News 2006
Virgin Mobile reveals that the best things in life are free this summer
26/05/2006
- Britons have more sex when the sun shines
- Over 70% of us find the opposite sex more attractive in the summer
- Edith Bowman comes out on top as ideal holiday partner
- Virgin Mobile offers its customers a Summer of Free Text
26.05.06: Summer is almost upon us, and a survey by Virgin Mobile has revealed exactly what it is that makes us Brits so much happier when the sun comes out. The good news is that the results tell us that the best things in life are free!
The survey has been commissioned to celebrate the Summer of Free Text that Virgin Mobile is currently offering its customers all summer. All Virgin Mobile customers – whether they pay using Pay As You Go, Contract or Bundles – are automatically enjoying up to 1000 free texts a month to other Virgin Mobile phones until September 30th. This means they can use all the text in their monthly package to mates on other UK networks, and keep their social lives buzzing this summer for free.
The Virgin Mobile summer survey reveals that a bit of sunshine has a huge effect on our social habits, with 78% of people admitting to socialising more when the sun shines, and more than 30% revealing they go on more dates. Findings reveal that Britain becomes a much happier, friendlier and even friskier nation when the weather warms up as over half the population have admitted to having a lot more nookie in the summer months.
The survey found that 70% of people find the opposite sex more attractive in the summer, which may go some way to explaining why more than 50% of respondents revealed that they have a lot more sex when the sun shines! However, not everyone suits skimpy summer clothing, as the survey revealed that the celebrity we would least like to see half-naked on the beach, winning the poll by an overwhelming 74%, is the recently-disgraced politician John Prescott.
When questioned about which celebrity people would most like to take on holiday, Scottish Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman topped the poll with more than 50% wanting to spend time with the bubbly Scot over Kate Moss, Jade Goody and the effervescent Jordan.
More than 90% of those polled agreed they were generally much happier when it is summer than at any other time of year. And with 68% of us looking forward to drinking outside, it looks like it’s the festivals and pubs we are most desperate to get to!
Virgin Mobile spokesperson Alison Bonny said:
"Despite, or perhaps because of, living in a country better known for its rain than its shine, it would appear that it only takes a little bit of sunshine to put the smiles back on the faces of the British public. And in order to prove the adage that the best things in life are indeed free, we are adding to the joys of summer by offering our customers free texts for the rest of the summer. With a summer of festivals, barbecues and Pimms coming up our customers will be the most sociable mobile phone users in the country this summer."
Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact:
Henry’s House:
Krissy Knights: 020 7291 3035 krissy@henryshouse.com
Rachel Moule: 020 7291 3033 rachel@henryshouse.com
Virgin Mobile Press Office: 0845 600 6272 or press.office@virginmobile.com
Alison Bonny: 07802 430276 or alison.bonny@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 4 U, 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, Phones 4u, 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.
Statistics from 72point.com available on request
