News 2000
Free phone, free calls it's festival time
16/08/2000
'Trial and Dial' - a pioneering initiative, which will allow mobile shoppers to 'test drive' a phone for free before making a decision to buy - is being introduced by Virgin Mobile at this year's V2000 music festival at Hylands Park, Chelmsford (19th and 20th August). Virgin Mobile is co-headline sponsor.
Virgin Mobile will also be launching the world's first integrated MP3 mobile phone at the festival - the revolutionary new Samsung SGH M100 phone, which retails at £349.99.
Festival-goers will be able to road-test a brand-new Siemens M35i handset on site free of charge, simply by registering their credit card details with Virgin Mobile at the festival. The M35i is water-resistant, shock-proof and has a rubberised exterior, making it the perfect festival phone. People can try the phone for the entire weekend and enjoy free calls and SMS text messaging (up to the value of £20).
If they like the phone they can take it home with them and the £119.99 cost of the phone and £12.50 service pack will be charged to their card. If they don't want it, they can simply return it at the end of the festival no questions asked.
"V2000 is the perfect venue to try something new and fun in mobile retailing - and the best place to launch our new music phone," comments Steven Day, spokesman for Virgin Mobile. "If the trial and dial service goes well, we could expand it into the High Street. A car salesman wouldn't think twice about letting you take a test drive before asking you to part with your money. Why shouldn't mobile companies let their customers do the same?".
Virgin Mobile will have a very high profile at the festival as joint headline sponsor of V2000. As well as checking out the full range of Virgin Mobile phones at two roadshow vehicles, visitors to the Virgin Mobile Recharge Tent will be able to recharge their batteries in more ways than one.
There will be 'chilled out' music, comfy seating and a relaxing atmosphere. Virgin Mobile customers will get privileged access to the VIP area, where they can enjoy a free massage, free drinks, and a mobile phone charging bar. Those wanting to send their own special message to the V2000 crowd can even SMS the giant screen next to main stage.
MP3 and WAP
At the festival, there will also be the opportunity to try out the revolutionary new MP3 phone, which will be on sale by the end of the month. The Virgin Mobile SGH M100 from Samsung allows users to store an album's worth of music on the phone, by downloading from the Internet or a CD via computer. Music-lovers can listen to music in stunning stereo sound wherever they are, whenever they want.
The Virgin Mobile MP3 will be demonstrated at the festival.
Virgin Mobile's new WAP phones - the Siemens M35i and Siemens S35i - will also be on show. A Virgin Mobile Recommends feature on each of the two handsets lets customers gain easy access to news, information and e-commerce from six content categories: travel, entertainment, sport, shopping, finance and a personal section - 'more'.
For more information please call:
Alison Bonny, 07941 371484
or Steven Day, 07931 777777.
Notes:
- Virgin Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture company between Virgin and Deutsche Telekom's One 2 One and is the UK's first mobile virtual operator.
- Virgin Mobile is now established as the most successful virtual network operator in the world. Since its launch in November 1999 it has attracted a third of a million customers making it one of the fastest growing mobile phone companies ever.
- The Virgin Mobile brand has already been taken overseas with Virgin Mobile (Australia) a partnership with Cable and Wireless Optus; and Virgin Mobile (Asia), a joint venture with Singapore Telecom. The aim for Virgin is to become the world's first truly global virtual network operator.
- With Virgin Mobile there's no line rental, no monthly fees, no ongoing charges, no vouchers that expire and no high call charges. Once customers are connected, they pay only for the calls they make.
- Each of Virgin's phones comes with a whole host of special Virgin services called Virgin Xtras. At the press of a button, customers can get substantial savings on Virgin Holidays and Virgin Sun, discounted CDs, DVDs, videos and computer console games; a special rate for the RAC's new Red breakdown service and more.
- Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virgin.com/mobile; or on the High Street at more than 300 Virgin Megastores and Our Price shops.
The new phones:
- Siemens M35i: Price £119.99, WAP, dual band, water and shock resistant, modem, weight - 125 grams, standby time of 60 to 180 hours, talktime of 120 to 300 minutes.
- Siemens S35i: Price £199.99, WAP, dual band, modem, infra red, standby 60 to 220 hrs, talktime 120 to 360 mins,
V2000:
- Acts include: Travis, Richard Ashcroft, Macy Gray, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, All Saints, Underworld, Paul Weller, James, Cypress Hill, Brand New Heavies, Groove Armada, Moby, Leftfield, Beth Orton, Mansun and Moloko.
- Other title sponsors for V2000 are Budweiser and Virgin Trains. Stage sponsors are: Peoplesound.com, JJB and Shockwaves.
