Dealers – Mobile News

Scott Hooton takes on mobile director role at AO and Mobile Mobile Phones Direct.

Staff Reporter — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 13:38:35 +0000

Ex-Phones marketing chief Scott Hooton has joined online electricals retailer AO Mobile Director as Mobile Director including Mobile Phones Direct. He has been working in the background as an advisor to AO since it acquired Mobile Phones Direct in 2019.

He takes over from group services director Paul Dawson who has has been leading mobile alongside mobile specialists in AO’s commercial, trading and supply teams.

Before that, Richard Baxendale was the MD of Mobile Phones Direct and left in December 2019. He is now executive VP, Global Sales at Likewise.

Hooton has been in the mobile industry for around 30 years. As well as leading roles in Ophones4U he held senior positions with Carphone Warehouse.

“AO and Mobile Phones Direct are now well placed to bring fantastic value, range and five star service to customers. I’m thrilled to be joining the AO team and excited to release the full potential of Mobile Phones Direct” he said.

Mobile Phones Direct does connections with Vodafone, 02 and Three alongside a full range of handsets from all major manufacturers. It was named uSwitch Reseller of the Year in 2022.

Mobile News Awards finalists selected

Staff Reporter — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 08:00:58 +0000

Winners will be revealed at gala presentation evening on March 16

Finalists of the Mobile News Awards 2023 have been chosen by 16 mobile industry experts who spent a day at the InterContinental Park Lane business centre discussing and scrutinising 111 entries (above).

The judges were: Clive Bayley, Afi Chaudhary, Shan Vyas, Lizzie Bailey, Karl Liriano. Dane Hipkin, Mark Curtis-Wood, Gareth Elliott, Ru Bhikhar, Peter Richardson. Runar Bjorlhovde, Aman Bachu, Andy Coughlin, Simon Dunn, Paul Nield, Steve Fraser.

The most competitive categories were Best Customer Service for Business and Best Secondary Market Provider which attracted a dozen entries each, Best Online Retailer (9) and Best Customer Service for Consumers (7).

Finalists

Best 5G User Case

The winner is to be announced on the night (no Commendations)

Best Accessories Distributor

Mobio Distribution

Fonua

Satya Tech

Best Accessories Manufacturer

Samsung

Zagg

Belkin International

Best Airtime Partner Portal

The winner is to be announced on the night (no Commendations)

Best B2B Dealer

Focus Group

Barclay Communications

Uplands Mobiles

Aerial Direct

Cellhire

Best Community Care Initiative

Sky

Cellhire

Radius Connect Solutions

Focus Group

Best Customer Service Business

Barclay Communications

Uplands

Vodafone Business

The One Point

Digital Wholesale Solutions

Aerial Direct

Cellhire

Best Customer Service Consumer

Sky

The Techout

Samsung

Lebara

Mozillion

Mobiles.co.uk

Best Devices Distributor

Eurostar Global Electronics

Exertis

Best Phone/Gadget Insurance Provider

Asurion

Bastion Insurance Device Cover

Assurant

Best Innovative Product

Ocushield

Twig

Belkin

Samsung

Best Innovative Service

Celllhire

Twig

Samsung

Sky

Device Network

Best Mobile Billing Platform

Tekton Billing

Lifecycle Software

Union Street Technologies

Best MVNO

Lyca Mobile

ID Mobile

Plan.com

Lebara

Sky Mobile

Best MVNO Partner

Three UK Wholesale

BT Wholesale

Telna

Best Network For Business.

Vodafone Business.

Neos Networks

Three Business.

Tango Networks

Best Network for Consumers

Lebara

Sky

Best Online Retailer

Mobio Distribution

Repair Outlet

The Techout

Music Magpie

Virgin Media O2

Mobiles.co.uk

Best Secondary Market Facilitator

Zone Global

Compare and Recycle

Device Network

Twig

Best Secondary Market Provider

TMT First

Mazuma

MTR Group

Mozillion

Music Magpie

Ingram Micro Lifecycle

Envirofone

Best Service and Repair Provider

MTR Group

The Techout

Pocket Geek Tech Repair

TMT First

ArmaFone

Samsung

Best Sustainability and Environmental Programme

Twig

Device Network

Belkin International

Juice Global

Assurant

Winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony and late-night party at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on March 16 hosted by Simon Evans. Tables and tickets HERE

Tango Networks hit with £71,441 Industrial Tribunal claim

Staff Reporter — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 15:10:20 +0000

Sacked account director wins unfair dismissal claim

Unified comms and mobile services convergence provider Tango Networks must pay an ex-account director a total of £71,441 in damages and compensation for unfair dismissal

Mark Jones (61) won his Industrial Tribunal cases against Tango Networks and is to receive a basic award (£1,614), a compensatory award (£27,193.05) , compensation for breach of contract (£1,578.52), injury to feelings (£20,000), interest on injury to feelings award (£3,295,45), grossing up for tax payable on the award (£17,869,34).

Jones worked for Tango for two years from January 2019 as a channel account director with three main clients (Telco Switch, AVC1 and Redcentric). Had he sold 13,000 SIMs he would have earned £40,000 commission. But he did not earn any commission during his time with Tango

Tribunal heard Jones had not sold enough SIMs to make any commission and was poor at forecasting how many SIM sales a partner seller would make. There was a lack of structured account planning and evidence of day-to -day business.

Tango wanted to appoint another salesperson and located a middle-aged candidate through LinkedIn. The Tribunal heard manager Philip Hesketh “wanted someone younger for the role” and “who was ideally female”.

Hesketh told colleagues he had two new candidates and wanted to make an offer to each “on the provision we move Mark on very early in Jan 2021”

Hesketh said in evidence:

‘A lot of the candidates we were interviewing were a mirror image of me, white middle-aged men and that it was a shame that we did not attract more diversity into the application process”.

The Tribunal heard that Hesketh told colleagues he didn’t want a team of ’50 odd year old balding men and ideally a woman’.

The Tribunal, led by Employment Judge Miller, concluded

“We find that there was a firm plan to dismiss the claimant and to replace him with another candidate. The respondent planned to do this before the claimant had two year’s service so they could do it quickly”.

Technology To Go wins Gamma Technical Alliance ranking

Staff Reporter — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:10:17 +0000

Recently voted Gamma ‘New Partner Of The Year’.

The Huddersfield managed services distributor Technology To Go has achieved Gamma Technical Alliance status. TTG was set up 12 years ago, as the distribution arm of Network Group and claims to provide access to specialist software “unavailable elsewhere in the UK technology channel”

“Since partnering with Gamma in April 2021 one of our aims was to achieve Gamma’s status as a Technical Alliance Partner. To do so in just 18 months is a credit to our team here. As we establish our new brand ‘Telco To Go’ this recognition will strengthen our go-to market within IT Managed Service Providers looking to provide telecoms to their clients” said TTG managing director David Tulip.

Gamma senior manager for partners programme Louise Fairley added:

“TTG’s plans for the next 18 months puts them in a great position for continued growth within the MSP market and we are delighted to be on that journey with them. Further developing their status within Gamma’s award-winning programme, opens some exciting benefits including marketing support, access to premium features on the partner marketing platform Gamma Accelerate, accreditation badge and annual funding.”

Gamma is a leading unified comms supplier in the UK, German, Spanish and Benelux business markets and combines voice, connectivity and mobile services. It is AIM listed and employs 1650 people. Gamma’s largest market is in the UK where the company’s network-based services are supplied to SME, Public Sector and Enterprise markets through a network of more than a thousand channel partners and its own direct sales and support capabilities.

iSmash becomes Samsung’s largest walk-in Authorised Service Partner

Staff Reporter — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:15:46 +0000

Accreditation will enable repairs with genuine Samsung parts and diagnostics

iSmash is now Samsung’s largest walk-in repair provider, with Authorised Service Centres across 15 cities, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

iSmash has joined Samsung’s Authorised Service Centre network. Samsung users outside the warranty will be able to take their device to any one of the 38 iSmash stores for authorised diagnostics and repair.

The appointment follows a big investment into iSmash a year ago by Canadian comms giant Telus. iSmash will use genuine Samsung parts and Samsung-accredited technicians will carry out repairs using Samsung specialist equipment and tools. iSmash will give repaired devices a 125-point Health check, using Samsung’s Galaxy Diagnostics Tool.

Said iSmash CEO Chris Murton “The partnership ensures our mutual customers can now benefit from a best-in-class repair and support service across our growing network of high-street service centres. iSmash customers and insurance partners will now have access to our accredited technicians using specialist equipment and tools in service centres that meet Samsung’s high standards.

Brian Ford, Vice-President, of Samsung Customer Experience, UK, added: ‘Access to convenient support on the high street is incredibly important for UK consumers. The iSmash nationwide store coverage gives more choices to our customers, who can now get a fast repair safe in the knowledge that their smartphone is in the hands of an accredited and trusted service partner’.

O2 closes franchise stores programme

Staff Reporter — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:38:12 +0000

Franchise stores to be taken over by O2

The majority of O2 independent franchised business stores are to be taken over by O2 following a decision to cease its store franchise operation which has been running since 2005.

Most franchise stores will be taken over by O2 and the staff working in them will be transferred to roles in O2.

O2 said it was not in a position to confirm numbers at this time. The exit of its franchise channel will be rolled out over the coming months and years, and the network says its priority is communication with Franchisees.

The franchisees O2 include:

Avertec (24 stores), BAK and Southern Connection (21 stores), Celfone Trading (six stores), Communications Plus (20 stores), East Midlands Communications (two stores), Fone Trading Zone (two stores), JAR Communications (five stores), Lordwardens Consultancy (four stores), MID Communications (16 stores), MMD Communications (18 stores), Talk Direct Leeds (16 stores), and Talk Talk Mobile Phones (37 stores).

A statement from O2 said:

“To deliver the great products and services our customers expect, we sometimes need to evaluate how our business operates. After reviewing our retail strategy we’ve decided we will be bringing the majority of franchise stores under company ownership over time, investing in refurbishments to enhance our customers’ high street experience and creating opportunities for franchise employees to join the O2 business.”

O2 has run a mix of company-owned stores and franchise outlets since 2005.

Brush up your LinkedIn skills at Mobile News XPO

Staff Reporter — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:57:25 +0000

Ex-Vodafone social media specialist reveals top tips

Advertisement: LinkedIn training sessions can cost hundreds of pounds. At Mobile News XPO on September 13 you’ll get an hour’s tuition for FREE! What’s the catch? No catch. All you need to do is REGISTER HERE for Mobile News XPO, and get pre-qualified for the only mobile channel-specific show this year. Mobile News XPO is back better than ever in partnership with Technology Live Live to combine both the mobile AND ICT channels

This LinkedIn seminar is at 10:30 am at the Business Design Centre in Islington N1. Many executives struggle to get real value from their time on LinkedIn because so few people know how to use it effectively. Expert Dan Bowsher of Sett Social will explain key areas you need to focus on in order to build and sustain a practical, personal presence on LinkedIn, so you can use it to support your business objectives.

Dan Bowsher: set up Vodafone’s social media system

With more than years of marketing and communications experience, including 10 years leading social media adoption and transformation at Vodafone, Dan understands what it takes to get social media and editorial content working properly for a business.
Whether you’re a sales chief or a business owner, this seminar will provide you with practical, pragmatic advice on the fundamentals of LinkedIn to help you re-think and/or kickstart your efforts

As well as the LinkedIn session other seminars at the one-day IT and mobile channel show include moderated discussions on the Secondary Market and the evolution of 5G.

Vodafone Group CEO feared Carphone Warehouse dominance if Phones 4U ceased trading

Staff Reporter — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 14:43:30 +0000

Vittorio Colao was concerned indirect distribution could not fulfil Vodafone’s strategy of controlling the customer experience

Vodafone Group CEO Vittorio Colao was concerned Carphone Warehouse would become too powerful if Phones 4U went out of business a court heard. Colao was Vodafone Group CEO for 10 years from 2008 and is now Italy’s minister for Innovation and digital transition.

He was giving evidence in the case of Phones 4U In Administration against the networks. The allegation is the networks colluded to orchestrate the cancellation of their contracts. This forced Phones4U into administration in September 2014 with the loss of 5,000 jobs,

O2, Orange, EE, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom are defending the case and claim the retailer failed due to bad management, lack of investment as well as owners BC Partners taking out millions of pounds of dividends.

Under questioning, Colao said he wanted Vodafone to control its channels of distribution. This was the best way Vodafone could retain customers and lower churn as it would put Vodafone in control of the customer experience. The indirect channels could not be relied on to reach the same standard. He told the court he knew Carphone Warehouse chairman Charles Dunstone well and described him as a shrewd operator who knew how to run his business.

Vittorio Colao: :Vodafone Group CEO 2008-2018C

Colao revealed Vodafone was in exploratory talks to hire EE boss Olaf Swantee
“We were considering hiring him” he confirmed.

Vodafone’s terms offered little or no profit to Phones4U according to Phiens4U CEO Tim Whiting’s witness statement. Asked if he thought this would result in Phones4U having to cease trading Colao replied:

“My perception of the worsening situation of Phones 4U increased towards the end of July and August (2014) when it was clear that the owners and the shareholders would not inject cash into the business. Therefore the business was in restructuring mode. I started thinking about the press and what would the impact on employees be,

Another concern was Carphone Warehouse could be stronger and more dominant if Phones 4U collapsed and delayed Vodafone’s Project Spring plan to open more shops. He was assured by Vodafone UK CEO Jeroen Hoencamp that the strategy of opening more Vodafone stores and differentiating the network would not be undermined by Carphone Warehouse as the dominant high street retailer. Hoencamp left Vodafone in July 16 replaced as UK boss by Vodafone Group enterprise chief executive Nick Jeffery.

Vodafone UK CEO Jeroen Hoencamp: did not think a dominant Carphone Warehouse would affect Vodafone shop rollout programme

Hoencamp took up the top job in the UK in September 2013, having previously been chief executive of its operations in Ireland.

“I asked if we will end up with Carphone Warehouse running our business again. That was my concern. He (Hoencamp) was pretty confident that it (Vodafone’s termination with Phones4U) was the right choice.

The worst possible thing to happen to a network is for it to be commoditised he said.
“If people view network connectivity like they view water or gas, it becomes very difficult to differentiate and build customer brand loyalty and customer lifetime value. It wasn’t our strategy to do that”.

How could Phones 4U be expected to accept an offer that would not give any gross margin?

“It wasn’t for me to understand why they couldn’t satisfy our commercial requirements, just that they were unwilling or unable to do so. Restructuring their balance sheet and seeking fresh investment from their shareholders was always an option to them, which they didn’t take. Without seeking fresh investment or doing something different it would have been very difficult for them. It didn’t stop their main competitor from stepping up.”

The case continues.

Phones 4U court case: EE boss recorded clandestine lunch with Telefonica chief

Staff Reporter — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:55:58 +0000

Private meeting may have breached competition law – Barrister

A High Court last week heard how ex-EE CEO Olaf Swantee secretly recorded on an iPad a lunch meeting with Telefonica boss Ronan Dunne.

The lunch, at the Landmark Hotel on September 19, 2012, was arranged by Dunne and could have infringed competition law the court was told.

Phones 4U barrister Kenneth MacLean put it to Swantee that he recorded the Landmark lunch because he realised that this was the sort of conversation he should be having with a competitor.

Swantee: recorded lunch meeting on his iPad

Swantee replied: “I was nervous because I wasn’t sure about what he wanted.”

Mr MacLean then said: “Despite all the regular training on competition law you had had, and despite feeling nervous and uncomfortable, you didn’t interrupt Mr Dunne’s flow of thought and say, ‘I don’t think we should be having this type of discussion, Ronan’ did you?

“Mr Dunne had already said something troubling enough to prompt you to activate the iPad”.

Swantee said the iPad recording app was activated after Dunne started talking about the pricing”

Details of the lunch meeting emerged in the ongoing civil case brought by Phones4U In Administration against EE, Vodafone, and Telefonica over allegations they colluded to destroy Phones4U by all agreeing to terminate their contracts with the retailer.

4G value

Swantee said that at the lunch Dunne raised concerns about the pricing strategy behind 4G and wanted to establish a pricing structure that recognised 4G’s enhanced value. He was concerned other networks discounting 3G could lead to the market being devalued and a 4G premium not being viable.

Ronan Dunne: concerned anout 4G pricing

Swantee explained in his evidence there was a discussion in which Dunne was seeking to persuade EE not to set its 4G prices independently but to coordinate its approach with the other MNOs.

Swantee was questioned for nearly two days by Phones 4U barrister Kenneth MacLean. Much of the questioning concerned the Landmark lunch.

Swantee explained EE had a Standstill Agreement whereby the networks would give EE a month to obtain regulatory approval to launch its 4G services without trying to stop the launch through litigation EE needed to receive the approval from the regulatory authorities to have a change in its licence to use its 1800 MHz for 4G services.

“Some of the activities you see in my meetings were all about trying to avoid the others from delaying us, by litigating against the decision from Ofcom. We knew that was an enormous risk that they would do that, and we would lose our competitive advantage.

“We would not be able to launch our new brand, our new stores and new services.

Telefonica was stopped from litigation only through an intervention of the central government. Then we agreed to a compromise which was a “standstill agreement”. We said we will delay our launch for four weeks. We were allowed to make a marketing announcement or something like that”, Swantee told the Court.

Said Mr MacLean:“According to your evidence, Mr Dunne had started talking about 4G pricing that had made you nervous and uncomfortable. While he was away from the table you activated the iPad. The reason that you activated the iPad was that you were concerned that what Mr Dunne wanted to discuss was inappropriate?”

Swantee replied: “I was concerned about what he said about pricing”.

Risk

He agreed there was a risk this was not a topic which should properly be discussed between competitive CEOs.

Mr MacLean continued: “And so in the knowledge of that existence of that risk, when he returned to the table, you could have simply said, ‘Look, Ronan, I have been thinking about what you just said, I don’t think we should pursue that further. You could have done that, couldn’t you? But you didn’t do that, did you?”

Said Swantee: “Well, he was trying to convince EE, I guess, to come out in the market with a premium on 4G pricing, yes?”

Landmark Hotel London – venue for Swantee and Dunne lunch in September 2012

Mr MacLean continued: “Your evidence is that you were careful not to engage. Now, if you simply sat there while Mr Dunne rambled on about 4G pricing and reducing volume in the indirect channel, you must have appreciated, that if you said nothing it was a risk that he might have got the impression from your silence that you were receptive to this approach”.

Swantee replied that “Mr Dunne was quite wordy. He was talking a lot. It’s not always exactly clear what he said.

MacLean told him: “EE’s plan was to gradually reduce its reliance on sales through indirect retailers whilst building up its own direct channel. That’s right, isn’t it”?

The case continues.

Mobile News Awards 2022 Programme

Staff Reporter — Mon, 23 May 2022 15:57:33 +0000

How the winners won with judge’ comments

After the tables have been cleared, the tuxedo dry-cleaned and the hangover dissipated there remains the burning question of our time ‘ “How did THEY win a Mobile News Award”. The answer lies within these pages. Here you can read about how the judges came to their decisions and a bit more about the winner’s themselves. As many Mobile News awards judges have said over the years – “we can only judge a company by the in entry put in front of us”.

Judges table at Mobile News Awards (May 19). (l-r) Ed Hemburron, Nav Majithia, Nick Muir, Jonathan Santa,. Andrew Kidd, Phil Sheppard, Simon Johnson