Due to the nature of the campaign and the progress that has been made to date, a number of changes need to be made to our cause and what exactly we are seeking from Vodafone.
We originally set out with three key goals:
1. To ask Vodafone why they cancelled Access without warning
2. To ask them for an assurance concerning existing license holders rights
3. To enquire as to the possibilities of a third party developer taking over Access.
As we have been informed directly and through media releases by Vodafone we now are able to answer some of these points and thus change our strategy as follows.
Vodafone are pulling out of the Wayfinder service completely as a result of market forces, with the advent of free vehicular navigation solutions from the likes of Google and Nokia. Wayfinder which needs considerable investment, just isn't a viable product range for Vodafone.
So this is why Access has been discontinued and is facing complete shut down in the coming months. Vodafone cannot make a profit on the overall Wayfinder platform that it runs on. So Access, to coin the phrase, is the baby being thrown out with the bath water.
So this answers our point one, as to our other specific goals here is where we now stand.
Wayfinder and Vodafone through direct conversation with us and media discussions on BBC radio etc have confirmed their intentions to shelve the entire Wayfinder product range. They stress that they are sympathetic to our needs and concerns and state that they are working towards potentially offering some sort of resolution package for Wayfinder Access users.
What this translates into nearer to the time we cannot say for certain. What we can tell you is that what is being discussed is;
A) A full or prorated refund to existing Wayfinder Access life-time license holders,
B) To enter into some sort of exchange program, where Vodafone exchanges Access licenses for an alternative accessible GPS product. The details of this are very much up in the air and no commitment to this has been given yet.
C) The possibility of providing a third party with the source code and necessary information to take over the Access project.
D) Other options to which they'll not at this time discuss.
So we have now our goals 1 and 3 answered; Vodafone cannot make money out of Wayfinder so it's being shut down, and they are considering at this time permitting a third party organization to take over Access.
So what about goal 2; Vodafone have used plenty of lip service towards this one, we've had assurances and more assurances, but what this translates into down the road no-one knows. In today's commercial environment phrases like "Social Responsibility" have significant measure and with license holders having life-time rights to Access Vodafone surely have both an ethical and legal obligation towards Access users, but quite how far this translates into a helpful resolution is yet to be seen.
So where does this leave our campaign?
Now more than ever it's essential that we keep signatures coming to our protest page, we need to show Vodafone that this is a real and believed in cause, and that by not acting there is a significant risk of damage to their corporate image as well as legal ramifications.
We also want them to be certain that whatever solution they are considering that we, the users, are kept informed and have a say. We are aware, as Vodafone have informed us that they are talking with multiple parties. We ask Vodafone to consider, as we are not told who these parties are, please be sure to consider our views, the users. If the other parties to whom they are discussing our product with get to make a choice on our behalf this may prove not to be in our best interests.
For now the only thing we can do is keep the pressure on, so please keep signing, ask all who you know to review our campaign and sign in favour of accessible technology for all.