Vodafone seems to think that it can do a better job than Nokia at getting people online, as it seems to have re-skinned the Symbian S60 OS with its own Vodafone Homescreen, which according to reports makes ‘hopping online at the flick of a finger’ a whole lot easier. Discover more about the Vodafone Homescreen after the jump…

It looks like Vodafone is after adding its own layer of software to the familiar Nokia interface, as the Vodafone Homescreen looks like being released this summer across a number of S60 devices. According to a quick review that popped up on Electricpig, the Vodafone Homescreen is more than a re-skin, as its first appearance on the Nokia N85 allows for quick access to internet services.

It’s all based around the Nokia N85 D-pad as a click upwards gives you access to basic phone functions, while a right click opens up your music and media. Clicking down brings up the ‘VIP Contacts’ or speed dial function.

So far, so good and pretty obvious. However, according to Electricpig, it’s the left jab that’s the most interesting, as this fires up the internet with a Google search box popping up, making quick web queries a breeze. There’s also access to Vodafone’s App Store, bringing software from its Betavine service direct to the handset.

The Vodafone Homescreen is only available on the Nokia N85 for now, with the Nokia 6210 following shortly but it’s expected that other S60 smartphone will ship later this summer. So, what do you think of operators tinkering with the operating system, is it a good thing or a sign of confusion to come? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below.

Check out the Vodafone Homescreen image gallery:

Via: electricpig