News 2000
Virgin Mobile proudly presents the world's first MP3 phone
19/08/2000
Virgin Mobile today launched the world's first mobile phone with an integrated MP3 player at the V2000 music festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford.
The Virgin Mobile branded Samsung SGH M100 combined mobile and MP3 player retails at £349.99, and comes with its own stereo headphones with built in microphone. The MP3 technology allows users to listen to an album's-worth of music in stunning stereo sound wherever they are, whenever they want, and make use of Virgin Mobile's award-winning services at the same time. Music can be paused to receive in-bound calls, and restarted when the caller hangs up.
Virgin Mobile has entered a multi-million pound agreement with Samsung, the world's fourth largest mobile phone manufacturer, to introduce this new multi-media innovation to the UK.
Sir Richard Branson said: "This mobile, this music player, will revolutionise both its associated industries. It marks the beginning of a new period in music retailing and distribution, and it is the epitome of modern mobile technology - a technology which knows no bounds.
"For many years Virgin has been at the forefront of the music industry. In the new media world we aim to continue that tradition. Why carry a player and a separate mobile when you can have both in one small digital device? Why carry a CD or cassette player, when you can transport music electronically?
"With the record companies and artists making moves to sell their music over the internet we see a great future for digital music download technology. We have plans to let people buy music and have it downloaded straight to their phone in our stores and our soon-to-launch V.Shops. Our vision for the future is to make it possible to buy and download music over the air, using the mobile network itself."
Virgin Mobile customers will be able to download their favourite music from the internet or from a CD onto their Virgin Mobile Samsung MP3 phone via their computer. The phone comes with 32MBs of memory and specially designed music manager software allowing customers to digitally store and file their private CD collection or web-sourced MP3 music, then download it onto their MP3 phone. It takes approximately 30 seconds to transfer a three minute track from a PC to the phone.
At £349.99, the MP3 mobile is often cheaper than buying two separate items in many cases and is available from Virgin Mobile direct on 0845 6000 600, Virgin Megastores and Our Price shops, or over the internet, at www.virgin.com/mobile.
The launch is being backed by a powerful advertising campaign targeting a core audience of 18-35 year olds.
As usual with Virgin Mobile there is no contract to sign, no monthly bills and cheap calls from 5p a minute for up to 23 hours 55 minutes every day. Customers can pay for their calls in advance using vouchers or their credit or debit card, or pay monthly by direct debit.
For further information please contact:
Steven Day, Virgin Mobile: 07931 777 777
Alison Bonny, Virgin Mobile: 07941 371484
Andy Mallinson, Virgin Mobile: 0958 595111
Debra Burtt, Consolidated Communications: 07941 200300
Notes to editors:
Technical specification: Virgin Mobile Samsung SGH M100
The phone
- Vibration alert
- Dual band
- Personal Information Manager (Scheduler, to-do list etc)
- Fully data compatible with Infra-red and built-in modem
- 7 games including Othello, Black Jack, and Snake
- Aqua-illuminated display
- Plus:
Standby time* - Up to 44 Hrs Talk time* - Up to 180 Mins Weight - 97g Phone book - 99 + 200 in Virgin Mobile SIM card Data - Yes Clock - Yes Calender - Yes Calculator - Yes
…and a fully featured MP3 player
It comes complete with:
- Stereo headphones, multifunctional remote control, MP3 manager software for a PC and a PC cable link
- 32MBs, enough for about 8 tracks or 34 minutes of playback
- Play, Stop, Skip a track, Back a track
- Repeat a track, repeat all tracks, shuffle tracks
- Battery gives 9 hours of continuous playback
- Incoming call seamless transfer key
- Graphic equaliser: Mega Bass, Rock, Jazz, Pop, Classical
- Background on MP3
MP3 is a technology that allows CD quality music to be compressed into a file which is small enough to download easily from the internet to a PC. It can then be played on a computer with special software or a dedicated MP3 player - or now, even on a mobile phone.
Almost 70% of surfing UK music lovers have already accessed MP3 music files on the internet. A recent report, 'Consumers Call the Tune' published by Culture Secretary Chris Smith estimates that up to 3 million MP3 music files are downloaded worldwide from the internet every day, with global online sales predicted to reach $4billion (US) or 8% of the total music market by 2004.
Artists such as David Bowie, Prince and Boy George have all embraced the new technology having either launched albums via the internet or on personalised MP3 players.
Background on Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile was launched in November 1999 and is the UK's first virtual operator. It is a 50:50 joint venture between Virgin and Deutsche Telekom's One 2 One.
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.
Every Virgin Mobile comes with a free handsfree kit and 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, special offers on Virgin Atlantic flights, discounted CDs, videos, DVDs and computer games, a special rate for the RAC's new Red breakdown service and more.
Background on Samsung
Samsung is the 13th largest corporation in the world. Last year the company developed the world's first Watch Phone and TV Phone.
