News 2000
A phone's for life - not just for Christmas
04/12/2000
Virgin Mobile - cheap calls and no line rental
Well meaning gift givers could easily fall short this Christmas, by giving loved ones an expensive mobile phone that drives them into the red, warns Virgin Mobile.
Virgin Mobile can save mobile users hundreds of pounds a year. Analysis of call charges show that Virgin Mobile offers the best value across the board. It also offers the unique combination of cheap calls and no line rental.
With many different mobile phone packages and tariffs available, it is easy to get caught up in mobile madness and find yourself coming away with the wrong present. To help gift - buyers on their way, Virgin Mobile has put together a guide on what to watch out for, if they plan to spoil someone rotten this Xmas by buying them a mobile phone.
Virgin Mobile operates a simple tariff of 15p for the first 5 minutes of standard calls each day and 5p a minute after that. Not only that, but to make things even simpler, there is no line rental, no contract, no monthly charges and no charge for voicemail - what could be easier this Christmas?
And the savings don't stop there, as with Virgin Mobile, customers can save money on a range of goods using the VirginXtras service. At the press of a button, you can save hundreds of pounds on Virgin Holidays and Virgin Sun, 15% off CDs, DVDs, videos and computer games, and up to 50% off electrical goods, such as TVs and electrical appliances.
Tom Alexander, managing director at Virgin Mobile comments: "If you are wanting to spoil someone rotten with a mobile this Christmas, the important thing is to check the small print. Don't give a gift with catches - at Virgin Mobile, there is no small print. The traditional operators have been fleecing customers for years - don't fall for their seduction this year.
For further information, please call:
Steven Day, Virgin Mobile:
07931 777 777
Debra Burtt or Julia Clark, Consolidated Communications:
020 7287 2087
Note to editors:
- 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 network operator.
- in Mobile launched in the UK on November 11th 1999.
- inXtras is Virgin Mobile's unique range of mobile leisure, information and entertainment services. With VirginXtras customers can save 10% off selected Virgin Holidays; 15% off music, videos, DVDs and computer games; and up to 50% off electrical goods such as TVs, stereos, fridges and microwaves compared to typical high street prices.
Virgin Mobile guide
What to watch out for when buying a mobile this Cristmas
1. "Calls from 1p a minute" - read the small print, there's usually a catch, like a peak rate and monthly line rental
2. "Free minutes" - check when these minutes can be used, whether they can be used to phone networks, voicemail or text messages, how many free minutes you get and how much it will cost to make calls at non-free times - chances are you won't be better off in the long run
3. "Free phone, free connection" in fact anything that uses the word "free" - usually there are hidden costs, such as line rental and call charges, that are included in a 12 month contract
4. Advertising which makes statements like "the bigger the network, the better the reception" - wrong! Of the four traditional networks - Vodafone, BT Cellnet, Orange and One2One (Virgin Mobile's network provider), coverage is now similar right across the country
5. "Light, medium or heavy - what type of user are you?" This is another one to be cautious of, especially when you are offered free minutes - just ask, if I don't use the phone will it cost anything? If the answer is yes, don't touch it with a bargepole!
Heavy User - 350 free minutes a month for about £40 - do your sums and this actually ends up costing you 11p a minute if you use all the minutes, 22p a minute if you use half; and £40 a month if you don't use any of them. (According to Oftel's residential report, Q2 August 2000, a third of customers don't use all the free minutes provided with their package, over half of whom using less than half, and only 34% of high usage customers believe that their package/tariff is the best value).
Everyday User - 150 free minutes a month for £25 - what a bargain, or not! Even if you use all your minutes, that's over 16p a minute.
Occasional User - 20 minutes of free calls for £12.99 month - what's the catch? If you use them all up, that's over 64p a minute and if you don't….well more fool you!
Off Peak User - Loads of off peak minutes for £15 a month - the operative word being unbelievable, as though the off peak calls are cheap, you pay the penalty when you make calls at peak time.
