www.vodafone.com

Vodafone K.K. announces today that from 17 October 2005 it will offer a new service for its Vodafone Prepaid Service which will allow customers to recharge their prepaid mobile phones at bank ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) or via internet banking. This service will be available to all Vodafone Prepaid Service customers except for those using the Pj prepaid service offered mainly in the Tokai region. This service will be Japan's first* that allows customers to recharge their prepaid mobile phones at ATMs of financial institutions.

Previously, customers could only recharge their prepaid mobile phones by either purchasing prepaid cards or by using Prepaid Online Recharge on the Vodafone K.K. website. Using the electronic payment system "Pay-easy", customers will now be able to recharge their prepaid mobile phones at financial institution ATMs by using their bank cards or cash, and also via internet or mobile banking. Pay-easy is a payment service that uses the Multi-Payment Network system, which was developed by the Japan Multi-Payment Network Management Organization, a group mainly comprised of financial institutions.

Customers can apply to recharge their prepaid mobile phone by calling 1400, the Vodafone Prepaid Service Center, from their prepaid handset and entering the recharge amount. A mail will immediately be sent to the customer's prepaid handset with a corporate number (Vodafone K.K. specific number) and confirmation number (application receipt number). By using an ATM or internet banking site, the recharge is then completed by entering the corporate number and confirmation number.

Vodafone K.K. will also offer a new colour variation (yellow) of the V302SH (by Sharp) as a new exclusive prepaid handset from early October nationwide. The V302SH is a compact and stylish handset that fits snugly into the palm of one's hand weighing in at only 90 grams. The handset features a Mobile ASV LCD for clear and wide-angle viewing and enhanced functions such as Simple Mode for easy operation by beginners and the elderly.

Vodafone K.K. offers prepaid services to meet the needs of customers who want to directly control their communications expenditure. In order to ensure the continued safe use of these services, Vodafone K.K. is asking for the cooperation of all prepaid mobile phone customers to register their ID information to help prevent the inappropriate use of prepaid mobile phones in Japan. Customers are asked to register their information by the end of October 2005, following which, prepaid services of customers who fail to register will be successively suspended from November.