Panafon-Vodafone, the leading provider of mobile telecommunications in Greece, announces it will change its brand name to Vodafone effective from today. The change in brand name to Vodafone signals a new era for the company which has played a leading role in every aspect of the development of mobile telecommunications services in Greece since the beginning of its operations.

This change in brand name to Vodafone is taking place one year after the adoption of the double brand name, Panafon-Vodafone, from the original name Panafon. However the legal name for the time being still remains Panafon S.A and is the name under which Panafon shares will continue to be listed on the Stock Exchanges.

The re-branding to Panafon-Vodafone gradually introduced the Vodafone brand into both the Greek market and consumer's conscience, and is in line with Vodafone Group's world-wide strategy to bring controlled subsidiaries under the Vodafone brand umbrella. Vodafone Group aims to make Vodafone one of the world's most recognisable brands.

Surveys carried out indicate the recognition and acceptance of the Vodafone brand in Greece currently stands at more than 81%, a fact that has contributed to the re-branding of Panafon-Vodafone to Vodafone at this point in time.

Vodafone Group has a presence in 28 countries and provides mobile services to more than 95.6 million customers. Vodafone Group's mission as a company is governed by its vision to ?be the world's mobile communications leader - enriching customers' lives, helping individuals, businesses and communities to be more connected in a mobile world?. The Vodafone vision is augmented with four principles: passion for customers, passion for employees, passion for results and passion for the world around us.

Panafon was Vodafone Group's first major investment outside the United Kingdom, Since the beginning of its operations, Panafon has participated actively in the formation of Vodafone Group's global strategy.

Panafon-Vodafone's customers have already benefited significantly from the participation in the Vodafone Group family from global products offering (Eurocall, VHS), as well as high quality of services, offered through the ?Vodafone shops?.

Speaking about the change in the brand name of Panafon-Vodafone to Vodafone, Mr. George Koronias, CEO of Vodafone (in Greece), said: ?This is the beginning of a new era for the company. Our active participation in a major global mobile telecommunication's company provides Vodafone in Greece the opportunity to become even more competitive and to continue to play the leading role in developments within Greek mobile telecommunications market. The Greek mobile telecommunications market still has great growth potential and we plan to stay at the forefront of these developments.?

Mr Koronias continued, ?As we move towards the new generation of technologies that connect mobile phones to the Internet, the presence of Vodafone in our country will be even more evident. The change of brand name to Vodafone taking place today constitutes a token of the unambiguous success of our strategic moves and choices so far and at the same time marks a new beginning for the business. I feel proud of the achievements to date and I am confident we will continue to lead mobile telecommunications in Greece.?