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Carphone Warehouse fined £400K for serious 2015 data breach
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is back to doing what it does best today, slapping Carphone Warehouse with a £400,000 fine for a 2015 data breach that exposed the personal information of over 3 million customers and 1,000 staff. It's one of the heftiest invoices the ICO has ever written up, though TalkTalk was fined just as much for failing to protect user data from a cyberattack that same year. Carphone Warehouse suffered a comparably serious breach that affected several of the company's brands. Not only were names, addresses, dates of birth and other personal details exposed, but the "historical" card details of 18,000 customers. According to the ICO, though, "there has been no evidence that the data has resulted in identify theft or fraud."
Where to buy the BlackBerry KEYone in the UK
The new BlackBerry KEYone won't be everyone's cup of tea. If you remember physical keyboards with a certain fondness, however, then the KEYone offers the latest version of Android, a respectable camera and the kind of battery life you want in a productivity machine. After launching exclusively at Selfridges last week, the KEYone goes on general sale in the UK today, not that you need to look much further than Carphone Warehouse, which is the only place selling the device on contact right now.
Google's Daydream View VR reaches stores November 10th
You won't have to wait much longer to see whether or not Google's Daydream View headset is a viable contender to the likes of Gear VR. Google has announced that its virtual reality wearable will reach both the Google Store and retail in five countries (the US, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia) on November 10th. In the US, it'll be available for $79 through Best Buy and Verizon. British buyers can track it down for £69 at Carphone Warehouse or EE, and Canadians can pick it up for $99 at Best Buy, Bell, Rogers or Telus.
UK retailer leaks Google's Pixel phones in detail
Here are Google's Pixel phones. Again! In some unfortunate error, UK phone seller Carphone Warehouse has full listings for two phones, cementing what we've already heard or seen, as well as demonstrating how Google hopes to pitch the two devices to smartphone shoppers.
O2 data bolt-ons now rollover into next month's allowance
iD is a mobile provider after our own heart. With all-you-can-eat data plans a distant memory, the Carphone Warehouse-owned MVNO has introduced the next best thing: rollover data. And better yet, there's no fine print. If you don't hit your monthly cap, any unused data will simply be added to next month's allowance. But O2 can't just sit by and let iD have its 15 minutes now, can it? Today, O2 announced its own rollover scheme, though it only applies to data bolt-ons you've purchased after exhausting your monthly allowance.
Carphone Warehouse's 'iD' network adds free data rollovers
When Carphone Warehouse's iD mobile network launched in May last year, it promised flexible plans that would suit the differing needs of consumers. International roaming was a big draw, as was unlimited data, but it wasn't long before out all-you-can-eat internet was phased out in favour of a 20GB ceiling.
Dixons Carphone to close 11 percent of UK stores
The British high street is a difficult place to compete. Dixons Carphone, the company behind Currys, PC World and Carphone Warehouse, knows that all too well after announcing plans to shutter 134 stores. The downsizing manoeuvre will merge any remaining PC World and Currys outlets under a single brand -- the convoluted "Currys PC World" -- with a smaller Carphone Warehouse section inside. Although its footprint will shrink by 11 percent, Dixons Carphone says it's "very confident" the move will have a "neutral or better" impact on sales and staff numbers. It's an ambitious target, and one that puts faith in its new three-in-one store concept.
Currys PC World trials collections from Carphone Warehouse stores
Following their £3.8 billion merger, Dixons and Carphone Warehouse have set about expanding their collective retail presence by incorporating phone shops inside bigger Currys and PC World stores. It's a tactic that has worked well, so well in fact that the two companies are now set to make better use of Carphone's independent outlets. In a bid to compete with rivals like Argos, Currys and PC World have begun trialling collection points at the phone seller's stores. Right now, the trial is limited to smaller appliances and is available in 22 Carphone Warehouse locations across London, Hertfordshire and Canterbury.
Carphone Warehouse launching flexible 'iD' mobile network next month
Does the UK need another carrier? Carphone Warehouse seems to think so. It's been rumoured for months, but finally the company is ready to unveil its own mobile network. "iD" will arrive in May and, as expected, be powered by Three's network infrastructure. What makes it special? Well, the retailer says it's focusing on a few key benefits. The first is "controlled and capped plans," which it claims will be the cheapest on the market. It's also emphasising "flexible" 12-month contracts and 30-day SIM-only plans.
Dixons Carphone is planning its own mobile network too
If Three's owner Hutchison Whampoa successfully buys O2, the pair could wield even greater power in the UK than we thought. Less than a week after Sky announced its plans for an O2-powered mobile network, Dixons Carphone is doing the same -- only it's struck a deal with Three. Details are scarce, but the FT reports the merged retailer will stand out with tariffs that allow customers to easily switch their minutes and data mid-contract. The idea being that if you have 5,000 texts, but find that you're only using half of them each month, you won't have to wait two years before downsizing your contract.
Carphone Warehouse could launch its own mobile network with Three's help
Carphone Warehouse, like Phones 4u, is a retailer and reseller in one -- it's just as interested in flogging phones and tablets as it is setting you up with a mobile contract from any of the major UK carriers. According to The Financial Times, however, it might soon be getting into the carrier business itself, by launching an MVNO on Three's network. Carphone Warehouse has already partnered with Vodafone to resell low-cost contracts under the Talkmobile brand, though the network operator deals with all customers at its end. Sources claim various carriers have been approached as the now-merged Carphone Warehouse and Dixons look for new opportunities, but discussions with Three are at a more advanced stage.
EE could soon ditch Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U
A strategic shift by the UK's largest mobile operator could leave a nasty taste in the mouths of Carphone Warehouse and its new partner Dixons. The Telegraph reports that just weeks after the two UK retailers confirmed plans to merge in a £3.6 billion deal, EE is deciding whether to end its relationship with Carphone Warehouse, and possibly Phones4U, as it looks to work more closely with customers. EE is expected to make an announcement "within weeks," and could involve dropping either one of its partners, or both. If EE was to sever ties with newly-formed Dixons Carphone, it would lose direct sales from over a thousand high-street stores, which puts more pressure on its own stores to pick up the slack. However, it already counts more than 30 million customers, has a one-third share of the UK market and recently announced plans to boost its retail presence across Britain. Carphone Warehouse has prided itself on being the best place to independently compare deals, but with Three already flying solo and EE set to follow, it could seriously undermine the retailer's claims.
Samsung's latest smartphone-camera hybrid launches in the UK tomorrow
Samsung appears intent on single-handedly bringing back the word "cameraphone," if the Galaxy S4 Zoom and recently announced Galaxy K Zoom are anything to go by. The newer of the two does a much better job of hiding its hybrid bloodline, and tomorrow (May 31st) it arrives in the UK at various online and bricks-and-mortar outlets, including at Carphone Warehouse and Samsung's own Experience stores. If the official K Zoom product page is any indication, you'll be looking at around £400 all-in, and we doubt they'll be a wealth of carrier-subsidised deals on offer for the niche device. The K Zoom doesn't quite rival the Galaxy S5 in terms of raw power, but it's the 20.7-megapixel camera with 10x optical zoom you'll be buying it for; and, how can you resist something with a Selfie Alarm mode?
Dixons and Carphone Warehouse merge to form Dixons Carphone
Dixons and Carphone Warehouse have just completed a merger and will now be known as Dixons Carphone. The negotiations began in earnest some three months ago, but merger discussions between the companies have been ongoing since long before that. Dixons has some 950 Currys and PC World outlets, while Carphone Warehouse is England's largest telecom retailer with over 2,000 stores and a 46 percent share of Virgin Mobile France. Dixons Carphone will therefore have nearly 3,000 stores and 35,000 employees, prior to any cost-cutting. However, Carphone Warehouse noted that the deal, which is still subject to shareholder approval, would save up to £80 million per year -- meaning some chopping is no doubt in order. No money reportedly changed hands, and each brand will continue to focus on its traditional products.
Inside Samsung's new London 'Experience' store
A few minutes walk from the hub of Oxford Circus, Samsung's new Experience store in the heart of London is nothing if not underwhelming on approach. Tucked away under scaffolding and hoarding, and flanked by roadworks on one side and Clarks on the other, it wasn't quite what we expected from what's presumably regarded as Samsung's new flagship retail location. Inside, however, the Carphone Warehouse-run store is pretty much how you'd imagine it -- a roomy, if not sparse space with a number of white tables for displaying tablets, phones and other hardware. Mid-morning footfall was light, which the few staff on duty likely appreciated. Nevertheless, they appeared to have impressive product knowledge, and yet whatever character they added to the place, it still felt somewhat sterile. At least they have a seating area for disinterested and weary shopping companions, though.
Samsung opens more 'Experience' stores across the UK
Samsung's dabbled in creating dedicated spaces for UK shoppers a few times, but unlike arch-rival Apple, hasn't built up any long-standing retail presence. That's not the case in other regions, though, and earlier this year Samsung decided it was high time to set up a bunch of shops across Europe to call its own. Today sees the first of these "Samsung Experience" stores open their doors in the UK, though they're actually operated by local partner Carphone Warehouse. The shops, which are located in London, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bradford, Bristol, Manchester, Bournemouth and Cardiff, play host to all things Samsung, from laptops to wearables, in the familiar try-before-you-buy type setting. We're going to check out the Oxford Street store tomorrow, but if you're close to one, head inside to get an early look at the new GS5 and Gear range before they launch on Friday. Update: As several comments very rightly point out, the Westfield shopping center in London's Stratford City has been home to an Experience store for some time, so let's call this CPW-assisted expansion a rekindled interest.
New HTC One available in the UK today
Now you've heard the skinny on HTC's latest flagship; the next step is figuring out where in the UK you can grab one. As Carphone Warehouse let slip last week, availability starts from this very moment. At six Carphone Warehouse stores across London, the retailer's offering the new One for £550 unlocked, or for £42 per month with no upfront payment. Head past the break to see where you can get it elsewhere.
HTC's new One smartphone to go on sale 'just minutes after it is officially announced'
At this point, we have a pretty clear idea of what HTC's upcoming flagship smartphone will look like. Everything from its unique duo rear camera, to its refreshed version of Sense to its familiar One-like aluminum body has been leaked in the lead up to the company's March 25th event. And now, thanks to the UK retailer Carphone Warehouse jumping the gun, we know the handset, dubbed the "new HTC One (M8)," will be available to purchase "just minutes after it is officially announced" at six locations in London. How's that for spoiling the surprise? It's clear from this release that HTC intends to waste no time directing attention from its headline-dominating launch into direct retail sales. Whether or not that gamble pays off is another matter. But we'll know soon enough if that market opportunism can successfully channel fanboy enthusiasm into dollars and pounds. [Image credit: TD Beta] Update: It seems that O2 may not have the HTC One on store shelves until the first week of April, so that "same day" availability we've been hearing about may only apply to select carriers or resellers.
HTC's overpriced Desire 310 ready to underwhelm Europe in April
When the Desire 310 popped up on HTC's Chinese site a few days ago, we wrote it off as a regional product with no international aspirations. Well, we were mistaken, and though there's no word on the low-end handset coming to the US, it's most certainly bound for Europe. HTC didn't invite the Desire 310 to party at MWC, but then again, there's not much to celebrate. The handset bundles a 4.5-inch, 854 x 480 display with a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek CPU, a gig of RAM, 4GB of storage (expandable via microSD), a 5MP camera, 2,000mAh battery, 3G connectivity and Android 4.2. It's an incremental improvement over the Desire 300, with a few design tweaks like the omission of soft keys (a recent trend for HTC). We're told in the UK that the Desire 310 will arrive at O2, Vodafone and Carphone Warehouse at the end of April in a selection of hues, and the folks over at GSMinfo.nl note a recommended price of 169 euros for The Netherlands, or around £140 (UK pricing isn't available yet). With the far superior Moto G going for £100 on pay-as-you-go or £130 unlocked in the UK, though, we can only suggest HTC raise the stakes soon if it's serious about betting on lower-end devices.
Nokia Lumia 1520 reaches the UK on December 6th, starting at £80 on a £38 per month plan
Brits who've been yearning for the Nokia Lumia 1520 will soon get their chance. The supersized Windows Phone is now due to reach the UK on December 6th, when it will be available through O2 at retail and Vodafone through the web. Third-party retailers like Carphone Warehouse and Phones4u will also stock the 6-inch flagship. While the exact pricing will vary, Vodafone will sell the phone for £80 when it's attached to a £38 per month plan and a 2-year contract; it will be available for free if you subscribe to a beefy £47 plan. The 1520 will undoubtedly be one of the more expensive handsets in the country, then, but it may be worthwhile for those who want one of Nokia's most powerful devices.