Vodafone to launch UK home signal booster

LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) - Vodafone (VOD.L), the world's largest mobile phone firm by revenues, is to offer a small, plug-in box for the home to improve customers' signal in Britain.

Vodafone said the Access Gateway service was the first of its kind in Europe. Similar in size to a router, it will plug into any home broadband line to improve coverage for third generation mobile services.

The service will be available from July 1 as part of an inclusive price plan, as a one-off purchase for 160 pounds ($263.6) or for a monthly charge.

"The Vodafone Access Gateway will boost indoor mobile phone coverage for customers who today, find they need to move around the rooms in their home to get a consistent signal strength," Ian Shepherd, Consumer Director of Vodafone UK, said in a statement. ($1=.6070 Pound) (Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Simon Jessop)