News 2001
Virgin Mobile Launches First Sony Phone
14/06/2001
Virgin Mobile today launched the new super-stylish Sony J5 onto its network, adding to the 11 best of breed handsets already in the range.
This is the first Sony handset in the Virgin Mobile collection, and offers a wide range of features making it a must-have item for lovers of both design and technology.
As well as being slimline and ultra lightweight - weighing only 85g - the Sony J5 offers a unique 'recordable ringtone' function giving customers the ability to select their favourite music, sounds, or messages and store them as a ringtone. Virgin Mobile users need never miss their calls in a crowd again.
Some of the other enviable features include:
- Built in speaker phone
- Full e-mail capabilities
- Jog dial navigation
- WAP
- VirginXtras access
- Dual band
- Clock, calendar and calculator
- 4 games
- 700 name phone book (500 on handset and 200 on the SIM card)
"Virgin Mobile's customers have always been early adopters who desire the latest technology. The J5 with it's recordable ringtone, WAP and e-mail is an ideal addition to the range" commented Andy Mallinson, Head of Product Marketing. "We are really pleased to be working with Sony in launching this new product."
The Virgin Mobile Sony J5 costs £129.99, including £5 airtime credit. It is available now on the Virgin Mobile network by calling 0845 6000 600, visiting the website www.virgin.com/mobile or from V shops and Virgin Megastore.
Contacts:
Steven Day, Virgin Mobile: (0) 7931 777 777
Alison Bonny, Virgin Mobile: (0) 7802 430 276
Review kits and photography are available from Julie Watson or Lucy Pope: t: 020 7385 0009 / e: virginmobile@big-mouths.com
Notes to Editors:
Virgin Mobile
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.
Virgin Mobile launched in the UK on November 11th 1999.
Virgin Mobile is the only network to offer cheap calls and no line rental with no hidden catches and no sting in the tail. Standard calls cost 15p per minute for the first 5 minutes of use each day, and 5p per minute after that, for up to 23 hours 55 minutes each day. There is no line rental fee and no catches, however you choose to pay - you only pay for the calls you make. Voicemail retrieval is free and SMS messages cost 10p per message.
You can Pay As You Want - by topping up with a voucher or a debit or credit card, or you can pay monthly by direct debit. Either way, you still receive the same great value tariff and no hidden fees or charges.
Virgin Mobile has introduced the Big Bonus scheme - a reward for big talkers. Customers using £30 or more of airtime or SMS credit each month will receive 10% of whatever they spend as an airtime credit the following month. The Big Bonus is available for all Virgin Mobile customers who pay monthly or top up by credit or debit card. The more calls made, the more free airtime customers get, whenever they use £30 or more.
VirginXtras 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. 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 range of topics including music, sport and cinema listings.
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, John Lewis, Asda and Sainsbury.
Virgin has already taken the brand overseas with Virgin Mobile (Australia), a partnership with Optus, which 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. The global Virgin Mobile brand is also expected to launch in the USA and Europe within two years. Virgin Mobile has also recently launched in Northern Ireland.
Virgin Mobile's achievements include a number of firsts including being the:
- First consumer brand to launch into the UK mobile market
- First to abolish peak rates
- First to offer a daily discounting tariff
- First to offer one simple tariff for all customers
- First to allow customers to pay anyway they like
- First to offer m-commerce services to all customer irrespective of their handsets via Virgin Xtras
- First in the world to launch a GSM MP3 mobile phone
- First to trial mobile vending in the UK.
