation, much like the speech bubble used inAlthough the company does not have direct control to
various comic strips. This supports the company'swhat their clients do with their products, the company
services which connect people wirelessly across theseeks to encourage their subscribers to prolong the life
globe.of their mobile phones and to reduce the energy
A Short Historywasted during its operations.