Vodafone USB modem scoops award

Vodafone's USB Modem picked up the award for 'Business Innovation of the Year' at the 2007 Mobile Today Awards. Here's what judges said:

A small USB modem dongle for Windows and Apple laptops might not seem like an industry-changing innovation, but don’t let its small size fool you. Vodafone’s Mobile Connect USB Modem was the first plug-in product to offer HSDPA wireless internet browsing to both Windows and Apple Mac computers in the UK. As opposed to normal datacards, which only work with Windows computers with card slots, this product opened up the potential market to all computers, even laptops without datacard slots – all via a simple plug-in USB dongle. ‘It does what it says on the box and offers self-installation,’ said the panel. ‘It takes away the fear factor.’ The panel considered the fact that it is a generic product packaged and sold by Vodafone, but it credited the network for being the first to bring such a product to market. Vodafone has also benefited from the product’s success; the USB modem has smashed sales records, with one panel member claiming the modem was outselling Vodafone’s HSDPA datacards two to one. The panel was also impressed with the reliability: ‘They don’t come back,’ was the view. ‘It works well and is sold on recommendations; if you sold one or two, you would sell more.’

Vodafone also picked up 'Best Business Operator' and Nick Read, VF's CEO won the Leadership Award.