WapChat Overview:
VodafoneLive! is a Global initiative taken by Vodafone to enhance the Mobile Internet experience of it’s users. It has some similarities to I-mode, which is considered serious competition to Vodafone in some markets including Japan.

VodafoneLive! is essentially a WAP packaging exercise, which includes a one button activation, stylish icon based menus, and a predefined set of applications and content.

Chat on VodafoneLive!
The Chat services are available from the top menu of VodafoneLive! Two Chat services are available:
- WorldChat from JumBuck
– Kiwi & Oz Chat from Lateral Profiles mobileTXT

The two Chat services are quite different in nature and are considered complementary content. The WorldChat service was implemented, because it had plenty of existing traffic from multiple operators and could ensure an immediate user experience for VodafoneLive! The mobileTXT service was implemented as it is a more advanced user experience, with a number of future development possibilities, plus it can interact with SMS users.

The results
Kiwi and OzChat has become the most popular service on VodafoneLive! It is the single biggest generator of traffic on VodafoneLive!, out performing all other services by a wide margin. Precise figures are not available due to Non Disclose Agreements.

Kiwi & OZ Chat from Lateral Profiles mobileTXT

Kiwi & Oz Chat is an implementation of the original mobileTXT Chat service developed in 1998 and deployed on Vodafone NZ in 2000. This service has multiple interfaces available including SMS and WAP. The SMS and WAP users share the platform, application and database. The intention of this “shared” environment is to give both groups of users and overlapping experience, which includes the ability for WAP and SMS users to interact.

A feature of the Lateral Profiles mobileTXT Chat service is that it can be distributed widely, connecting multiple operators in different regions, but be localised for specific needs. It can also be branded separately to suit third parties such as media groups.

The SMS interface is available to customers on Telstra, Vodafone NZ, Vodafone Australia, SingTel Optus, Telecom NZ, B Networks, and RSLCom Mobile. Each of these operators share the service but have a “localised” experience. It is also deployed for FoxTel’s ChannelV.

In the first two years of deployment the WAP interface was not used, primarily for commercial reasons. Due to the maturation of the WAP market, the WAP interface was first deployed in 2002, and finally launched commercially in April 2003.

After successful compliance testing by Vodafone in Dusseldorf it was released as a VodafoneLive! service in May 2003.

Performance of mobileTXT WapChat on Vodafonelive!

The following graphic has had all quantitative data removed, but is the actual representation of growth of Kiwi & OzChat on Vodafone Live. NZ, Australia and total are plotted. The service was soft launched in April 2003 and promoted extensively in May. The Chat service in VodafoneLive! is not advertised.

An overlapping experience, which includes the ability for WAP and SMS users to interact.