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==Global network==
==Global network==
In the UK, Virgin Mobile uses the [[T-Mobile]] network, as it stands they are not using the Orange signal as part of Everything Everywhere; however it is known that the roaming may be completed soon as the merge for T-Mobile and Orange are being finalised and complete and after this completion of the merge it is known that Virgin Mobile will renew it's contract with T-Mobile in order for us to receive Orange Signal as well. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2121749,00.html |title=Blyk's free mobile launch delayed|accessdate=2007-07-20|date=July 9, 2007 | work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | first=Richard | last=Wray}}</ref>
In the UK, Virgin Mobile uses the [[T-Mobile]] network, as it stands they are not using the Orange signal as part of Everything Everywhere; however it is known that the roaming may be completed soon as the merge for T-Mobile and Orange are being finalised and complete and after this completion of the merge it is known that Virgin Mobile will renew its contract with T-Mobile in order for us to receive Orange Signal as well. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2121749,00.html |title=Blyk's free mobile launch delayed|accessdate=2007-07-20|date=July 9, 2007 | work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | first=Richard | last=Wray}}</ref>


In the USA, [[Sprint Nextel]] is the network.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/virgin-considers-float-virgin-atlantic/story.aspx?guid=%7BC6AFAEF0-3DC6-4573-A046-F284EC556F9D%7D|title= Virgin considers float for Virgin Atlantic|accessdate=2007-07-16|date= 15 July 2007 | work=MarketWatch}}</ref> There is no roaming to other networks in the United States. In Australia, Virgin Mobile operates on the Optus network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/fullnews.asp?edid=9424 |title=Optus Acquires Virgin Mobile Australia |accessdate=2007-07-20 |date= 12 January 2006 | work=EFYTimes }}</ref> In Canada, it uses the [[Bell Mobility]] network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=3318|title=Virgin Mobile confirms Canada as its fourth port of call|work=TeleGeography|accessdate=2007-07-20|date=31 March 2004}}</ref> In France, it uses [[Orange SA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35519|title=Carphone blames Virgin Mobile for woes|accessdate=2007-07-20|date=3 November 2006}}</ref> Virgin Mobile South Africa uses the [[Cell C]] network for coverage across South Africa. In India, it uses the network of Tata Indicom. These networks use two different mobile telephony standards, [[GSM]] and [[CDMA]]. 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.
In the USA, [[Sprint Nextel]] is the network.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/virgin-considers-float-virgin-atlantic/story.aspx?guid=%7BC6AFAEF0-3DC6-4573-A046-F284EC556F9D%7D|title= Virgin considers float for Virgin Atlantic|accessdate=2007-07-16|date= 15 July 2007 | work=MarketWatch}}</ref> There is no roaming to other networks in the United States. In Australia, Virgin Mobile operates on the Optus network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/fullnews.asp?edid=9424 |title=Optus Acquires Virgin Mobile Australia |accessdate=2007-07-20 |date= 12 January 2006 | work=EFYTimes }}</ref> In Canada, it uses the [[Bell Mobility]] network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=3318|title=Virgin Mobile confirms Canada as its fourth port of call|work=TeleGeography|accessdate=2007-07-20|date=31 March 2004}}</ref> In France, it uses [[Orange SA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35519|title=Carphone blames Virgin Mobile for woes|accessdate=2007-07-20|date=3 November 2006}}</ref> Virgin Mobile South Africa uses the [[Cell C]] network for coverage across South Africa. In India, it uses the network of Tata Indicom. These networks use two different mobile telephony standards, [[GSM]] and [[CDMA]]. 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.

Revision as of 20:46, 8 June 2011

Virgin Mobile plc
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom London, United Kingdom
ProductsMobile Phones
ParentVirgin Group
Websitewww.virginmobile.com

Virgin Mobile is a brand used by many mobile phone service providers based in the United Kingdom and operating in Australia, Canada, France, India, Qatar, South Africa, Greece and the United States, and briefly in Singapore. 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 provides the brand, and the phone company operates the network infrastructure.

Virgin Mobile was the UK's first mobile virtual network operator when it launched in the United Kingdom in 1999.[1] It does not maintain its own network but instead contracts to use the existing network(s) of other providers.

Global network

In the UK, Virgin Mobile uses the T-Mobile network, as it stands they are not using the Orange signal as part of Everything Everywhere; however it is known that the roaming may be completed soon as the merge for T-Mobile and Orange are being finalised and complete and after this completion of the merge it is known that Virgin Mobile will renew its contract with T-Mobile in order for us to receive Orange Signal as well. [2]

In the USA, Sprint Nextel is the network.[3] There is no roaming to other networks in the United States. In Australia, Virgin Mobile operates on the Optus network.[4] In Canada, it uses the Bell Mobility network.[5] In France, it uses Orange SA.[6] Virgin Mobile South Africa uses the Cell C network for coverage across South Africa. In India, it uses the network of Tata Indicom. These networks use two different mobile telephony standards, GSM and CDMA. 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.

In all countries Virgin Mobile offers prepaid mobile phone pay-as-you-go service. In the UK, US, Canada, Australia and South Africa, Virgin Mobile also offers a post-paid option to approved customers. Already very common in the UK at the time of Virgin Mobile's launch, prepaid wireless service was a very small part of the US wireless market. Nevertheless, competitive pricing, and a "no-frills" approach ensured a small but significant market share.

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.[7][8][9]

Virgin Mobile worldwide

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.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12] Virgin Mobile became the fifth brand offering the iPhone in Canada, after Fido, Rogers Wireless, Telus and Bell Mobility.

Virgin Mobile India

On March 1, 2008, Virgin launched the Mobile brand in India through a franchise arrangement with Tata Teleservices.[12] This is Virgin’s seventh launch globally and its largest.[13] 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.[14]

Virgin Mobile Qatar

Virgin Mobile Qatar is a brand licensing partnership agreement between Virgin Group and Qatar Telecom (as Qtel Group). The new brand was launched 13 May 2010[15] over the network of Qatar Telecom (Qtel).[12] 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.[16]

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]

Virgin Mobile USA

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.[19] 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.

Awards

During July 2008 in the UK Virgin Mobile was awarded Shop Idol 2008 by Mobile magazine after Jason Jones who was an employee of Virgin Mobile had beaten stiff competition from other sales advisors from all the other networks throughout the UK.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Virgin Mobile reaches one million customers". Virgin Mobile. 25 June 2001. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  2. ^ Wray, Richard (July 9, 2007). "Blyk's free mobile launch delayed". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
  3. ^ "Virgin considers float for Virgin Atlantic". MarketWatch. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  4. ^ "Optus Acquires Virgin Mobile Australia". EFYTimes. 12 January 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
  5. ^ "Virgin Mobile confirms Canada as its fourth port of call". TeleGeography. 31 March 2004. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
  6. ^ "Carphone blames Virgin Mobile for woes". 3 November 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
  7. ^ Davies, Chris (10 June 2009). "Broadband2Go contract-free from Virgin Mobile USA". SlashGear.com. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  8. ^ "Virgin Mobile USA to Introduce Broadband2Go -- 3G Nationwide Wireless Internet Access With No Annual Contract", Novatel Wireless press release, 10 June 2009.
  9. ^ Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go website
  10. ^ Virgin Mobile at comparecellular.com
  11. ^ "Bell Mobility acquires full ownership of Virgin Mobile Canada". Bell Mobility. 2009-05-09. Retrieved 2009-07-28. Following this sale, Bell Canada stopped allowing Customer Service representatives to make decisions related to the provision of normal customer service; they required the supervisors to make reports of problem situations to Bell management for all decisions. After a couple of weeks of this style of operation, they terminated arrangements with their Canadian Customer Service employees, outsourcing the Customer Service response functions to the Philippines. Customer satisfaction is less than it was.
  12. ^ a b c "Wireless Canada: Virgin Mobile". Wireless Canada. Retrieved 2010-04-18. Cite error: The named reference "entry" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ "COAI questions Virgin's 'backdoor' entry, seeks clear policy". The Economic Times. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  14. ^ "DoT clears Tata-Virgin deal". The Economic Times. 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  15. ^ "Qtel, Virgin Group launch new mobile service", TradeArabia, 13 May 2010.
  16. ^ Sutherland, Ewan. Qatar - the Regulator confirms Virgin is an MVNO not an NO, 3wan.net blog, 17 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Virgin Mobile exits Singapore market". Electronics News. 2003-07-10. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  18. ^ Akers, Lawrence (2002-07-10). "Virgin's Version". Forbes. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  19. ^ "Sprint gets federal antitrust OK to buy Virgin Mobile USA", Tampa Bay Business Journal, 25 August 2009.
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