Vodafone share price: Company ranked world’s top M2M provider

Vodafone Group Plc (LON:VOD) has been named the top provider of machine-to-machine technologies by researchers at Analysys Mason. The UK mobile phone giant topped the research firm’s annual scorecard on M2M technologies for a record fourth consecutive year.

Analysys Mason’s M2M Scorecard ranks 11 M2M communication providers across the globe, including Vodafone, AT&T, Sprint, Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica, based on five criteria; scale and execution, technological support, aftersales, and relevant partnerships. Last year Vodafone became the only provider ranked number one in all five categories.
Analysys Mason’s Morgan Mullooly pointed out that Vodafone “manages the greatest number of connections” and also has “leading partnerships, network capabilities and clarity of vision, among other remarkable attributes”.
Vodafone director of M2M Erik Brenneis commented: “I am delighted that our strategy, vision and scale of deployment has kept us in pole position for a record breaking fourth year.”
In today’s trading, Vodafone shares were up 0.2 percent at 234.84p, as of 13:59 BST. The stock has risen 5.5 percent since the start of the year and the company’s market capitalisation at £62.3 billion.
The 24 analysts offering 12 month price targets for Vodafone have a median target of 256.00p, with a high estimate of 300.00p and a low estimate of 130.00p. As of June 26, 2015, the consensus forecast amongst 36 polled investment analysts covering Vodafone had it that the company will outperform the market. The same consensus estimate has been maintained since June 23, 2015, whenthe sentiment of investment analysts improved from hold.
As of 15:21 BST, Wednesday, 01 July, Vodafone Group plc share price is 235.00p.