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O2 launches market leading mobile broadband tariff

KC — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:01:27 +0000

New £5 30-day tariff gives freedom without a long term contract

O2 today (30 July) announced the launch of a market leading £5 a month mobile broadband tariff which allows customers access to the internet for 30 days without being tied in to a long term tariff.

Customers signing up to the new tariff will pay only £5 per month and an upfront charge of £19.99 for the dongle. Included in the package is 500MB data allowance each month on the O2 network, plus unlimited Wi-Fi access at thousands of hotspots provided by The Cloud and BT Openzone.

Speaking about the new tariff Vishal Khakhar, O2’s Head of Home and Broadband Marketing, said: “We know that customers want to access the internet more and more and also are looking for shorter contracts. By offering this market leading 30 day rolling contract we are giving customers flexibility without having to top up on pay and go.

O2 also recently launched two new Pay & Go Mobile Broadband Starter Kits. The kits which include pre-loaded dongles, which expire in either one or three months, can be used straight out of the box and include unlimited Wi-Fi.

The starter kits are priced at £29.99 for 1GB of pre-loaded data with three months expiry or £34.99 for 2GB of data which expires in one month. Customers can top-up their data at any time at http://mobilebroadbandaccess.o2.co.uk.

Vishal added: “We know a lot of customers would like shorter contracts and want complete freedom to buy data access whenever they need it. Our new mobile broadband starter kits are the perfect way to enjoy internet access when you need it and top-up when your allowance runs out.”

O2 Mobile Broadband Starter Kits are available at all O2 stores across the UK. Customers can sign up to the new £5 30-day rolling contract online at www.o2.co.uk/broadband/mobile or in an O2 store.

Is The Big Society spirit alive and well? Adults believe in youngsters but still won’t back them with cash

KC — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:57:05 +0000

As O2 launches £5million investment in young people

New research published today reveals that the overwhelming majority (71%) of adults believe young people have the power to make a real impact in the local community. However, when it comes to the crunch, almost half of them (46%) believe that young people would in fact squander money earmarked for the local community on themselves, if given the opportunity.

At a time when the Prime Minister is hoping to bring communities together with a message of people power, the YouGov survey, commissioned by O2, exposes adults’ lack of support for young people. Nearly half (46%) of adults thought young people had an irresponsible attitude to money. Whilst almost a third of adults (29%) believed young people would actively misuse community cash on buying material goods such as clothes, music or DVDs.

To champion young people and showcase the positive role they play in society, this summer O2 has launched Think Big, an exciting new five million pound scheme which will back young people’s ideas to make a positive difference in their local community.

The programme, which is designed to support and celebrate the role young people play in their communities, will put £300 directly in the hands of young people and support them to use the cash in way which delivers a positive impact in their local area. In addition to the cash, young people receive training and mentoring to help them tackle the local issues that really matter to them.

The survey also revealed that only a minority of adults (20%) thought that young people care about their local community. Whilst, 19 per cent of adults believed that if a young person was tasked with running a community project, the project would fail to deliver a positive impact. O2 takes the opposite view and believes that young people’s passion, motivation and ideas can deliver big returns for the local community. This view is supported by independent analysis from a leading think tank which has shown that a £300 Think Big award in the hands of one young person can deliver a ten-fold return for the local community[1].

Bill Eyres, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at O2 said: “The new Government has committed to taking action to encourage greater social responsibility and has called for people to come together to improve local communities. At O2, we believe young people can be the catalyst for this kind of positive change. It’s easy and convenient to buy into the stereotype and write young people off as disinterested and disengaged. But that’s not the reality. With the right backing, we believe young people can play a big role in their local community, that’s why we are putting our money where our mouth is.

“What’s unique about Think Big is that we’ve deliberately not set limits on young people’s creativity. Whether young people are passionate about forming a street dance group, or want to improve facilities at the local youth club, Think Big exists to help them bring their ideas to life.”

He continues: “At a time when young people face a really tough job market, Think Big will provide young participants with the opportunity to boost their CV through a comprehensive package of training and support, from project management and communications, to presentation skills and networking. That’s why this summer we are calling on all young people aged 13-25 across the UK to visit the Think Big website and be amongst the first to apply for the chance to make their ideas a reality.”

Out of 12 major UK cities, the survey revealed that adults from Liverpool trust young people the least, with over half (53%) saying that they thought local youngsters would misuse community cash. In contrast, adults in Belfast had the highest regard for young people, with just 38% of adults believing that young people would squander money earmarked for the local community.

Percentage of adults who believed young people would spend money earmarked for the local community on themselves:

1. Liverpool (53%)

2. Newcastle (51%)

3. Southampton (50%)

4. London (48%)

5. Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham (46%)

8. Edinburgh (45%)

9. Leeds (44%)

10. Nottingham (43%)

11. Bristol (42%)

12. Belfast (38%)

If you’re aged 13-25 and you’re ready to Think Big for your local community, visit www.o2.co.uk/thinkbig to find out more information and apply online.

Think Big has been developed in conjunction with two of the UK’s leading youth charities, National Youth Agency and UKYouth, and with the support of the Telefónica Foundation.

02 helps charities get full benefit of text donations

KC — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:49:12 +0000

O2 to pass on 100 per cent of text donations made by O2 customers

O2 today announced that it is to pass on 100 per cent of text donations to charity.

From 1 August 2010, UK-based registered charities will receive the full amount donated by the network’s customers using a five-digit ‘shortcode’ starting with the numbers 70.

In November last year O2 was the first UK network to pass on 90p for every £1 donated, withholding 10p to cover network and third party costs. O2 will now cover those costs and pass on 100% of every donation made by O2 customers.

Simon Davis, Head of Corporate Responsibility at O2 said: “Particularly in the current economic climate, it’s essential that we help charities gain as much income as they can. We’re glad to be able to help in this way.”

Fiona Blacke, from leading youth charity National Youth Agency which is helping O2 to deliver its flagship Think Big programme, said: “We’re delighted O2 has taken this initiative. It will make a huge difference to charities many of whom depend on donations for their existence.”

O2’s new initiative, the Think Big programme, aims to champion young people’s ideas through support and training. It provides a £300 grant, training and online mentoring from O2 employees and is open to young people aged between 13 and 25 who want to make a difference in their communities. For more information about the Think Big programme or to apply for an award, please visit www.o2thinkbig.co.uk

O2 showcases best of British youth talent

KC — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:20:43 +0000

O2 showcased the best of British youth talent at a Think Big sponsored event last Saturday when two acts performed on stage in front of crowds at Westfield London.

The acts were two of the first to receive awards from the Think Big programme, theatrical dance group ‘Show Off and Dance’ and MC’s ‘Mix it Up Two’. These aren’t the first O2 supported projects to take centre stage; street dancers ‘A3’ recently wowed judges on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent show. The dance act was supported through O2’s It’s Your Community program last year and were one of the projects that inspired the Think Big programme.

The youth performances were part of O2’s wider Think Big programme which aims to champion young people’s ideas through support and training. The award includes a £300 grant, training and online mentoring from O2 employees and is open to young people aged between 13 and 25 who want to make a difference in their communities.

Helen Parker, Head of Community at O2 said, “This event was a perfect opportunity to show off some of the very first Think Big projects ‘Show off and dance’ and ‘Mix it up two’ are great examples of how nurturing young people’s ideas can make a real difference.’

The event also featured American speed-painter David Garibaldi, a street artist who turned a passion for graffiti into a performance art. The 27-year-old has already donated over $700,000 to charity and aims to raise the total to $1 million by his thirtieth birthday.

For more information about the Think Big programme or to apply for an award, please visit www.o2thinkbig.co.uk

See O2′s exclusive range of David Garibaldi cases at O2.co.uk and for more information about the artist visit www.garibaldiarts.com

Dell Streak to launch exclusively on O2

KC — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:51:52 +0000

Dell and O2 today announced that the Dell Streak will launch exclusively on O2 early next month, bringing the internet, entertainment, easy turn-by-turn navigation and thousands of Android Market apps to customers looking for a big screen experience without having to carry a laptop around.

Available in early June through O2 stores and online at www.o2.co.uk and www.carphonewarehouse.com, the Dell Streak features a 5 megapixel camera, fast processor, built in Wi-Fi and can easily connect to a range of social networks.

“The Dell Streak is a bold new class of product, something we wanted to bring to our customers first,” said Steve Alder, O2’s General Manager Devices. “This means we can continue to offer our customers a range of the very best devices to make their lives a bit easier.”

“The Dell Streak hits the sweet spot between traditional smartphones and larger-screen tablets,” said Ron Garriques, president, Dell Communication Solutions Group. “Its unique size provides people new ways to enjoy, connect, and navigate their lives.”

O2 will be enhancing the Dell Streak experience with its intelligent network, great value tariffs and award winning customer service. This includes O2 Gurus in O2 retail stores and smartphone specialists in customer service to help customers get the most out of every product and service.

Pricing and tariff information will be released ahead of launch.

Full Dell Streak specifications:

Operating system: Google Android
Processor: 1GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon
3G, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
5MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash.
Expandable memory via Micro SD cards, up to 32GB capacity
5 inch touch screen

Motorola launch in Brazil the FLIPOUT™ with MOTOBLUR™: a stylishly square & pocket perfect mobile

KC — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 21:45:59 +0000

Multi-touch screen pivots to reveal QWERTY keypad on company’s latest Android 2.1 smartphone

Sao Paulo, Brazil – June, 30^th – Motorola (NYSE: MOT) today announced the Motorola FLIPOUT™ with MOTOBLUR™, a stylishly square and compact smartphone that’s as individual as its users. The FLIPOUT runs on Android™ 2.1 and features an innovative square pivot design that opens to reveal a five-row QWERTY keypad with a separate row for numeric keys. The smartphone will be available in Brazil by the first half of July and will retail at R$ 999.

FLIPOUT features up to seven customizable home screens and has live, interactive wallpapers available only in Android 2.1. It also offers enhanced MOTOBLUR, making it easier to follow who and what really matters to you on relationship networks

“The FLIPOUT with MOTOBLUR launch reinforces Motorola’s commitment to giving users a more complete and customizable Android experience while maintaining its heritage of innovative smartphone design”, said Sergio Buniac, Vice President of Mobile Devices for Motorola Brazil.DURAGADGET Premium in Car / Lorry charger 12/24 volt dc for MOTOROLA DEXT MOTOBLUR (MB220 CLIQ)

FLIPOUT will retail with three different colored battery doors that users can exchange according to the occasion.

Enhanced MOTOBLUR

MOTOBLUR is Motorola’s exclusive Android experience that syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more — from sources such as Twitter™, Gmail™, Facebook®, MySpace and Orkut, work and personal e-mail, and Last.FM — and automatically delivers them to the home screen. MOTOBLUR automatically backs up contacts, log-in information, home screen customizations, e-mail and social network messages to a secure server and provides remote data wipe for lost or stolen devices. One username and password restores contacts, messages and connectivity to prior networks and email providers.

FLIPOUT offers enhanced MOTOBLUR functionality and features, including:

- Happenings and Messages widgets – filter by social networking account, by contact(s) or by contact group to only see the information you want

- Screen customization – move and resize preloaded widgets on up to seven home screens

Battery Manager – manage battery consumption by operating in one of three performance modes
Data Manager – monitor data usage to better manage pay-as-you-go and limited data plans
Personal and Corporate e-mail – pushed directly to the device
Re-tweet capabilities

Audio Quality

FLIPOUT comes with CrystalTalk™ PLUS, proprietary Motorola technology that adds a second microphone and speaker, reducing background noise and ensuring even clearer audio quality.

Multimedia

FLIPOUT brings optimal web and photo browsing to the palm of your hand with multi-touch pinch and zoom and is Adobe® Flash® Enabled to provide access to most content-rich websites. For music fans, FLIPOUT’s connected media player offers full screen lyric support, integrated song ID and a social solution for knowing what people around you are listening to.

Additional multimedia features include a FM radio with RDS support, a 3.1MP camera with digital zoom and KODAK PERFECT TOUCH technology for better, brighter pictures and gallery mode for tagging and labeling of photos. One-touch uploads to Facebook®, Orkut, MySpace, Picasa and Photobucket make sharing your images quick and easy. Also included are video capture, playback and streaming options along with Bluetooth®¹ capabilities for wireless calls, music and file transfers.

FLIPOUT includes a 2GB memory card, expansible to 32GB, built in GPS, E-Compass plus Wi-Fi and 3G support for connectivity and features full Google™ services including Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™ and access to thousands of apps on the Android Market™.

SHOP4APPS: Discover and Download

Flipout is the first handset with access to SHOP4APPS, Motorola’s Android applications store. This makes it easy for the user to discover, purchase and download free and paid applications for Motorola Android-powered phones. SHOP4APPS complements Android Market™ experience by providing consumers with a broad selection of local language apps across multiple categories that have been tested and optimized for Motorola devices.

- Find your favorite app. Search for your favorites or find new ones – from games and entertainment to lifestyle and business tools – SHOP4APPS offers something for everyone.

o Access, browse and purchase apps from a handset or PC

o Search by category, keyword, interests, developer, service type, location and more

o “Try before you buy” demo option available on most apps

o Rate, recommend and share apps with friends

- Let us show you our favorite picks. Browse MOTOPICKS and discover the newest and most popular applications.

- Download or Purchase Once. Keep It Forever. Purchased and downloaded apps are stored in a personal storage area, called the “App Locker,” making switching handsets or restoring applications seamless and easy.

Product Availability

The Motorola FLIPOUT with MOTOBLUR will be available in Brazil by mid-July 2010.. To experience MOTOBLUR, please visit www.motorola.com/motoblur.

Scrappie (Woodlands Farm Strays, Dorset)

Tracey — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:49:44 +0000

Scrappie is an affectionate Jack Russell Terrier x Whippet. At seven years old she only just qualifies as an "oldie" and is still an active girl. She's looking for a home with someone who can take her for plenty of walks.

Chaz (Pets 4 Rehoming, Dorset)

JoT — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:26:53 +0000

Chaz is a very handsome boy who would like to live with another dog for company as he doesn't like being on his own. He's very upset to find himself in kennels and needs a new home ASAP. Is your home the one he's hoping for?