News 2002
Virgin Mobile to be sold in a further 500 stores
28/03/2002
Virgin Mobile in partnerships with Phones 4 U, Comet and TOMO
- Virgin Mobile phones and services now available in 6,000 UK stores
- Number of retail outlets stocking Virgin Mobile soars by 2,000% since launch
The move adds an additional 532 UK stores to its distribution network, giving Virgin Mobile a presence in over 6,000 stores, an increase of a massive 2,000% since its launch in November 1999, and is proof of the ongoing high demand for the company’s transparent tariff and line rental-free service.
Phones 4 U
Virgin Mobile’s phones and services will be available nationwide in 261 Phones 4 U stores from 1st April. Phones 4 U has achieved phenomenal growth in the highly competitive retail mobile phone market and there are plans to expand distribution of Virgin Mobile phones to 300 stores by the end of the year.
COMET
Virgin Mobile phones and services will be available at all 270 Comet stores from 29th March. The company will also be joining Comet during its April road shows across the country.
TOMO
Virgin Mobile phones and services will be available in TOMO Nottingham from 29th March. TOMO, whose name is derived from ‘Totally Mobile’, is the brainchild of Richard Emmanuelle, the entrepreneur who created the hugely successful DX Communications chain, which was sold in 1992 for £42 million. His new venture is expected to be equally as successful, with a philosophy of complete focus on customer service and satisfaction, attributes which Virgin Mobile also aspires to.
Graeme Hutchinson, sales director of Virgin Mobile, said: “To be partnered with established brands like Comet and Phones 4 U, as well as becoming part of TOMO’s exciting new venture, is great news for Virgin Mobile. The partnerships are part of our ongoing expansion plans and we will extend our distribution until no British High Street remains ‘virgin territory’ for us! We look forward to watching the partnerships go from strength to strength over the next 12 months and beyond.
“Our unique and flexible proposition allows us to compete head-on with the old-fashioned contract proposition of rivals – but we have none of the catches, such as hidden fees or contracts to sign. Customers are actively seeking our proposition in both specialist and non-specialist retailers and it’s great to be able to go this step further towards satisfying the demand.”
With Virgin Mobile there are no hidden costs – you only pay for the calls you make. There’s no contract to sign or monthly line rental and one simple tariff means that standard calls are just 15p per minute for the first 5 minutes of use each day, then 5p per minute after that, and voicemail is free. Virgin Mobile also gives its customers the Big Bonus – the world’s first cashback tariff - which gives customers 10% free airtime when they spend £30 or more in a month.
