Vodafone Partners With Brand Connections Global to Launch Care Covers In-flight Advertising Solution in Europe

LONDON and NEW YORK -

- U.S. Care Covers Launch Set For January 2010

Brand Connections Global today announced that Vodafone has renewed their campaign as the inaugural advertiser for the launch of an innovative new in-flight advertising medium.

Vodafone has renewed their sponsorship of Care Covers, the innovative new in-flight advertising solution now available to brands onboard Ryanair and bmibaby. Vodafone is sponsoring the printing and placement of laminates applied to the surface of airplane tray tables that are protected from bacteria growth by using antimicrobial technology from Agion Technologies, a worldwide leader in natural silver-based antimicrobial solutions, in order to preserve the laminate. Care Covers are the latest creation of Brand Connections, which has the exclusive licenses to the patented airplane tray table laminates and advertising process.

“Care Covers provide an innovative and proven platform for brands to communicate with consumers,” said Brian F. Martin, CEO and Founder of Brand Connections. “Additionally, Care Covers feature a new technology that helps protect the surface of the laminate by inhibiting the growth of bacteria to preserve the cover.”

Mar Moreno, the Advertising Media Specialist for the Vodafone Spain Roaming Campaign declared, “We strive to successfully connect with consumers in new ways and based on the research results, we increased purchase intent by more than 25%!”

“We are delighted with the test results in Europe and are excited to launch this new innovation in the U.S. this January,” said Martin.

Airplane tray table laminates have been utilized in the U.S. for the past 3 years with 8 of the top 10 largest advertisers including, AT&T, Ford, Procter & Gamble, Sony, Verizon and Unilever, using the medium. Further, a study conducted by Triad Research, surveying more than 8,600 people, demonstrated overwhelming passenger approval while producing a favorable response to brand sponsors. More than 78% of passengers recalled the brand and purchase intent was increased by 23%.

The Brand Connections Global in-flight advertising network will reach an estimated 70 Million passengers each year on flights throughout Europe with primary destinations including UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy and Germany.

The new Care Cover technology will be available in the U.S., through Brand Connections, on more than 500,000 flights beginning in January 2010.

About Brand Connections Global

Brand Connections Global is an affiliate of Brand Connections, one of the largest global marketing and media companies focused on reaching consumers in venues. The company’s targeted media, product placement and experiential marketing products connect advertisers with hundreds of millions of consumers in environments such as: airlines, hotels, resorts, outdoor sports, recreation centers, colleges and universities. Since 2001, Brand Connections has connected more than 400 national brands with over 1 billion consumers. Brand Connections is backed by Veronis Suhler Stevenson, one of the largest media-focused private equity firms in the US.

Source: Brand Connections

Teena Touch of Teena Touch PR, +1-415-310-3125, teena at teenatouchpr.com, for Brand Connections