Vodafone Joins the WiMAX Forum®

PORTLAND, OR – August 9, 2007 – The WiMAX Forum®, an industry-led non-profit organization committed to promoting and certifying interoperable WiMAX™ products, today announced that Vodafone, the world’s leading international mobile communications group, has become a principal member of the WiMAX Forum.

WiMAX™ technology is set to allow high-speed internet access from laptops and other mobile devices over larger distances than previous technologies such as Wi-Fi.

 “Our membership of the WiMAX Forum will complement our existing memberships of other key industry bodies such as the GSMA, 3GPP and the Next Generation Mobile Network initiative,” said Steve Pusey, Global Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone. "Vodafone remains technology neutral as far as our future network options are concerned, and joining the WiMAX Forum is a logical step as we seek to evaluate the full capabilities and potential of this technology."

“The WiMAX Forum is pleased that Vodafone has joined our organization,”  said Ron Resnick, President of WiMAX Forum,  “We look forward to Vodafone playing a key role in the future development of WiMAX technology.”

The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led non-profit organization comprising more than 470 companies including 141 operators committed to promoting and certifying interoperable WiMAX products. WiMAX products are designed to deliver wireless broadband services to both residential customers and businesses by creating economies of scale made possible by standards-based, interoperable products and services.

A complete list of current WiMAX Forum members is found here: http://www.wimaxforum.org/about/Current_Members/ .

About WiMAX Forum®

The WiMAX Forum® is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization formed to certify and promote the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based upon the harmonized IEEE 802.16/ETSI HiperMAN standard. A WiMAX Forum goal is to accelerate the introduction of these systems into the marketplace. WiMAX Forum Certified™ products are interoperable and support broadband fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile services. Along these lines, the WiMAX Forum works closely with service providers and regulators to ensure that WiMAX Forum Certified systems meet customer and government requirements. Through the WiMAX Forum Global Congress Events Series of premier trade shows and conferences, the WiMAX Forum is committed to offering a hands-on business and education experience with meaningful networking opportunities to drive worldwide adoption of WiMAX technology and deliver wireless broadband Internet services anytime, anywhere.  For more information, visit the trade show link at www.wimaxforum.org.

“WiMAX Forum” is a registered trademark of the WiMAX Forum. “WiMAX,” the WiMAX Forum logo, "WiMAX Forum Certified," and the WiMAX Forum Certified logo are trademarks of the WiMAX Forum. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

About Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with over 232 million proportionate customers as at 30 June 2007. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 25 countries across five continents and a further 40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com 

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Lawton
GolinHarris for the WiMAX Forum
510-923-0906
Vodafone Group Media Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664444

Thanks,

Mari (Pillar) Hancock
Account Supervisor
GolinHarris for the WiMAX Forum
1360 Post Oak Blvd #2020
Houston, TX 77056
t 713.513.9574
f 713.513.9570
c 832.483.0519

mpillar@golinharris.com

www.golinharris.com

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