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The death of Phones4u is still playing out
It's been nearly two and a half years since Phones4u folded, but the aftermath of the company's abrupt closure is still being felt. Thanks to a recent employment tribunal, 400 former staff have been awarded 12 weeks redundancy pay on the basis there was no consultation period ahead of the layoffs -- not unusual when a firm suddenly implodes. The government's Redundancy Payments Service is forking out £3,712 per person, equivalent to 8 weeks of statutory pay, while the invoice for the remaining 5 weeks is now on the desk of administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which did not dispute the claim.
Phones4u execs' new venture offers loans for phones
After Phones4u lost its remaining carrier partners in quick succession a couple of years ago, the contract reseller had no choice but to go into administration. The folding of the company couldn't have come at a worst time for a few unlucky customers, who had put down money to preorder the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus without hope of a refund. And while many staff were saved from the bother of job-hunting, plenty of the top brass were left twiddling their thumbs. We now know, however, that several former execs united to work on something new. That something is Unshackled, which promises the best mobile deals by separating handset cost from tariff cost.
Carphone Warehouse staff will help you choose the best network for your area
Now that Phones4u is no more, Carphone Warehouse is one of the few independent retailers selling mobile phone contracts in the UK. With mounting competition from dedicated carrier stores, the company hopes to stand apart by offering its customers better impartial advice. To that end it's teamed up with RootMetrics, a firm that specialises in monitoring mobile network performance. Using its CoverageMap app, which combines professional and crowdsourced network tests, Carphone Warehouse staff will now tell shoppers which carriers offer the best coverage in their local area. Whether you're interested in call quality or download speeds, this information could save you from picking a weak network. You can always download the app for yourself or check RootMetrics' map online, but a timely reminder just before you sign up for a new contract can't hurt.
Dixons Carphone just made a deal that should avert a Phones4U-style disaster
Although there were a multitude of reasons behind Phones4U's demise, one of the key factors was the overwhelming lack of support from the UK's major carriers. Three and O2 severed ties with the company way in advance of its closure, but it was a shake of the head from both Vodafone and EE that dealt the final blow. For a short time, it looked as if the mobile reseller model could be under threat, spelling trouble for Phones4U rival Carphone Warehouse, a retailer that had just been picked up by Dixons Retail for £3.8 billion.
Phones4u's old inventory is being auctioned off on the cheap
When Phones4u collapsed, it didn't take long for its administrators to sell off a large number of its high street stores. But what happened to the products stocked within those shops? Well, they also need to be shifted, and it just so happens that you might be able to grab yourself a nice pre-Christmas bargain. In a bid to find more cash to pay off the costs associated with Phones4u's insolvency, its administrator, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has drafted in an auction house to put up all of the retailer's stock for sale.
EE snaps up what's left of Phones4u for less than £5 million
How long does it take for a successful phone retailer to enter administration and then be completely sold off? For Phones4u, it's taken exactly a month. The Financial Times reports that EE, the UK's biggest operator (which has been accused of contributing to Phones4u's downfall for not renewing its deal), has reached a agreement with administrators to snap up the remaining chunk of its former partner's business: its Life Mobile MVNO. The carrier reportedly beat Argos and Talk Talk to the deal, paying around £5 million to add 85,000 mobile subscribers to the 58 Phones4u stores it grabbed last month. EE already provides connectivity for Life Mobile, so merging the networks should be a lot easier than getting money back from a Phones4u iPhone 6 preorder.
Phones4u comes clean about iPhone 6 preorder refunds: there won't be any
Phones4u couldn't have folded at a worse time. The upcoming expiration of reseller contracts forced the company into administration earlier this month, three days after it opened up preorders for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. While hard-up employees are finding new homes and empty stores new owners, customers who were eager for Apple's newest aren't so lucky. Today, in an email to iPhone 6 preorderers (that's definitely a word) that laid down an upfront payment, Phones4u came clean about the refund process, or more accurately, the lack of one. You see, Phones4u previously stated it would refund any iPhone preorder payments it'd taken, which it probably wasn't in a position to say since, you know, it'd gone into administration by that point.
EE scoops up 58 Phones4u stores
When Phones4u entered administration, it immediately shut all of its doors and put thousands of employees on notice. It didn't take long for Dixons Carphone to secure 800 positions, with Vodafone sweeping in shortly after to buy 140 Phones4u stores and save another 900 jobs. Now, it's EE's turn. The UK's biggest carrier has just announced that it's reached a deal with administrators to buy 58 outlets and bring 359 employees onto its books. It's moving quick too, confirming that it'll open the majority of stores within the next week. Over a year ago, EE began reducing its retail presence after its stores began saturating high streets, but now that it's joined Vodafone in pulling out of deals with Phones4u, the company will need to move quickly to fill the gaps left by its former partner.
Vodafone buys 140 Phones4u stores, saving 900 jobs in the process
A lot can happen in a week: just five days after Phones4u announced it was entering administration, leaving 5,596 employees facing a very uncertain future, retailers and carriers alike have stepped in to strip the company of its most important parts. Dixons Carphone has already picked up 800 employees from its rival, and now Vodafone, one of the two operators that unceremoniously ended their relationship with Phones4u in recent weeks, has announced a deal to buy 140 former stores, saving a potential 900 jobs as a result. Vodafone says it was approached by the company's administrator and "decided to make an offer to buy 140 of its stores as a way to accelerate our retail expansion programme and save hundreds of jobs." While some people will swap their Phones4u role for a Vodafone position, today's restructuring efforts also came at cost. The administrator announced 628 employees at Phones4u's head office in Newcastle-under-Lyme and telesales staff in Staffordshire were today made redundant in an attempt to reduce expenses. There's currently no word on which stores the Vodafone intends to rebrand, but we've asked the company for more details.
EE will honour its iPhone 6 preorders from Phones4u tomorrow
Since EE is somewhat responsible for the reason Phones4u can no longer honour iPhone 6 or 6 Plus preorders, the network's trying to make it right, at least for some of you. The carrier's just told us that when Apple's latest handsets launch tomorrow, anyone that preordered on an EE plan through Phones4u can walk into a store and pick one up. If you're still keen on getting a day-one device, then take along a copy of the Phones4u preorder confirmation to get hooked up. EE's putting aside as many handsets as preorders it received via the troubled retailer, but you'll have to take out one of the network's own contract options, rather than whatever you may've opted for originally. Reserved iPhones will be spread out across the carrier's many stores, however, so there's always a chance you won't be successful at the first location you visit, but we guess that depends on how many went elsewhere when Phones4u folded. Sure, this is a bit of clever PR on EE's part, but if you helps you get the handset you want when you want it, then so be it.
Dixons Carphone gives hundreds of stricken Phones4u employees new jobs
When Phones4u announced its surprise decision to call in the administrators, its 5,600 employees were left facing a very uncertain future. While the retailer is busy figuring out its options, one of it's biggest rivals, Dixons Carphone, has swooped in and offered a lifeline to some Phones4u staff. In a statement today, Dixons Carphone said it has reached an agreement with Phones4u to hire all 800 employees who had worked in a partnership between their stores.
Phones4u forced into administration after EE says it's pulling the plug
Less than two weeks ago, we remarked that things were looking tough for Phones4u. Today, it looks as though the company no longer has a future. After Vodafone said it was dropping its partnership deal with the company to go all in with Dixons Carphone, EE, the biggest carrier in the UK, has done what it threatened to do earlier in the year and announced it too is going alone. In a statement, Phones4u said that EE has decided not to renew its current contract, which expires in just over a year, leaving the company with no other choice than to call in the administrators. "The unexpected decisions by both Vodafone and EE have come as a complete shock to the business," it noted, adding that it'll honour existing contracts (no word on iPhone 6 pre-orders) but close stores while it assesses its options.
Vodafone ditches Phones4u to go all in with Dixons Carphone
Dixons Carphone is only (officially) a month old, but it's already dealt a huge blow to one of its rivals. In its battle to provide UK consumers with the best value smartphone deals, the newly-formed company today announced that it's signed an "enhanced" sales agreement with Vodafone, sticking another nail in the coffin of rival high street retailer Phones4u in the process. You see, while Carphone Warehouse customers will soon enjoy a greater choice of contracts and pay-as-you-go SIMs, Vodafone has also chosen not to renew its network agreement with Phones4u, which expires in February. The carrier follows O2 and Three in moving away from the retailer, meaning it'll soon offer just EE and Virgin Mobile deals in-store and online. It could get even worse if EE decides to go it alone, but it hasn't yet confirmed that it will, ensuring Phones4u has at least one big name network on its books while it attempts to grow its own.
Moto G with LTE and expandable storage is now available for £160
The Moto G is a fantastic smartphone for the price, but Motorola knew it could make the handset even better with just a few small tweaks. Thus, the Moto G with LTE and expandable storage (thanks to a microSD slot) was born, and today it's become available in the UK after launching in the US last week. Phones 4u has declared first dibs on the device, and is offering the phone free from £19 per month on contracts, for £150 on pay-as-you-go, or £160 unlocked -- the retailer is also claiming exclusivity on the new white model until the end of July. A number of other sites are expecting stock sometime this week, at which point we hope to see a repeat of the discounted pricing war that was fought over the Moto G shortly after launch. Hold off a week or two, and we imagine you'll be throwing £20-£30 less at your screen. Bargain.
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.
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.
Moto G leak hints at entry-level, quad-core smartphone with a holiday launch
Motorola may have already spoiled the Moto G launch, but it didn't reveal everything. GSMArena has posted a leaked Phones4U promo card that gives a better impression of the Moto X's budget sibling. The Moto G will reportedly be just a bit smaller, at 4.5 inches, and there's no mention of hands-free voice commands or other Moto X party tricks. The Android 4.3 device would likewise step down to a slower (if quad-core) 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera and 8GB storage. However, it would be exceptionally cheap -- at £135 ($215) off-contract, the Moto G could be a champ among entry level devices. The promo card's holiday theme suggests that the starter handset could be available in the UK before the end of the year, although we wouldn't plan our gift shopping around the leak. There's also no word of a corresponding US release, so Americans wanting a Moto G may simply have to be patient.
LG G2 confirmed to arrive on Three and O2 in the UK (updated)
Following the formal reveal of the LG G2 yesterday, UK network Three was quick to report its plan to offer the handset "soon," so we thought we'd follow up with all the other major providers to see where else you'll eventually be able to find one. O2 is also on board, although it would only commit to a vague release window of "later this year." Vodafone said it currently has no plans to offer the G2, and while EE has "nothing to announce," we couldn't get any assurance that it wouldn't show up on its 4G network, or on the Orange or T-Mobile brands. Retailer Carphone Warehouse has put a tentative October arrival date on its website, and although we're still waiting on a response from Phones 4U, you'll more than likely be able to find it there, too. So, if you've developed a particular taste for the slim bezel design and quirky button placement, you'll have at least a few options come launch time. Update: We assumed wrong -- Phones 4U has gotten back to us to say it won't be stocking the G2.
HTC One mini launching on almost all UK carriers around August 9th
We've reached out to all of the usual suspects, and only one of them hasn't stuck a thumb up and winked when we've asked if it'll be carrying HTC's "diminutive" new smartphone. O2, EE, Vodafone, Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse have all confirmed that they'll carry the One mini, while ThreeUK has yet to get back to us. There's no solid information on how much the device will cost on a monthly or one-off basis, but Carphone Warehouse is already accepting sim-free pre-orders for a very plausible £380. That same retailer is also saying that the phone is due to arrive on August 9th, but we'll take that assertion with a pinch of environmentally-friendly salt.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini gets July 1st release date at Phones 4U, costs more than a GS3
Samsung's dinkier S4 variant will be available to buy in the UK, starting next week. Phones 4U promises that it'll be posting its Galaxy S4 Mini preorders on Monday July 1st, while smaller phone sellers like Unlocked Mobiles and Handtec are promising to start sales this weekend. Launching priced at £420 in Phones 4U, it's arriving at a higher cost than last year's Galaxy S III, currently £400 on the same site, making the S4 Mini (barring those looking for an incrementally smaller phone) appear a very tough sell to customers. While borrowing some design cues from the Galaxy S 4, the Mini drops down to a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and a pretty underwhelming 4.3-inch qHD AMOLED display, both less than you'd get on the GSIII. Of course, the price could drop substantially after release and EE is already offering S4 Mini preorder customers a free Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 to sweeten the deal.
