What name did Vodafone adopt after completing its 1999 merger with AirTouch?

Vodafone adopted the name Vodafone AirTouch after completing its 1999 merger with AirTouch.

The transaction followed Vodafone’s agreement to acquire AirTouch Communications, a major American wireless operator, in January 1999. Because the deal expanded Vodafone’s international reach and involved a large stock component, the combined business used the Vodafone AirTouch name for a period.

The merger helped create one of the world’s largest mobile telecommunications groups. AirTouch had operations and investments in several markets, while Vodafone was rapidly expanding beyond its British roots.

The combined name was temporary. In July 2000, the company shortened its corporate name to Vodafone Group, reflecting the stronger global recognition of the Vodafone brand. Vodafone AirTouch is therefore not the company’s lasting name, but it is the historically correct name used immediately after the transaction.