Virgin Mobile
 Virgin Mobile Logo |
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| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
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| Products | Mobile Phones |
| Parent | Virgin Group |
| Website | www.virginmobile.com |
Virgin Mobile is a brand used by many mobile phone service providers across the globe; its headquarters are based in the United Kingdom. Virgin Mobile has local operations in Australia, Canada, Chile, France, India, South Africa, Greece, United Kingdom and the United States. It briefly also had operations in Singapore and Qatar. The international Virgin Mobile businesses each act as independent entities, usually in a partnership between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and an existing phone company. Virgin Group licences the brand, and the partner phone company operates the network infrastructure.
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[edit] Virgin Mobile UK
Virgin Mobile UK is a mobile phone service provider operating in the United Kingdom. The company was the world's first Mobile Virtual Network Operator, launched in 1999. Being a virtual operator, Virgin Mobile does not maintain its own network, and instead has contracts to use the existing network of Everything Everywhere. Virgin Mobile was bought by NTL:Telewest on the 4 April 2006 before joining the quadplay of Virgin Media services when NTL:Telewest rebranded into Virgin Media on 9 February 2007, with a new logo in-line with Virgin Media.
Initially, Virgin Mobile in the UK used the network coverage of Mobile Operator T-Mobile and have been doing so since their establishment, however when T-Mobile and Orange UK merged to form the new brand "Everything Everywhere" in Britain, customers can begin to take advantage of Orange's broadcasting signals in addition to those of T-Mobile from Autumn 2011.
[edit] Virgin Mobile worldwide
GSM is used in the UK, South Africa, Australia, France and Canada. CDMA, for phones with R-UIM cards, and GSM, for phones with SIM cards, are used in the US, and India (Virgin has access to Bell Canada's CDMA and HSPA+ networks.) GSM was launched in India recently. Virgin Mobile South Africa and India use two different mobile telephony standards, GSM and CDMA.
In all countries Virgin Mobile offers prepaid mobile phone pay-as-you-go (PAYG) service. In the UK, US, Canada, Australia and South Africa, Virgin Mobile also offers a Pay Monthly option to approved customers. At the time of Virgin Mobile's launch in the UK pay monthly services were very popular. However in the US wireless market, prepaid wireless services were not as widespead as in the UK, nevertheless, competitive pricing, and a "no-frills" approach ensured a small but significant market share.
[edit] Virgin Mobile Canada
Virgin Mobile Canada experienced substantial growth in 2008, launching approximately 60 'Virgin Mini Stores' (VMS) across the country. VMS are kiosks usually located in shopping malls that especially target the 18–35 year old demographic.[1] For four years running, Virgin Mobile Canada has received J.D. Power and Associates' annual award for Highest Customer Satisfaction for Prepaid Wireless. Post-paid plans were introduced to Virgin Canada in February 2008.
Bell Mobility acquired Virgin Mobile Canada in May 2009 for CAN$142 million.[2] Since early 2010, Virgin Mobile Canada launched the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 post-paid service in Virgin Mobile Retail Stores and online, all around Canada.[3] Virgin Mobile became the fifth brand offering the iPhone in Canada, after Fido, Rogers Wireless, Telus and Bell Mobility.
[edit] Virgin Mobile India
On March 1, 2008, Virgin launched the Mobile brand in India through a franchise arrangement with Tata Teleservices.[3] This is Virgin’s seventh launch globally and its largest.[4] However on March 29, 2008, the Department of Telecom (DoT) cleared the deal after clarification from Tata Teleservices indicated that Virgin had not entered India as an MVNO.[5]
[edit] Virgin Mobile USA
In the USA, Virgin Mobile has a contract with Sprint Nextel for the use of their network.[6] There is no roaming to other networks in the United States. On July 28, 2009, Sprint agreed to pay $483 million to purchase Virgin Mobile USA. The Federal Trade Commission later gave the go-ahead on the acquisition.[7] Virgin Mobile USA was originally conceived as a joint venture between Virgin Group and Sprint, and uses Sprint's cellular bandwidth in the United States. Sprint retained the Virgin Mobile name after the deal closed.
In June 2009 Virgin Mobile announced and started a pay-as-you go mobile data program called Broadband2Go in the United States, using Novatel Wireless hardware, and available exclusively through the Best Buy chain of stores originally, but now available at other retailers including RadioShack in the United States and The Source in Canada. It uses a small USB modem for internet connectivity.[8][9][10]
[edit] Virgin Mobile Australia
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) is a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia. They sell through over 3500 retail outlets, including flagship stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as via telesales and web-based stores.
In Australia, Virgin Mobile operates on the Optus network.[11]
[edit] Virgin Mobile South Africa
Virgin Mobile South Africa (VMSA) is a joint-venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Cell C. Virgin Mobile South Africa launched in 2006. In February 2011 it was reported that Cell C's 50% stake in Virgin Mobile is to be sold to Virgin Group of the UK and Calico Investments of the Bahamas.
[edit] Virgin Mobile France
Virgin Mobile France is the French division of Virgin Mobile. It is a mobile virtual network operator, and a subsidiary of Virgin Group.
Launched in France on April 3, 2006, Virgin Mobile is the fourth mobile operator on the French market with over 2 million customers. Chaired by Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, Virgin Mobile is commercialized by OMEA TELECOM, a joint venture between Virgin Group and Carphone Warehouse.
It is known to be the first operator to have launched a plan with unlimited SMS in France.[12]
[edit] Virgin Mobile Chile
Virgin Mobile Latin America is on track to launch operations in Chile in the first quarter of 2012, having received regulatory approval from Chile’s telecommunications regulator as well as signing an agreement with Movistar, one of the country’s leading mobile network operators. VMLA announced in June of this year its plan to become Latin America’s leading mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Since then, the company has made significant progress towards its goal of beginning commercial operations in many countries. Chile will be its first commercial operation in early 2012. Richard Branson commented: "We are excited to have made such good progress towards launching our first mobile business in Latin America in Chile."This is an exciting project for Virgin and we believe Virgin Mobile Chile customers will be delighted by the services we will be offering them at launch." “We are very appreciative of Subtel’s (Chile’s Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones) prompt approval of our application," said VMLA’s chairman Phil Wallace.[13]
[edit] Discontinued Services
[edit] Virgin Mobile Qatar
Virgin Mobile Qatar was a brand licensing partnership agreement between Virgin Group and Qatar Telecom (as Qtel Group). The new brand was launched 13 May 2010[14] over the network of Qatar Telecom (Qtel).[3] Virgin claims to be Qatar’s first youth-oriented mobile brand, and offers pre-paid-only, simplified all-day tariff plans (with no distinction between peak and off-peak), with a 180-day airtime validity — which it says is the longest available in the country. Local calls are charged at QAR0.55 (USD0.15) per minute for the first five minutes used in each day, and QAR0.30 per minute after that, whilst mobile internet access costs QAR1 per 1MB. Richard Branson, chairman of UK-based Virgin Group, said: "Virgin Mobile [has] more than 15 million customers around the world ... I am proud to have partnered with Qtel to make Virgin Mobile Qatar our first mobile launch in the Middle East." The service is the eighth Virgin Mobile branded operation in the world, following on from launches in the UK, Australia, the US, Canada, France, South Africa and India. Branson added that Virgin Group is mulling further partnerships with Qtel, which has a group presence in 17 countries.
Virgin Mobile Qatar was being widely mistaken to be the third mobile network operator (MNO) in Qatar, in the form of a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), essentially a brand as reseller. It has been confirmed by the Qtel and ictQatar, the local telecommunications authority reiterating that its only a branding agreement.[15]
This service has since closed due to a dispute with Vodafone. Customers will have ample opportunity to obtain their replacement SIM cards or seek a refund. Qtel will communicate full details of the migration programme and customer refund options to all of their QVMS customers and provide them with reminders before finally de-activating any remaining active Virgin Mobile branded SIM cards between the 1st and the 3rd of August 2011.[16]
[edit] Virgin Mobile Singapore
Virgin Singapore was launched in October 2001 as a joint venture with Singtel. The operations were closed down by October 2002 after failing to attract a significant number of customers.[17]
Failure of the joint venture was attributed to a saturated mobile market and Virgin Mobile's positioning as a "premium" brand.[18]
[edit] References
- ^ Virgin Mobile at comparecellular.com
- ^ "Bell Mobility acquires full ownership of Virgin Mobile Canada". Bell Mobility. 2009-05-09. http://www.bce.ca/en/news/releases/bm/2009/05/07/75140.html. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
- ^ a b c "Wireless Canada: Virgin Mobile". Wireless Canada. http://wirelesscanada.blogspot.com/search/label/Virgin%20Mobile. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
- ^ "COAI questions Virgin's 'backdoor' entry, seeks clear policy". The Economic Times. 2008-03-20. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Telecom/COAI_questions_Virgins_backdoor_entry_seeks_clear_policy/articleshow/2885287.cms. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ "DoT clears Tata-Virgin deal". The Economic Times. 2008-03-29. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Telecom/DoT_clears_Tata-Virgin_deal/articleshow/2908412.cms. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ "Virgin considers float for Virgin Atlantic". MarketWatch. 15 July 2007. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/virgin-considers-float-virgin-atlantic/story.aspx?guid=%7BC6AFAEF0-3DC6-4573-A046-F284EC556F9D%7D. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
- ^ "Sprint gets federal antitrust OK to buy Virgin Mobile USA", Tampa Bay Business Journal, 25 August 2009.
- ^ Davies, Chris (10 June 2009). "Broadband2Go contract-free from Virgin Mobile USA". SlashGear.com. http://www.slashgear.com/broadband2go-contract-free-from-virgin-mobile-usa-1046608/. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ^ "Virgin Mobile USA to Introduce Broadband2Go -- 3G Nationwide Wireless Internet Access With No Annual Contract", Novatel Wireless press release, 10 June 2009.
- ^ Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go website
- ^ "Optus Acquires Virgin Mobile Australia". EFYTimes. 12 January 2006. http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/fullnews.asp?edid=9424. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
- ^ http://www.generation-nt.com/virgin-mobile-illimite-actualite-16316.html
- ^ "Virgin Mobile Latin America on track to begin operations in Chile". http://www.virgin.com/media-and-mobile/news/virgin-mobile-latin-america-on-track-to-begin-operations-in-chile. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "Qtel, Virgin Group launch new mobile service", TradeArabia, 13 May 2010.
- ^ Sutherland, Ewan. Qatar - the Regulator confirms Virgin is an MVNO not an NO, 3wan.net blog, 17 May 2010.
- ^ "End To Virgin Mobile Name in Qatar Over Competition Row With Vodafone". Sky News. Wednesday June 08, 2011. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/End-To-Virgin-Mobile-Name-in-Qatar-Over-Competition-Row-With-Vodafone/Article/201106116007094. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
- ^ "Virgin Mobile exits Singapore market". Electronics News. 2003-07-10. http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/0c/0c00f00c.asp. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ Akers, Lawrence (2002-07-10). "Virgin's Version". Forbes. http://members.forbes.com/asap/2002/1007/058.html. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
[edit] External links
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