Talkmobile launched by Vodafone & Carphone Warehouse

Talkmobile, a new low-cost mobile service, has been launched by Vodafone and Carphone Warehouse which suggests they have worked through their problems after a disagreement 12 months ago.

In October 2006, Vodafone signed an exclusive deal with Phones4u to sell to UK contract customers while dumping Carphone Warehouse in the process. As a result, some £446 million was wiped off Carphone Warehouse’s stock market value.

Talkmobile will target high-spending pre-pay customers who do not want to sign up for 18-month contracts, which are now, as a rule, offered by mobile operators.

According to Carphone Warehouse, at least 4.5 million Britons who pay for mobile use in advance, spend £15 or more each month topping up their accounts.

Talkmobile is offering £12 a month for a 9-month contract which includes 50 minutes of calls and 50 texts. Also on offer are 12-month and 18-month terms with a number of free or subsidised handsets.

A spokesperson for the broker, Collins Stewart, said the joint venture is proof that the relationship between the 2 companies is far from broken.

Carphone Warehouse currently offers a low-cost mobile service called Fresh, using T- Mobile’s network.

The news of Talkmobile sent shares in Carphone Warehouse which has recently been promoted to the FTSE-100 index, up 6p to 336.25.

Story link: Talkmobile launched by Vodafone & Carphone Warehouse