Take That is backed for good by P4U

Phones 4U marketing insight manager Jon Fish said: "We are linking with the band for a raft of marketing activity including teaser TV commercials magazine advertising in-store POS consumer promotions and regional PR campaigns."
The sponsorship is targeted at 25- to 35-year-old women who were Take That´s original core fans in the early 1990s.
"The partnership with Take That reflects our strategy of widening the target audience" said Fish.
He added: "Through sponsoring Take That´s Ultimate tour we hope to raise our brand awareness and consideration among the yummy mummy´ audience."

Samsung appoints Fone Logistics as repair agent

A full compliance audit by Samsung adds its Samsung Level 2 Service Centre accreditation to Fone Logistics´ existing Nokia and Sony Ericsson accreditation.
"Working with Samsung will prove of significant benefit to our customers particularly given the impact the manufacturer has made in the market over the past 12 months" said Fone Logistics operations director Lynne Gillespie.
"I expect this announcement to be followed by other strategic relationships and service agreements."
Trained operatives within the Fone Logistics Service Centre will handle Samsung repairs and the company has undertaken a programme of continuous improvement and training to ensure the latest handsets are supported.

Orange axes more mis-selling dealers

Orange issued distributors with three separate do not deal notices a fortnight ago and another three last week.
Each do not deal notice relates to stockists that employ outbound call centres to sell Orange stock.
An Orange spokesperson said:
"Having received and reviewed a number of customer complaints we have ceased trading with six channel partners.
"The customer experience and care offered by their outbound call centres was unacceptable. As a consequence do not deal notices have been issued to our distribution channel. The review is ongoing."
Orange along with T-Mobile also set out strict guidelines for outbound call centres this week (see story page 2).
In an e-mail to its channel partners this week it said outbound call centres must record all calls so Orange can audit them. It also stated that scripts must be checked and approved by Orange and that call centres must identify themselves and state that they are not acting on behalf of Orange.
It also issued new guidelines for outbound texting. Outbound text messages must be approved by Orange and text messages must identify the third party and include a web address where full details of the offer can be found.
The e-mail stated: "Failure to comply with the procedures above will result in suspension and or termination of your Orange dealer code. All existing call centres must have their current scripts approved and with a change of campaign all new scripts must also be approved."

Virgin eyes on China

A source close to the company said that the group was hoping to enter the Chinese mobile market as early as this August and that the likely collaborator in the project is China Unicom which currently has 150 million customers.

Branson launches VM France

The operation is headed up by Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux who comes from Phone House the French arm of The Carphone Warehouse. It is funded through a joint-venture between Virgin Group and CPW.
Branson accused the country´s three existing mobile phone networks of ripping off 80 per cent of the French population.
Telephony services will be provided by Orange which came on board after the three existing French networks were fined for collusion by the EU.
The new MVNO offers unlimited texting 24 hours a day seven days a week.
"In France the existing operators defend their interests and consumers have lost confidence in them" said Branson. "We want an operator that doesn´t work against customers but with them."
Branson was unable to comment on whether the French text deal would be extended to UK customers.

BenQ hires UK account manager

"It is vital that we have the best support as the first BenQ-Siemens branded handsets are launched in the UK" said BenQ Mobile UK and Ireland managing director Philip Rambech.
Barnett will develop strategic alliances with key network operators and maintain good relations with all customers.
Barnett previously worked at handset maker NEC as an account manager and at UniqueAir now part of Unique Distribution as channel marketing manager.

Dirty Pretty Things gig launches Nokia N91

The launch party was held at a secret gig by the band on May 9 where 200 fans enjoyed a taster of the band´s first album Waterloo to Anywhere.
To attend the fans were instructed to go to Waterloo station in London where they received a Bluetooth message promoting the gig.
The venue also featured a demo room where the media could try out the new handsets which were pre-loaded with exclusive music content.
"Bluetooth is the ideal democratic vehicle for Dirty Pretty Things" said Mercury Records president Jason Iley. "Anything that brings together a band and its fans is fine by me."

Flext boosts T-Mobile

The firm launched Flext in March and secured 257000 customers on the 18-month contract in one month 83 per cent more than contract growth for the whole of last year.
"We are growing T-Mobile´s share of the UK market and we are growing the value of the business" said T-Mobile UK managing director Jim Hyde.
"We are doing so by setting new benchmarks for simplicity value and flexibility."
T-Mobile´s total customer base now stands at 16.4 million of which 379000 were gained in the first quarter of this year.

Orange wins 3 roaming deal

O2 has been 3´s roaming partner since 3 launched in 2003. 3 invited UK networks to tender for the roaming contract 18 months ago and the network said Orange tendered the most competitive bid.
3 UK CEO Bob Fuller said: "It was important we had a competitive tender and I am delighted with the outcome of the process. This is a good agreement for both 3 and Orange and will ensure that we continue to offer a great service to our customers."
An O2 spokesman said: "We weren´t prepared to win at any cost. Our bid was based on a sound commercial proposition and we weren´t prepared to go above our valuation. You have to set a price that you think is realistic and stick to it."
He added: "We will continue to benefit for some time until all of the roaming traffic can be migrated away from our network next year."
3 has continued to roll out its network and now claims to have 88 per cent population coverage. At the same time subscriber numbers have grown to 3.5 million. Orange claims 99 per cent population coverage.

Ex-4U man to head sales at Fone Logistics

Love heads up channel sales and has been tasked with growing Fone Logistics´ existing base of around 600 dealers and increasing consumer and corporate connections.
He joins from 4U Ltd where he was also national sales manager and has more than 12 years´ experience with networks service providers retail and distribution.
Fone Logistics director of network sales Giulio Laise said: "We have been looking for a while to make an appointment to support the management team. Allan will be a valuable asset in growing our business and will contribute to our achieving the annual operating plan."