Vodafone revenues on the rise

Vodafone's fortunes appear to be on the rise, as the mobile phone giant announced positive results (PDF) for the quarter ended 30 June.

The firm said that revenues rose by 9.3 per cent year on year from £9.8m to £10.7m in the period.

Vodafone benefited from mergers and acquisitions activity, and "positive exchange rate movements", the company said.

Mobile data and fixed broadband continued to be a big money earner, with organic data revenue growth of 19.4 per cent to £888m.

"In the first quarter the service revenue trend in Europe was consistent with the previous quarter, and we continued to see good growth in India and South Africa," said Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao. "Our total communications strategy is delivering well."

Meanwhile, the firm's chief financial officer, Andy Halford, has publically declared that Vodafone would be interested in striking a deal with Apple to sell its popular iPhone device.

"It's a good product and we would love to have it in the portfolio in more countries," Halford is reported as saying.

Rumours are rife that Apple is about to end its exclusive deal with O2, and both Orange and T-Mobile are in the frame.