News 2006
Virgin Mobile adds ITN News to its mobile TV service
31/10/2006
31.10.06: Virgin Mobile has today boosted its recently launched mobile TV service with the addition of 24 hour news channel `ITN News’ as the latest channel to join its exciting TV line-up.
Virgin Mobile’s Lobster 700TV is the first mobile phone to offer a live broadcast TV service in the UK offering a range of high-profile channels including BBC One*, ITV1, Channel 4**, E4 and now ITN News, with up to 50 DAB digital radio stations straight to your handset.
ITN News is a rolling news channel designed specifically for mobile phones, breaking the latest news 24 hours a day. It covers news from around the UK and the world including sports, and entertainment, consumers will be able to keep up to date on all the latest developments wherever they are.
The Virgin Mobile Lobster 700TV, as advertised by Pamela Anderson, is available now through Virgin Mobile Stores within Virgin Megastores and WHSmiths, its standalone stores, direct from www.virginmobile.co.uk and from The Carphone Warehouse. Virgin Mobile offers the mobile TV phone and service for free to customers on a contract of £25 a month or more, for the life of their contract. The phone is also available on pre-pay for £199, offering the TV service free for an initial three-month period, followed by a charge of £5 a month. BBC One will be available on a trial basis for 12 months and will be provided free to customers, as will the DAB digital radio stations. Customers who buy a contract in Virgin Mobile Stores also benefit from double the amount of airtime compared to standard tariffs available in other retailers.
Virgin Mobile’s TV service broadcasts TV ‘as it happens’ over the DAB digital frequency spectrum, which currently covers more than 85% of the UK population. The Lobster 700 Mobile TV phone is the world’s first DAB-IP-enabled handset. As well as offering digital TV and radio, the handset is also Virgin Mobile’s first Windows-operated smartphone, offering Windows Mobile functionality and Windows Media Player.
*BBC One will be available on a trial basis for 12 months and will be provided free to consumers.
**Channel 4 will initially broadcast Channel 4 Short Cuts, its made-for-mobile TV channel, and expects Channel 4 simulcast will follow.
Notes to Editors:
For more information, review units and photography please contact:
Eulogy! on 020 7297 9999 or:
| Julia Murray: | jonny@eulogy.co.uk |
| Jonny Lockwood: | jonny@eulogy.co.uk |
| Virgin Mobile | |
|---|---|
| Jo Baker Head of Media Relations: | jo.baker@virginmobile.com |
| Mobile: | 07941 233 300 |
| Virgin Mobile Press Office: | 0845 600 6272 |
About Virgin Mobile:
Virgin Mobile is the UK’s largest mobile virtual network operator 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.co.uk or on the high street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Stores within Virgin Megastores and selected WHSmiths, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Phones 4 U, Currys.digital, Comet, Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Argos, Woolworths, Toys R Us, Ryman, web retailer Dial-a-phone plus hundreds of independent mobile phone 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 from www.virginmobile.co.uk
Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,700 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough. Virgin Mobile was voted 22nd in the Best Workplaces in the UK Financial Times survey for 2006.
Virgin Mobile is offering its customers 3p per minute Virgin to Virgin voice calls in the UK until March 31st.
