News 2006
Virgin Mobile expands its contract into Phones 4u
01/03/2006
01.03.06 Virgin Mobile today announces the expansion of its contract proposition into Phones 4u retail and online. Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly will be available in more than 350 Phones 4u stores across the UK.
Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly is already available in Virgin Mobile Stores, The Link, concessions in WHSmith stores and The Carphone Warehouse, selected independent mobile dealers and also via the Virgin Mobile website (www.virgin.com/mobile).
Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly is different from other mobile contracts on the market. As well as offering contract customers a choice of the latest phones and great-value airtime, Virgin Mobile offers unique benefits by giving customers two clear options at the end of their contract term. If they are happy to keep their existing phone Virgin Mobile guarantees to automatically cut a customer’s regular monthly charge at the end of their contract - saving them as much as 50% on their monthly fee.
Alternatively, they can take out a new contract and automatically receive a new phone. Virgin Mobile, unlike other networks, will not continue to charge customers expensive `line rental’ after the contract has finished - instead customers pay only for their airtime.
Customers can choose between a 12- or 18- month contract, and during the contract term any unused inclusive airtime or texts that month will be ‘rolled over’ for use during the following month. Phones 4u has some fantastic exclusive promotional offers of up to 6 months’ double airtime on 18- month contracts. There is an exclusive Talkers 200 promotion available on 12- and 18- month contract plans with 200 free texts every month for duration of contract and the same double airtime offer. The biggest promotion on offer is 400 free minutes and 400 free texts for £32 a month on a 12- month contract or just £30 on an 18- month contract.
Graeme Hutchinson, sales and marketing director at Virgin Mobile, said: "Phones 4u is a retailer of great entrepreneurial flair with a good understanding of their target market and the needs of their network partners. We have worked closely with them to launch our contract and we believe our widened distribution represents a significant further success in the growth of our contract customer base.”
Virgin Mobile’s latest national TV advertising campaign featuring Kate Moss has helped raise the awareness of its contract offer.
For further information please contact:
Virgin Mobile:
Virgin Mobile Press Office: 0845 600 6272 or press.office@virginmobile.com
Jo Baker: 07941 233300 or jo.baker@virginmobile.com
About Virgin Mobile:
Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) plc, the UK's largest mobile virtual network operator, is majority owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and uses T-Mobile's network. Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin Mobile has attracted more than 4 million customers*.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virginmobile.com or on the high street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Stores within Virgin Megastores, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Dixons, Phones 4u, Curry's, Comet, Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Argos, TOMO, Woolworths, Toys R Us and Ryman plus hundreds of independents mobile phones dealers and available via Shop Direct, Littlewoods, Grattan and Empire home shopping channels.
Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly (contract) is currently available in Virgin Mobile Stores, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, at concessions in WHSmith and at www.virginmobile.com
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.
Virgin Mobile's customers were found to be the most-satisfied mobile consumers in the pre-pay sector for two years running in 2005 and 2004, according to the surveys by J.D. Power and Associates. Virgin Mobile is also featured in `The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For’ list 2005 and is part of the FTSE4Good Index.
*On a 90-day activity basis.
