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If reports are to be believed, Google have been speaking the UK mobile operators, including Vodafone, about the phone they are planning to launch next year, the Nexus One. Over two years ago Vodafone made a massive mistake by believing that they could continue to be the UK’s dominant mobile operator with securing exclusivity rights for the Iphone in the UK. Big red ended up missing out compeltely whilst O2 secured the rights and the rest is history. O2 now find themselves at the top of the pile with Vodafone very much playing catch up.

The Nexus One, is the first phone that Google has had compelte control over. The hardware wont blow you away but you have to think that Google will make this phone the must have gadget for 2010.

Apple came along with the Iphone and completely changed the game. Google have been doing the same bit by bit with their Android operating system Companies fear Google due to their ability to come up with a new approach to existing products and services. Apple have laid the foundations and I believe Google will now come and build the biggest, sexiest building on top of those foundations pulling in the crowds from far and wide.

Its because Google are so dangerous that Vodafone really need to jump into bed with them and not make the same mistake as they did with the Iphone. Being the sole provider of the Nexus One would be a massive step in the right direction and could reinvigorate Vodafones Android offering and put the company back on the front foot. Selling both the Iphone and what will no doubt be a ground breaking device, Vodafone UK may just be about to turn the corner.

We all knew it would happen at some point. Vodafone UK has informed all the members of the Final Salary pension scheme that it will be closing the scheme in by the end of March 2010 and all employees will be moved to an improved defined contribution pension.

This wasnt a shock but what has come as a surprise is the poor level of compensation that is being offered by Vodafone. No one knows how the compensation figures were calculated and the offer is standard across all final salary scheme members.

Vodafone UK may not be having the best times in terms of winning in the market but the Group as a whole will post billions of pounds worth of profit. Staff understand the company needs to control its cost but at a time when pay has been frozen and many believe that this will continue through next year taking away a key benefit with further impact the already low morale.

Staff will need to pay more into the new pension scheme in order to get back what will in essence be a worse pension so thei pay in effect is going backwards. Not happy times at Vodafone thats for sure. Whether the company with change its offer is yet to be seen. Staff should find out the final terms of the new pension and compensation by the end of January.