SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings has officially adopted the SmarTone-Vodafone brand name, as the Hong Kong operator seeks to raise its global profile with the help of the world's largest mobile-phone operator.
The network alliance will give SmarTone customers access to Vodafone services - such as lost phone replacement - when they travel abroad. In turn, Vodafone customers visiting Hong Kong will have access to services provided by SmarTone.
The partnership, one of 14 Vodafone has formed worldwide, will help SmarTone compete with Hutchison Whampoa, which has far greater resources and a presence in 45 markets.
'If you're not aligned with somebody, it's actually quite difficult to help your customer [overseas],' SmarTone chief executive Douglas Li said.
Other benefits from the partnership include reduced costs in the provisioning of handsets.
Vodafone can spread handset costs across its global operations, using the company's purchasing power to gain discounts from handset vendors.
SmarTone had sourced at least one handset model with the help of Vodafone.