Phones 4u, a leading UK mobile phone retailer, with a large presence on the high street and on the internet, will launch its own network in March 2013. The firm has decided to become a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) in partnership with Everything Everywhere (EE). The new network is to be called “LIFE Mobile” and it will offer a wide range of tariffs and services. Initially data services will offer 3G speeds only but the MVNO expects to upgrade to 4G connectivity before the end of 2013.
Talking about the new deal, Tim Whiting, Group Chief Executive at Phones 4u, said “We are delighted to be able to extend our longstanding partnership with EE in order to add LIFE Mobile into the wide range of products and services available at Phones 4u.” He explained that the new LIFE Mobile network would bring greater flexibility to the Phones 4u (and therefore Dialaphone) offerings “LIFE Mobile will enable us flexibility and creativity in designing propositions to give our customers even further choice. We will sell LIFE Mobile alongside our existing network propositions and are confident the new network will play a key role in driving further growth for our business.”
As a reminder, below is a list of the UK’s major MVNOs for calls and data, a full list is available here.
- Carphone Warehouse / Talk Mobile– Vodafone
- ASDA – Vodafone
- Tesco – O2
- GiffGaff – O2
- Virgin – EE
- TalkTalk Mobile – Vodafone
The new LIFE Mobile network will allow Phones 4u to compete on better terms with high street rival Carphone Warehouse, who operates an MVNO in partnership with Vodafone. It is expected that LIFE Mobile will be at least as competitive as CPW’s Talk Mobile MVNO. Depending upon the area in which you live and work you may find the LIFE Mobile network availability to be better than that of Talk Mobile. Here’s Vodafone’s coverage map, and EE’s coverage map. Overall it’s good to have another competitive mobile network option.
