News 2004
Roaming rates - is it all Greek to you? Virgin Mobile cuts confusion over pricing
02/08/2004
Virgin Mobile says: With Brits making more than 60 million visits abroad each year*, it has never been more important for customers to understand roaming charges
When packing your bags and heading off to the sun this summer, don’t be afraid to take your phone with you because the days of international roaming being overpriced and difficult to set up are long gone, according to Virgin Mobile.
Virgin Mobile makes roaming simple, offering good value, no-nonsense flat rate international charges, for both pre-pay and pay monthly customers. For Virgin Mobile’s pre-pay customers, there’s nothing to do before you leave - you can top-up your account easily while abroad, and you can use your phone in more than 35 of the world’s most popular travel destinations.
It’s also easier than ever to work out how much you’re spending while you are away on Virgin Mobile. While most mobile providers focus on encouraging usage through reduced prices, Virgin Mobile has one of the simplest tariffs around, backed up by a great service and excellent support to the customer while abroad. No matter what time of day you call and whether you call a mobile phone or a fixed line to any destination, you’ll always pay one rate from the region you’re in.**To ensure customers are aware of all standard charges including receiving calls while abroad, Virgin Mobile will send all customers an automatic welcome text on arrival at their destination.***
Sue Anderson, international proposition manager, Virgin Mobile, said: “With travel abroad becoming cheaper year on year, whether you’re hopping between the Greek Islands or jetting off to see the Olympics, it is reassuring to know that with Virgin Mobile, using your mobile phone abroad is excellent value too. Ensuring you are with a provider that offers you a simple and easy to use roaming package is the best way to enjoy a hassle-free holiday without being ripped off by hotel or local phone costs.”
On UK networks’ pre-pay tariffs, and using Greece, one of the most popular UK destinations, as an example, the cost of making a call from Greece to the UK can vary from 75p to £1.49 per minute, with international calls to other destinations costing anything up to £1.99 per minute. The cost of receiving a call is just as wide – with charges ranging from 60p to £1.49 per minute. For Virgin Mobile customers however, it costs a flat rate of 95p per minute to make a call from Greece to any country at any time, and just 60p a minute to receive a call when you’re there.
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3 have agreements with networks in over 130 countries and territories around the world, allowing you to make and receive voice calls and text messages wherever you are, if you are an approved Pay Monthly customer.* Calls to EU whilst abroad
The cost of texting on other networks can be just as steep, with charges ranging from 40p to 50p when texting from Greece to anywhere else in the world. With Virgin Mobile, customers are charged at a flat international rate of 35p per text message sent. To receive a text message is free.
Stabilisation/FSA
* Source: ABTA travel trends 2002
** For Virgin’s pre-pay customers, countries have been grouped into seven geographical regions, with single tariffs for each type of call. Call charges are shown per minute. A one minute minimum charge applies to all calls. Calls lasting longer than one minute are billed per second.
*** PAYG Welcome message for Greece: Virgin Mobile welcomes you to Greece. Calls cost 95p per min to make and 60p per min to receive. Texts cost 35p. For help call 789. Unlike some mobile phone providers, this text is free.
| Region | Making a call | Receiving a call | Sending a text message |
| Republic of Ireland & The Channel Islands* | 65p | 40p | 35p |
| Europe | 95p | 60p | 35p |
| Australia & New Zealand* | 95p | 60p | 35p |
| USA & Canada* | £1.40 | 80p | 35p |
| Middle East & Africa* | £1.70 | 80p | 35p |
| Asia & Pacific* | £1.70 | 80p | 35p |
| Latin America & Caribbean* | £1.70 | 80p | 35p |
* Limited coverage. Find out more at virgin.com/mobile or call 789 from a Virgin Mobile.
Other call costs apply for premium services. Check virgin.com/mobile for more details.
International Roaming
What to do before you go?
Virgin Mobile customers should follow these simple steps:
- Check there’s network coverage where you’re going by visiting Virgin Mobile’s website. We have over 35 countries for pre-pay roaming. For wider coverage, there are over 150 countries available if you pay monthly by direct debit. In North America, Latin America and Caribbean countries, customers may need a triband phone.
- Make sure you’re aware of all the call charges associated with using your phone in the country you’re visiting. Certain calls you are used to being free in the UK may be charged for when you’re abroad.
- Don’t forget to consider taking out insurance for your phone.
- Remember to add international prefixes to the numbers in your phone book.
- Contact Virgin Mobile immediately if your phone is stolen.
For further information please contact:
Virgin Mobile
| Virgin Mobile Press Office: | 0845 600 6272 or press.office@virginmobile.com |
| Alison Bonny: | 07802 430276 or alison.bonny@virginmobile.com |
| Joanne Baker: | 07941 233300 or joanne.baker@virginmobile.com |
| Shellie Wells | 0207 294 3627 or shelliew@lansons.com |
| Liz Willder : | 020 7294 3677 or lizw@lansons.com |
Virgin Mobile, the UK’s largest mobile virtual network operator, is majority owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and uses T-Mobile's network.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600 or on the High Street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Specialist Stores, Virgin Megastores, Sainsbury, Tesco, Safeway, Asda, John Lewis, Littlewoods, Argos, The Link, Dixons, Carphone Warehouse, Curry's, Comet, Phones 4 U, TOMO, Woolworths, Toys R Us and Rymans.
Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,400 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough. It has been voted one of the top 50 places to work in Britain for two years running in an annual Financial Times survey.
Virgin Mobile’s customers are considered the most satisfied in the pre-pay sector according to a recent UK survey by market researchers JD Power and Associates.
