Staff Reporter

Birmingham-based web and telesales dealer Dialamobile went under last week, leaving millions of customers

The non-specialist retail channel is the focus of distribution’s efforts ahead of the Christmas rush, with several distributors looking to bolster account management for the channel and retailers setting their stalls out.

Polish billionaire Roman Karkosik has pledged $1 billion (£498,000) to the development of new UK MVNO Extreme Mobile and sister company Advantage Cellular Communications, which comprises Advantage Business Solutions and Advantage Cellular in the UK.

An upgrade to Vodafone’s billing systems caused the network to go down last week, causing disruptions to customers.

T-Mobile UK managing director Jim Hyde said last week T-Mobile is not set for an exit from the distribution channel.

The new and improved Mobile News Podcast is up and running and is now sponsored by 20:20 Logistics and the Nokia N95.

Calling card provider IDT Europe has struck a deal with Orange in the UK to launch a SIM-only prepay MVNO. Orange said it was also considering other new MVNO proposals in the UK.

Samsung has extended Brightstar’s trial distribution arrangement beyond the standard three months as it struggles to get off the ground in the UK

Orange has reinstated its ‘unlimited’ deals, following demand from dealers. Butcommission levels on unlimited sales have been cut, and will be negotiated on a dealer-by-dealer basis.

3 has signed a deal with Sony Ericsson for exclusive rights to the new purple version of the K770 Cyber-Shot.