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Carphone Warehouse to launch iD mobile network in May

Carphone Warehouse iD Mobile Network

Do we really need another mobile phone operator in the UK? Carphone Warehouse believes we do, as it’s much-rumoured mobile network is about to be launched. Called “iD”, the new service will arrive in May and in fact be powered by Three’s network under the bonnet. So why is it so special?

The company says that it will focus on some of the key benefits desired by consumers. For example, controlled and capped plans, which it says will be the cheapest available. It’s also emphasising flexible 12-month contracts and special 30 day SIM only plans.

Carphone Warehouse launches “iD” mobile network

iD is “a new mobile network that is built around what the customer wants and addresses consumer frustrations with current mobile phone plans”, according to Carphone Warehouse. But perhaps the key thing is its international roaming, as iD customers will be able to use their normal data plan in 22 countries, which is even better than what Three currently offers. Those regions at launch will be: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the USA.

Commenting on the launch, Graham Stapleton, UK CEO at Carphone Warehouse, said:

“We’ve been listening to our millions of customers’ network requirements and desires for years. In doing so we have identified some common challenges. People want greater flexibility from their plans and are fed up with the ‘one size fits all’ approach. In fact, a recent study by Which? found that overspend on mobile phone charges in the UK amounts to £5.42billion each year – showing just how many people aren’t on the right plan for them. We are also a generation obsessed with the mobile internet and accessing data and services on the move – things people are either paying too much for or just aren’t getting. Addressing these challenges forms the basis of the first wave of plans from iD.”

Carphone Warehouse iD Promo

At launch, the new network aims to solve three core customer frustrations:

1) Bill Shock – for those who want to make the most out of their money and like the reassurance and security of a standardised bill each month; delivered through controlled and capped plans at the lowest price on the market

2) Uncertainty when using your phone abroad – for those who travel abroad frequently but are hindered by inflexible plans. iD’s roaming plans cover more European countries than anyone else

3) Flexibility – 12 month contracts for those who want great value 4G, with the flexibility of shorter term commitment

Graham continues: “This is just the beginning. We know that there are lots more customer issues and frustrations with existing mobile plans that we’re eager to tackle. We want this network to be focused on the individual and we will continue to listen to customers over the coming months, asking them to help develop and evolve iD”.

Here’s a comparison between a couple of networks in terms of using your UK data plan abroad. The new iD network beats even Three’s “roam like home” deal.

Carphone Warehouse iD Mobile Network Comparison

The mobile industry in the UK is in the middle of huge changes, and so Carphone Warehouse and iD will need to work hard to compete. Three is on the cusp of buying O2, and BT is purchasing EE. And with all the other MVNOs out there, iD needs to stand out from the crowd. Thankfully, it does have its own retail stores, a decided advantage over all the other virtual operators.

The first great deal that might tempt prospective customers is the Samsung A3 device, which is available for a limited time on a 12-month 4G plan with 300 mins, 5000 texts and 1 GB data for just £19.50.

For more information and to register your interest, visit www.idmobile.co.uk.

SOURCE: Carphone Warehouse

15 COMMENTS

  1. “Do we really need another mobile phone operator in the UK ?”

    The customers may or may not think they do, Carphone Warehouse badly need options if (when) what happened to Phones 4U happens to them and the networks decide they want to own the retail relationship.

    A successful MVNO (with a network that they don’t sell contracts for) is a good place to start for Carphone Warehouse and they have sufficient high street presence to make it work. Offers that undercut the networks by a few pounds a month and sales staff bonused on selling their network could make it fly.

  2. “Do we really need another mobile phone operator in the UK?”

    Yes we do need another mobile operator in the UK, thanks to all the consolidation going on at the top.

  3. “Three is on the cusp of buying O2, and BT is purchasing EE.”

    Has there been any word on how this is going to affect the infrastructure sharing agreements? Will we see MBNL infrastructure on Cornerstone sites?

  4. Yeah I think we need another MVNO. They have free roaming in 22 countries. That’s what people want/need. iD & Three are the only ones who will recognise this. The other Operators can’t be bothered. I hope iD do well.

  5. A complete disaster again… The usual crappy UK costumer service standard. Don’t expect to use this card on an iPad because it simply doesn’t work.

  6. Rubbish . Don’t go for this network. No customer service. Phone numbers don’t work. Plenty minutes and text to use and my phone is cut off. .. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
    Don’t buy anything from this nework

  7. These guys are running a SCAM and everyone in the customer services are CONMEN. I got a data only sim from the store and they charged me on the day for the first month. Two days later I got a bill for the same duration. After two weeks of arguing and sending proof that I have paid the amount on the first bill in the store they promised me £15 credit. The next bill generates and guess what…. NO credit and they have charged me for the first month twice on this bill. When queried they are telling me that the credit is not reflected on this bill due to the time it takes to reflect on the system. Furthemore they told me that the additional charge for the first month is because I have overused my data. According to the itemised bill I have used about 64GB of data in less than 2 weeks on a 1GB data allowance card. I have raised this with OFCOM and hopefully this will be resolved.

  8. disaster service, I ran out data so the blocked my phone from making calls and texts? why? no reason apart from them admitting it is a fault and has been for a while, do not use ID mobile it does not work it is a lie and con

  9. DONT JOIN THIS COMPANY BEWARE THEY WILL INCLUDE EXTRA CHARGES WITHOUT YOU KNOWING AND AFTER A DAY FIGHTING MY SITUATION THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO WRITE JUST TO AWARE PEOPLE OF THESE MONEY LUANDERERS-

    I don’t want your kind regards, I want my money back, on the 19th which is when this absurd data problem took place was when I got a new phone and I didn’t know that the app data could carry on network data as I didn’t stop it and I wasn’t using it. I want my hard earned money back and not your sincere apologies as you couldn’t give two craps. I am innocent and what you are doing is pure thievery and to say that I’m liable for these add ons that I didn’t even use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you must be having a laugh. I will do what I can to get my refund but I hope this company doesn’t last long as what you are doing is not right. I thought at the beginning “lets try this company out it might be pretty good” gosh I am so wrong biggest mistake, If I knew I wouldn’t even touch your company with a barge pole, your a bunch of thieves. If I dont get my refund that I am entitled to then I will cancel my direct debit and youll get no more money from me. Is this the strategy that you use to keep your customers happy?!?!?!?!?!?! “Maximise our profits but lets ignore the 3rd party spill over effect that we have” Was promised a call back from a manager did I get any noo! Your customer service is a shambles, I wasted so much time with this stupid situation. I will write on every website possible about you and hope you lose dozens of customers thanks to my reviews and will post on blogs relating to network services. Youll be worse off, you might think that I’m not going to but I will because that is my money not yours. For crying out loud your network doesn’t even work in my conservatory, its so pathetic and to be charged £75.13 extra!!!!!!! you company is full of con artists and I will spread the message.

    No kind regards

  10. Like most people are saying, iDMobile are awful. I made a huge
    mistake by going with iD Mobile. There are REGULAR problems with both
    their website and mobile app. They don’t have very basic features, such
    as an itemisation of the calls you have made in the currently billing
    month.

    I have had so many problems, it’d take me half an hour to list them
    all. It has meant I’ve wasted hours of my time and lost money being
    charged for calls that should have been included as I’d bought a top-up
    to my monthly minutes etc. etc.

    The
    customer service is abysmal. It is outsourced to Africa and the staff
    are mediocre. They have no idea what they are doing. They NEVER phone
    you back when they promise they will.

    iD Mobile is part of Carphone Warehouse and Carephone Warehouse’s own
    branch staff have complained to me saying they are fed up with problems
    with iD Mobile and that they are tearing their hair out. That proves
    how bad this network is.

  11. iD are completely hopeless. They failed us after supposedly performing a credit check. We have never failed a credit check. We checked with Equifax and no check was performed,and if they had Equifax advised that there should not be a problem as we have a flawless credit record.I asked them to explain, they have asked us to message them via facebook, email them call them, tweet them all to no avail.They just liketokeep us busy and they have made no progress. Because we do not want a rejected credit application on our credit history we requested clarification from iD on the 11/01. We have yet to receive any information on this. We have now raised a complaint and opened a case with the Ombudsman.
    Definitely clueless and useless.

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