Easymobile goes retail

IN AN admission that its 'Internet only' policy is failing - and rumours that just 15,000 UK subscribers had signed up - the Easy Group's Easymobile has signed a deal with UK High Street retailers, The Link.

The Link (part of the Dixons Group) will have a three month exclusive on retailing Easymobile's service. Consumers will be offered a choice of four subsidised handsets including the Nokia 1600, 3220, 5140i and the Motorola Razr V3 Blue.

This is a total break with Easymobile's Web based offering which was SIM card only. It therefore puts Easymobile up head to head with the likes of 3 and Virgin Mobile.

The handsets will apparently go on sale on the Web site. There's no sign of that yet but for £24.99 consumers can purchase a handset preloaded with £10 worth of airtime.

The handsets first went on sale in The Link's 295 stores yesterday. The launch will be accompanies by an ad campaign with the strap 'easy does it'. µ

L'INQ
Easymobile