Hugh Symons widens O2 Voda commissions

Hugh Symons Unity dealers have been able to take advantage of higher O2 and Vodafone commissions which are managed by The Carphone Warehouse since January.
But Hugh Symons opened the offer up to its wider dealer base earlier this month.
We launched this to our Unity dealers initially but we have now opened it up to the entire dealer community said Hugh Symons business manager Bob Sweetlove.
O2 and Vodafone have typically been business networks for independent dealers.
As far as consumer packages are concerned most dealers have always connected Orange T-Mobile and 3 he added. With this however dealers have more reach for their consumer propositions.

T-Mobile dealer now sells other networks

Neither Ace Contact nor Fonehouse T-Mobile s other front three dealerships are connecting to other networks online. But T-Mobile s relationship with all its front three solus retailers is under review.
A T-Mobile spokesperson said: Chitter Chatter is stocking other networks. The front three are still very much a part of our distribution strategy but the relationship with them has changed slightly. The terms of the agreement with all of them are being reviewed.
Carphone Warehouse director of indirect distribution Steve Fraser said: The front three are not completely tied into T-Mobile. Vanilla Mobile is doing retail fulfilment for Chitter Chatter.
T-Mobile is expected to make
an announcement about its front three dealerships within the
next month.

Microline defends its Orange dealer status

Microline MD Jas Singh denied Microline lost its Orange dealer code after a review commissioned by Orange s head of dealer and distribution Chris Hough.
Singh claimed he was still connecting Orange customers.
On Monday I received confirmation from Orange that I would no longer be able to get any more stock from them while it carries out a review into the type of connections it is getting but this is something it is doing with a number of dealers not just us he said.
According to Singh Microline is one of the longest-established direct Orange dealers. The relationship dates from the early 1990s when Orange first launched its indirect sales channel.
Over the past decade we ve contributed significantly towards the network s market acquisition especially within the M25 he said.
Singh added that he still has a large amount of Orange stock and is using his authorised Orange dealer code to put those connections on.
I am still connecting Orange customers in the normal way and will continue to do so until I am told otherwise he said.
One Orange direct dealer who asked not to be named said: Any dealers who focus heavily on cashback are being reviewed Orange has made it clear that it does not like cashback at all.
However Singh defended his use of in-store cashback offers as an attempt to remain competitive.
An Orange spokeswoman refused to confirm or deny Microline s status. She said: We have terminated one direct dealer and one non-direct dealer. They are no longer allowed to connect Orange at all either directly with us or via our authorised distributors. But we are not in the name and shame game and will not be naming them or any others that we terminate now or in the future.

3 glues SIMs to phones

The phones have already started to ship to its dealer channel.
There s been a lot of talk about box-breaking said 3 sales director Marc Allera. It affects all operators. We take it very seriously and this initiative is a leading step to act as a preventative tool.
Allera said 3 had been shipping the treated handsets to its own stores since December and they were rolling out to the distribution channel as Mobile News went to press.
Feedback from the dealers has been positive he claimed.
The handsets affected by the policy are all the new models supplied by ZTE as well as refurbished Motorola C975s.
Allera said he expected significant numbers of the handsets to be sold through the channel. The SIMs are fixed with a bond of epoxy adhesive and the process is carried out in the 3 warehouse.
We ve known what we needed to do for a while so we ve got the staff in place to get the phones out without any hiccup in the chain said Allera.
Allera professed himself unconcerned that consumers would feel they have had an element of choice removed by having the SIMs fixed into the phones.
That s a separate scenario and there are processes in place to deal with that. We are not expecting these scenarios to be of significant volumes. That the SIM is fixed is made clear on the box he said.

HMRC leaned on banks: proof

A note from Bob Chisholm former head of VAT operations to Douglas Tweddle a former Customs chief investigation officer on March 28 2004 said: "We have identified suspect brokers at branches of the big banks and are working to identify whether the buffers are similarly concentrated."
The term "buffers" refers to companies where the same goods are traded in a carousel with no real transaction taking place.
The note continued: "Buffers with huge volumes of cash flowing through their accounts and little margin to speak of should be prime candidates for banks to report unto money laundering operations. Even a hint of money laundering to the banks will grab their attention."
Bill Williamson former head of business VAT said in a letter: "The director was interested in the impact of the educational process with the banks. He would like a view on whether we need to apply more pressure."
Alias Dass of Dass Solicitors said: "Its clear that something has gone on between Customs and the banks."
A Customs spokesman said: "At no point would we recommend that financial institutions cease working with a specific trader or sector. Any decision to do so is entirely at their discretion."

Orange appoint new retail chief

Doyle replaces Nick Moore who left at Christmas. Doyle will report to Mike Newnham Orange UK vice president of sales and customer service.
Doyle has spent most of her career at Asda with roles in category management operations and retail customer service. Most recently Doyle has been on the board of Cannons Health and Fitness clubs.

Nokia slider had glitch

Nokia sent out a channel bulletin last month to notify dealers and repair centres that an initial shipment of Nokia 6111 devices had faulty slide mechanisms causing screens to go blank and the phones to switch off.
It only affected the initial batch that went out at the end of last year said Nokia UK head of communications Mark Squires.
A few are still coming back. We have put an upgrade kit out and notified dealers.
The design has been changed.
One dealer said: We have had more returned to us than not.
A Nokia service centre said: The springs were too wide and cut the ribbon. Nokia has brought out a fix.

Multiples fail to back crime prevention drive

In particular there is a lack of support for the Immobilise handset database at the stores.
Launched by Home Office minister for police Hazel Blears last January the database is intended as a central resource for a new owner to use to register their phone s IMEI number.
In all Mobile News visited six retailers Vodafone Orange O2 The Carphone Warehouse T-Mobile and Phones 4U. However not one offered any crime prevention advice.
Each one of these retailers has publicly stated their commitment to drive mobile phone crime out of the industry.
Some for example Carphone Warehouse and T-Mobile have been particularly vocal in supporting the Immobilise campaign. However staff at the Bond Street stores were not even aware of its existence.
Detective Inspector Kenny McDonald of the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit said that the unit was disappointed about the lack of crime prevention advice and knowledge of the Immobilise database offered by the stores.
We ve been working closely with our industry partners to support the registration at point of purchase so we are disappointed with the results of the Mystery Shop exercise he said. We hope this is not indicative of all stores. The Immobilise campaign is at the forefront in the fight against mobile phone crime.
McDonald added that the point of purchase provided retailers with an ideal opportunity to advise their customers in crime prevention measures.
The unit continues to work with our industry partners to reduce levels of crime where a mobile phone is involved he said.
A Carphone Warehouse spokeswoman said: We spearheaded the Immobilise campaign and it s still of paramount importance to us. The Immobilise message is publicised across our stores within our monthly buyers guide on our intranet and on our web site.
She added: We are obviously disappointed with this one result but stress that this is in no way a reflection of the importance of Immobilise to the business.

Data Select sets up accessory arm

Henderson quit Nokia just before Christmas and started his new role as head of accessories for Data Select last month. He said that he had been brought into the distributor as part of a complete revamp of its strategy.
In my role at Nokia I d been working with Data Select for some time so I knew all the management and directors he said. When I was offered the chance to join and head up the accessories division I thought it was a fantastic opportunity.
He added: Data Select has always successfully distributed accessories but has not always made a lot of noise about it. People wrongly think there is only one big player in the accessories market but there is certainly room for another one.
According to Henderson the new unit Accessories Select will offer an additional business focus. He aims to use his industry relationships to build a team and enable Data Select to widen its base both through traditional and non-traditional channels.
There are lots of places where accessories can fit and I will looking at how Data Select can best serve these areas he said.
Commenting on the appointment Eric White marketing and communications director of Data Select parent company Phones International said: Watch this space we ve always done accessories but we ve never had a senior management driver. Neil brings a massive amount of experience from Nokia the market-leading manufacturer.
Our accessories side has always been successful but it s been our best kept secret the idea of Neil joining is to build this up add value and give people a reason to work with us on our accessories side.
It s time to raise our game he added. We are looking to create a division with its own identity.
Phones International group managing director George McPherson added: We now have the ability to create bespoke mobile solutions from other products including handsets pre-pay content and airtime.

LG offers a taste of Chocolate

The European-version of the Chocolate handset the LG KG800 is expected to have a period of exclusivity at The Carphone Warehouse but neither LG Mobile nor The Carphone Warehouse would comment.
The KG800 includes a hidden LCD screen and touch-keypad controls that glow red when in use. It was launched in Korea last November and is reported to have sold 300000 units in three months.
Simon Hahm president of LG Electronics s mobile communications business division in Europe said:
We have raised the bar in terms of style and innovation. The Chocolate phone breaks the mould in how handsets look and feel without compromising on functionality.
European versions of the phone will be tailored to suit local tastes.