This is the continuation of an effort that started a year ago, when the first Smart range of devices came out. By now you should be able to see what Vodafone worldwide is thinking: Android's good enough, there are plenty of anonymous Chinese device makers that'll put together decent smartphones with Vodafone tweaked software. Such a strategy cuts established Android makers out of the action as Vodafone has a direct relationship with customers. Except Samsung and Apple might retaliate against Vodafone, now a competitor, and withdraw their handsets which would be a disaster. More vertical integration is probably not the way out of the dumb pipe for Vodafone or any other telco in other words.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 30, 2016 02:16 UTC