Interesting press release from Fianna Fáil Towers this lunchtime on how Senator Cecilia Keaveney drew Vodafone’s attention to their divisive welcome message when crossing the border from Northern Ireland to the Republic.

Currently when people on the Vodafone UK network cross over the border from the North into the Republic they automatically receive a message from Vodafone which reads: ‘Welcome to IRELAND. Calls cost up to…’.
 
“My attention was brought to this message from Vodafone by a number of people because they were offended.  They felt that they had never left Ireland,” Senator Keaveney said.
 
“I spoke with representatives of the company who said that they were obliged to include the country name when roaming was taking place. However, when I enquired with the Department of Communications, the only stipulation I found was that when jurisdictions are changed the roaming cost must be notified to the customer.”
 
“Having returned to Vodafone on the matter I have now been informed that they have: been in discussions with colleagues in Vodafone UK regarding my complaint. They confirmed that it is now possible for them to update their roaming message to begin: ‘You are now roaming and costs are as follows. . . . . “.

First step in to a united Ireland? Or is the future Orange?