OREANDA-NEWS. June 07, 2012. Vouchercloud, the UK’s leading mobile coupon provider giving shoppers the best local deals delivered directly to their smartphone, today launches in Ireland.

The service offers discounts, codes and vouchers for daily shopping from a wide range of High Street shops, restaurants and leisure providers as well as travel and financial services companies. Vouchercloud uses the smartphone's GPS system to locate discounting retailers nearest to the customer, then guides the customer to the shop's front door using the smartphone's digital mapping application. The voucher is downloaded to the smartphone screen with a single tap, then shown to the sales assistant in store to redeem the discount. Vouchercloud also includes a variety of offers to be used when shopping online.

Retailers can manage their own vouchers and discount offers via a simple self-service online portal, enabling businesses of all sizes - from small family-run firms to multinational chains - to draw on a powerful marketing tool to increase footfall and sales.

Vodafone investment
 Separately, Vodafone Group ("Vodafone") announced today that it had increased its shareholding in Vouchercloud's parent company, Invitation Digital Limited (IDL), to 57%. Vodafone took a 21% stake in IDL in May 2011 and, further to the transaction announced today, has the first option to increase its direct shareholding in the future.

Vodafone intends to work with IDL to extend Vouchercloud beyond the UK and Ireland over the coming months as part of the global communications company's broader mobile commerce ("m-commerce") strategy. Further country launches - and details of Vouchercloud integration within Vodafone's other m-commerce activities - will be announced in due course.

 Vodafone Group Commercial Development Director Tobin Ireland said: “Mobile couponing is set to grow rapidly across Vodafone's businesses as cost-conscious consumers increasingly turn to their smartphones to hunt for bargains and collect loyalty points. We look forward to working more closely with Vouchercloud in future as m-commerce services become ever more central to consumers' daily lives."

IDL Chief Executive and Co-founder Scott Davidson said: “Our vision is to build the world’s leading mobile couponing business, making it easy for consumers to save money and get the best deals from a wide range of retailers, wherever they are. We are delighted that Vodafone shares our vision of the future and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”