News 2001
Virgin Mobile Announces Launch in Northern Ireland
04/04/2001
Sir Richard Branson today unveiled Virgin Mobile's plans to launch in Northern Ireland next week.
After huge success on the UK mainland, the world's largest virtual network operator will be offering cheap calls and value for money services to consumers in Northern Ireland.
Virgin Mobile will be open for business on Thursday 12th April 2001 in Northern Ireland, with phones and services available in a range of outlets across the country.
Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Mobile, said: "We are delighted to be launching in Northern Ireland and are confident that Virgin Mobile will be as popular here as it is on the UK mainland. The people of Northern Ireland deserve good service, cheap calls and clear, transparent pricing."
Virgin Mobile offers a range of state-of-the-art phones, costing from £39.99. Just buy the one you want - there are no 'plans' to worry about. Then for your calls, there is just one simple tariff of 15p a minute for the first five minutes of use each day and 5p a minute after that - that means calls cost 5p a minute for up to 23 hours 55 minutes each day. There is no line rental, no monthly contract and free voicemail. And with the daily discounting tariff, the more you use your phone the cheaper it gets.
You can pay any way you like: up front by topping up with conventional pre-pay vouchers or by credit or debit card; or monthly, after you have made your calls, settling by direct debit. Calls cost the same either way - and there's absolutely no monthly line rental or service charge.
New International tariff to the Republic of Ireland
VirginXtras - fun on your phone
When buying a Virgin Mobile, consumers also get privileged access to VirginXtras. This is Virgin Mobile's unique range of mobile leisure, information and entertainment services, available to every Virgin Mobile customer, no matter what type of phone they have. 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. VirginXtras also lets customers get information that is personal and unique to them and where they live, via SMS, WAP, voice and IVR on a wide range of subjects including music, sport and cinema listings.
Virgin Mobile retailers
Virgin Mobile's range of phones and airtime vouchers will be available in both the Belfast and Derry Virgin Megastores and the five Our Price stores in Newton Abbey, Bangor, Newry, Craigavon, and Belfast. Phones will also be on sale in selected Sainsburys, Co-ops, and Toys'R'Us and Virgin Mobile's pre-pay vouchers will be available from those stores, as well as more than 80 Post Offices.
Customers in Northern Ireland wishing to order phones directly can do so via www.virgin.com/mobile or can phone the customer call centre in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, on 0845 6000 600. They will benefit from Virgin Mobile's promise of next day delivery, seven days a week.
Virgin Mobile calls will be carried - in exactly the same way as they are in England, Scotland and Wales - on the back of the capacity-rich One2One network. One2One launched its network in Northern Ireland earlier this week, promising better coverage than rivals and offering already 98% UK population coverage. All other parts of Virgin Mobile's service, customer support, marketing and branding are handled directly by Virgin Mobile itself.
Virgin Mobile is now established as the most successful virtual network operator in the world. Since its launch in November 1999 it has attracted more than 850,000 customers, making it one of the fastest growing mobile phone companies ever.
For further information, please contact:
Steven Day, Virgin Mobile: 07931 777 777
Alison Bonny, Virgin Mobile: 07802 430 276
Debra Burtt/Julia Clarke, Consolidated Communications: 020 7287 2087
Or email: press.office@virginmobile.com
Notes to editors:
Virgin Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture company between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Deutsche Telekom AG's One 2 One, and is the UK's first mobile virtual network operator.
The company is also the first and most successful global mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Virgin Mobile Australia, a 50:50 partnership with Optus, opened for business at the end of October 2000. A similar joint-venture between Virgin and Singapore Telecom will see the launch of Virgin Mobile Asia later in 2001 and plans for Virgin Mobile USA are to be announced very shortly.
It has scored a number of firsts, including being the first UK operator to scrap peak rate calls, introduce a daily discounting tariff and was the first company in the world to introduce an integrated MP3 mobile phone.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virgin.com/mobile; or on the High Street at over 3,500 outlets including Virgin Megastores, Our Price, V.SHOP and in supermarkets such as Asda and Sainsbury.
Virgin Mobile's service, like that of One2One, covers in excess of 98% of the UK's population and is available in 91 territories on five continents through roaming agreements with 198 operators. Current roaming destinations include all European Union member states, the United States and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
