Virgin Group and Bell Mobility Announce Partnership to Bring Virgin Mobile to Canada
TORONTO, March 30 -- The Virgin Group and Bell Mobility today
announced plans to launch mobile voice and data services in Canada through a
jointly-owned company, Virgin Mobile Canada.
The new company will focus on introducing Virgin's unique style of
wireless communications services and handsets to younger Canadian consumers
under the Virgin Mobile brand. Virgin Mobile Canada expects to launch its
services through a nationwide rollout later this year using Bell Mobility's 1X
digital wireless network.
Sir Richard Branson, chairman of The Virgin Group, commented, "Canada
represents a great opportunity for our mobile phone business. We plan to
deliver transparent value for money and great customer service. Bell Mobility
offers us the best network and best coverage in Canada. A quality network is
fundamental in helping us deliver to customers the value and products for
which Virgin is known."
"Virgin's focused youth-oriented consumer offer is complementary to the
positioning of the Bell brand and will stimulate the wireless industry in
Canada," said Michael Neuman, president of Bell Mobility. "We are delighted
that Virgin has chosen our network to deliver its products and services to
youth across the country."
Virgin Mobile revolutionised the telecommunications industry by setting
up the first ever Mobile Virtual Network when it launched in Britain in
November 1999. Virgin Mobile UK now has nearly 4 million customers and is the
fastest growing mobile phone company in the UK, building on Virgin's key
strengths within the youth sector and benefiting from its clear and simple
tariffs and mould-breaking 'No Contract' approach to customer loyalty. With
over 1.75 million customers, in under two years, Virgin Mobile USA continued
this success when it launched in July 2002 in a joint venture partnership with
Sprint PCS. Virgin Mobile USA is now the fastest growing wireless
communications company in the United States.
About Virgin
Virgin, a leading branded venture capital organization, is one of the
world's most recognized and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard
Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very successful businesses in
sectors ranging from mobile telephony, to travel, financial services, fitness
and leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing. Virgin has created
more than 200 companies worldwide, employing more than 25,000 people, in 29
countries. Revenues around the world in 2003 exceeded US $8 billion.
About Bell Mobility
Bell Mobility, Canada's largest retail and wholesale wireless provider, a
division of Bell Canada, provides a complete range of innovative wireless
communications solutions; PCS and cellular, web-browsing and data, two-way
messaging, paging and airline passenger communications services. Bell Canada,
Canada's national leader in communications, provides connectivity to
residential and business customers through wired and wireless voice and data
communications, local and long distance phone services, high speed and
wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business solutions and
satellite television services. Bell Canada is wholly-owned by BCE Inc. For
more information please visit www.bell.ca .
TORONTO, March 30 -- The Virgin Group and Bell Mobility today
announced plans to launch mobile voice and data services in Canada through a
jointly-owned company, Virgin Mobile Canada.
The new company will focus on introducing Virgin's unique style of
wireless communications services and handsets to younger Canadian consumers
under the Virgin Mobile brand. Virgin Mobile Canada expects to launch its
services through a nationwide rollout later this year using Bell Mobility's 1X
digital wireless network.
Sir Richard Branson, chairman of The Virgin Group, commented, "Canada
represents a great opportunity for our mobile phone business. We plan to
deliver transparent value for money and great customer service. Bell Mobility
offers us the best network and best coverage in Canada. A quality network is
fundamental in helping us deliver to customers the value and products for
which Virgin is known."
"Virgin's focused youth-oriented consumer offer is complementary to the
positioning of the Bell brand and will stimulate the wireless industry in
Canada," said Michael Neuman, president of Bell Mobility. "We are delighted
that Virgin has chosen our network to deliver its products and services to
youth across the country."
Virgin Mobile revolutionised the telecommunications industry by setting
up the first ever Mobile Virtual Network when it launched in Britain in
November 1999. Virgin Mobile UK now has nearly 4 million customers and is the
fastest growing mobile phone company in the UK, building on Virgin's key
strengths within the youth sector and benefiting from its clear and simple
tariffs and mould-breaking 'No Contract' approach to customer loyalty. With
over 1.75 million customers, in under two years, Virgin Mobile USA continued
this success when it launched in July 2002 in a joint venture partnership with
Sprint PCS. Virgin Mobile USA is now the fastest growing wireless
communications company in the United States.
About Virgin
Virgin, a leading branded venture capital organization, is one of the
world's most recognized and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard
Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very successful businesses in
sectors ranging from mobile telephony, to travel, financial services, fitness
and leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing. Virgin has created
more than 200 companies worldwide, employing more than 25,000 people, in 29
countries. Revenues around the world in 2003 exceeded US $8 billion.
About Bell Mobility
Bell Mobility, Canada's largest retail and wholesale wireless provider, a
division of Bell Canada, provides a complete range of innovative wireless
communications solutions; PCS and cellular, web-browsing and data, two-way
messaging, paging and airline passenger communications services. Bell Canada,
Canada's national leader in communications, provides connectivity to
residential and business customers through wired and wireless voice and data
communications, local and long distance phone services, high speed and
wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business solutions and
satellite television services. Bell Canada is wholly-owned by BCE Inc. For
more information please visit www.bell.ca .
