Ketchup

Yahoo has an interesting article about how, in a move to generate more buzz for its Live mobile phone portal, Vodafone is to launch a “Web 2.0″ service that allows customers to upload and view their own videos.

“The service, to be launched at the Cebit trade show in Hanover, Germany, in March, will enable customers with camera-enabled handsets to take videos and upload them, either via MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service ) or WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), to the Live portal.

Not only will users be able to share videos with others; they will also be able to make money. Vodaphone plans to introduce a plan for paying users according to the number of times their videos are downloaded.

The new video community will also provide a search function to help users easily find clips. Vodafone customers will be able to access the Live portal using PCs as well as mobile phones. Another new service slated for March will allow users to build their own Flash technology-based mobile Web site.”
Vodafone are raising the stakes amongst telcom’s, adopting a Web 2.0 approach to its offering. Whilst 3, its closest ‘entertainment offering’ competitor, pursues what is increasingly becoming a straight-up music and entertainment download offering, Vodafone are getting stuck in with gritty services & offerings that appeal to today, and importantly tomorrow’s, consumers. Whether these initial offerings are a success, I admire Vodafone’s realisation that it needs to engage with its consumers beyond text bundles and offer a more compelling and engaging offer.