  In this paper, we establish two new transformation formulas for
${}_{8}\psi_{8}$ and ${}_8\phi_7$ series by means of Slater's general
transformation for bilateral series. As applications, some specific
transformation formulas are presented among which include a general form of
Weierstrass' theta identity and new proofs of Bailey's VWP ${}_6\psi_6$ and
Jackson's ${}_8\phi_7$ summation formula.
