3Man
09-08-2005, 02:48 AM
BWCS - Greenfield 3G operator, 3, is finally planning to set up its own chain of retail outlets in the UK. The shops should be up and running in time for the company’s big Christmas push, which will include a range of new tariff packages and services. Inset is Gareth Jones, COO 3 UK who is quoted below.
The Hutchison Whampoa-owned company currently sells its phones only at UK high street chemist Superdrug (also owned by Hutchison), and at a variety of independent mobile phone chains, such as the Carphone Warehouse. 3 now says that it will launch as many as 20 new shops across Britain chiefly in major shopping centres.
According to 3’s chief operating officer, Gareth Jones, the company’s retail outlets will not be visible in every UK high street. However, 3 clearly feels it is vital to open its own shops to showcase the new services that it plans to launch. It also believes this will help underline its ambition to be seen as a multimedia brand rather than simply a phone operator. Yet the company will not try to match rivals such as O2 which has several hundred shops across the UK.
The Hong Kong owned operator says it will relaunch tariffs and services this autumn to try to generate more interest in 3G in the run up to the festive season. The company is also understood to be working on a new mobile music service and has been in talks with satellite broadcaster BSkyB. More from BWCS
The Hutchison Whampoa-owned company currently sells its phones only at UK high street chemist Superdrug (also owned by Hutchison), and at a variety of independent mobile phone chains, such as the Carphone Warehouse. 3 now says that it will launch as many as 20 new shops across Britain chiefly in major shopping centres.
According to 3’s chief operating officer, Gareth Jones, the company’s retail outlets will not be visible in every UK high street. However, 3 clearly feels it is vital to open its own shops to showcase the new services that it plans to launch. It also believes this will help underline its ambition to be seen as a multimedia brand rather than simply a phone operator. Yet the company will not try to match rivals such as O2 which has several hundred shops across the UK.
The Hong Kong owned operator says it will relaunch tariffs and services this autumn to try to generate more interest in 3G in the run up to the festive season. The company is also understood to be working on a new mobile music service and has been in talks with satellite broadcaster BSkyB. More from BWCS