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Virgin Media challenges mobile operators to keep up

Tags: Virgin (NASDAQ:VMED)

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PRESS RELEASE

  • Incredible value with unlimited data from just £21
  • Insurance and backup service included
  • Combating bill shock with alerts and ‘My Account' app

Virgin Media today unveiled an incredible range of mobile tariffs that will set a new standard in unbeatable value which will challenge the rest of the industry to keep up. The star of the show is the hero ‘Premiere' tariff which combines all-you-can-eat data, unlimited texts, unlimited calls to UK landlines and 2,500 anytime minutes.

To make the most of the largest 3G network in the UK* as well as the hottest smartphones of the summer, Virgin Media has created some of the most competitive tariffs on the market designed to be simple, affordable and flexible, with amped up benefits for loyal Virgin Media** customers

‘Premiere' starts at an incredible £21 per month for Virgin Media** customers as the company looks to help people to stay connected on the go and  whilst making the most of the benefits and savings to be had from taking a mobile with their existing Virgin Media services.

The new tariffs include options for every mobile phone user with prices starting from as little as £18 per month for the new ‘Starter' tariff, or £13 per month for Virgin Media customers. Not only do Virgin Media customers enjoy reduced costs, saving £5 per month on each tariff, but they also benefit from unlimited calls and texts to other Virgin Mobiles.

Jamie Heywood, director of mobile at Virgin Media said: "When we launched over ten years ago as the worlds first mobile company of its type, we revolutionised the market, and this is another such landmark. As people look for the best value, we're rewarding loyalty with some amazing tariffs with unlimited offerings that our customers can enjoy without worrying about hidden extras, as well as helping to combat bill shock."

In a pioneering move, all the new tariffs will include insurance*** for no extra cost for the length of the contract for new and existing Virgin Media customers. It follows a recent study by Virgin Media that found a staggering proportion of Brits (72 per cent) don't have insurance for their mobiles, despite 70 per cent also admitting to breaking or losing up to seven phones in the last decade - often within the typical 24 month contract period****.

Smartphones can cost as much as £500 and often contain invaluable data such as contacts, texts, emails and photos, so losing one can be a costly and incredibly frustrating experience. The new insurance service (worth £7.99 per month) provides 24 hour guaranteed handset replacement in the UK if it goes missing or is stolen***** and includes Mobile Rescue which will automatically back-up all contacts as well as lock and locate the handset remotely.

Heywood added: "An overwhelming number of consumers don't believe that mobile insurance is necessary and won't consider taking insurance through their mobile provider because it's too expensive. For too long mobile providers have failed to offer insurance that represents value for money. We were astounded to find so many people were prepared to gamble when it came to protecting their handsets, which is why we are now the only provider to offer inclusive insurance as standard for our loyal customers at no extra cost."

The new range of pay monthly tariffs are subject to 24 month****** contracts and in order to help ensure they have the perfect tariff for their needs, Virgin Media will automatically text customers when they are nearing the limits of their allowances (where applicable) to help ensure manageable costs. Virgin Media's smartphones also come preloaded with the ‘My Account' app so customers can keep track of how much they've used of their monthly allowance, and if needed, customers have the flexibility to move up or down the tariffs at any point in their contract without penalty.

For customers already with their own data-hungry smartphones Virgin Media is also launching a new range of flexible ‘SIM Only' tariffs. The ‘SIM Only' tariffs work on a rolling monthly basis with ‘Premiere' starting at £20 for cable and national customers who will benefit from unlimited data, text, calls to other Virgin Mobiles and UK landlines.

Virgin Media customers will also be able to take advantage of free WiFi access at up to 120 London Underground stations.

For more information on Virgin Media's products and services, head to www.virginmedia.com.

Key features of Virgin Media's new tariffs

  • Unlimited means unlimited
  • SMS Alerts to let you know when you're reaching applicable allowance limits
  • Tariff flexibility to move onto higher or lower tariffs anytime without penalty
  • Better network coverage than ever before on Virgin Media with T-Mobile and Orange networks in the UK
  • Three months free Spotify on compatible handsets

Exclusive extras included for Virgin Media customers

  •  £5 less per month - save £60 per year
  • Calls from Virgin Home Phone to Virgin Mobiles during inclusive calling periods
  • Unlimited calls and texts to other Virgin Mobiles
  • Inclusive Insurance worth £7.99 per month - save over £90 per year with guaranteed next day replacement worth £7.99 visit www.virginmedia.com/insurance for more details
  • Contacts stored safely online and customers can lock and locate their handset remotely - Mobile Rescue

Virgin Media Pay Monthly tariff range  
        Starter Essential       Premiere        Premiere 08    
Monthly price from     
 £18     £23     £26     £33    
Mins    200     600     2500    2500   
Texts   500     Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited      
Data (in the UK)        500MB   1GB     Unlimited       Unlimited      
Calls to UK landlines   N/A     N/A     Unlimited       Unlimited      
Contract Length 24 months       24 months       24 months       24 months      
Virgin Media customer exclusives       
Monthly price from     
 £13     £18     £21     £26    
Calls &  texts to Virgin Mobiles        Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited      
Insurance with 24 hour replacement        Inclusive       Inclusive       Inclusive       Inclusive      

‘Premiere 08' includes 500 mins to 0800, 0845, 0870 & 0808 numbers per month

Virgin Media SIM Only tariff range     
        Starter Essential       Premiere        Premiere 08    
Monthly price from     
 £10     £15     £25     N/A    
Mins    250     600     2500    N/A    
Texts   2500    2500    2500    N/A    
Data (in the UK)        500MB   500MB   1GB     N/A    
Calls to UK landlines   N/A     N/A     1500    N/A    
Contract Length 1 month rolling 1 month rolling 1 month rolling N/A    
Virgin Media customer exclusives       
Monthly price from     
 £10     £15     £20     £30    
Mins    250     600     2500    2500   
Texts   Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited      
Data    1GB     1GB     Unlimited       Unlimited      
Calls to UK landlines   N/A     N/A     Unlimited       Unlimited      
Calls &  texts to Virgin Mobiles        Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited      

‘Premiere 08' includes 500 mins to 0800, 0845, 0870 & 0808 numbers per month

* Virgin Media customers with Virgin Mobiles are able to use both T-Mobile and Orange networks in the UK.  Largest 3G network: based on total number of 3G transmitters for 3G signal sharing across the Orange and T-Mobile networks

** Virgin Media existing broadband, TV or home phone customers only. Customers without Virgin Media services pay standard pricing

*** Our insurance is arranged and administered by NEWAsurion Europe Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (no. 502545), registered address: Chiswick Place, 272 Gunnersbury Avenue, Chiswick, W4 5QB. The Insurer is Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (no. 202205), registered address: Third Floor, 2 Minster Court, London, EC3R 7YE

****The study with OnePoll (www.OnePoll.com) was commissioned by Virgin Media in May 2011 and surveyed 1,000 people across the UK.

***** Virgin Media customers will need to download ‘Mobile Rescue' to their handsets once received to back-up their contacts and qualify for replacement handsets.

****** Other tariffs available for shorter term 12m contracts

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.

The company's cable network - the result of a multi-billion pound private investment - delivers ultrafast broadband connections to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 120Mb, and is being expanded to reach thousands more people across the country.

Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of UK households.

Virgin Media also operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world's first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.

Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and the London Stock Exchange (VMED). For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com.