The deal, completed last week, gives Fonehouse sites inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Norwich, Colchester and Chelmsford, and an Asda in Ipswich. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Armafone was founded and run by Chris Everitt, (below) providing in-store repairs alongside mobile phone and accessory sales. It also operated a mobile repair service in the region until recently.

The acquisition, together with a new store opening in Warminster this weekend, takes Fonehouse’s estate to more than 60 locations.

Fonehouse said its retail estate has tripled since KTM Online acquired the brand in late 2017, alongside an expansion of its online business.

The company reported five consecutive years of double-digit growth across its retail business. It cited the introduction of tech repair services in 2022 as a significant source of store footfall.

A shop refit programme launched in 2024 has now covered more than half the estate, with Fonehouse reporting a significant sales uplift at refurbished stores.

Chief operating officer James Carr said: “In the last few years we’ve made some fantastic progress growing the estate through several strategic projects. The Armafone acquisition opens some exciting new opportunities and we expect it will help us achieve our ambitious growth plans.”

Chief executive Ben Branson (below) said: “The growth that our retail team has achieved over the last few years in a challenging market has been phenomenal. This is another initiative that will aid future growth and expand the brand through several new high footfall locations.”

Chief executive Lutz Schüler announced the plans today (November 3), warning that the company must become leaner and more efficient in response to intense competition, a shrinking broadband market and rising operating costs.

The company expects to achieve around £400 million in annualised savings during 2027, rising to £800 million by 2029.

Around £300 million of the total savings will come from workforce reductions over the next two years, equivalent to approximately 30 per cent of Virgin Media O2’s current staff costs.

The company has not disclosed how many jobs will disappear, although it said most reductions would affect non-customer-facing positions.

Senior management cuts have already begun, with a significant reduction in leadership roles since the summer. Further redundancies will be subject to consultation with employees and trade unions.

In a major change of direction, Virgin Media O2 will stop investing in further fibre upgrades beyond commitments already made to its partners.

The company argues that the economics of the UK broadband market cannot support three competing fibre networks covering the same areas.

Instead, it will continue operating its existing hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network, with a lower-cost upgrade planned to deliver broadband speeds of up to 2Gbps across most of the network during 2027.

Any future fibre investment will be financed off the company’s balance sheet and restricted to areas without alternative fibre networks.

Virgin Media O2 is also exploring wholesale agreements that would allow it to sell broadband services in areas outside its own network and that of nexfibre.

Mobile network investment continues

Despite the spending cuts, Virgin Media O2 says investment in its mobile network will continue, concentrating on coverage reliability and connection quality.

Priorities include expanding its 5G+ network, developing O2 Satellite services and deploying recently acquired spectrum, which has increased its share of UK mobile spectrum to approximately 30 per cent.

The company will also make greater use of its network-sharing agreement with Vodafone to reduce infrastructure costs.

In wholesale, Virgin Media O2 intends to maintain its position as a major network provider to MVNOs.

O2 Business will simplify its product range and streamline operations following its first year of integration.

The business division is targeting approximately £70 million in annual pre-tax synergies by 2030, alongside improved profit margins and faster commercial execution.

On the consumer side, Virgin Media O2 plans to give its brands more clearly defined market positions, simplify tariffs and products, and introduce measures intended to improve customer loyalty and reduce churn.

AI to replace manual processes

Artificial intelligence will play a greater role in the company’s cost-reduction programme.

Virgin Media O2 plans to expand the use of AI in customer service, network planning, fault management and personalised marketing.

This includes its recently announced partnership with AI customer-service specialist Sierra.

Other savings will come from reducing contractor numbers, consolidating suppliers, simplifying supply chains and reviewing software licensing costs.

‘Standing still is not an option’

Schüler acknowledged that the restructuring would involve difficult decisions, including redundancies.

“Given the market conditions we face, the regulatory backdrop in fibre and the technological changes sweeping across all areas of the economy, standing still and doing what we’ve always done is not an option,” he said.

“While we will give a fuller update on the new strategic plan in the coming months, we are already progressing and making difficult decisions to prioritise investments and reduce costs which includes the size of our workforce.”

He added that employees leaving the business would be treated fairly and respectfully.

The restructuring marks a significant shift in priorities for Virgin Media O2, which was formed through the merger of Virgin Media and O2 in 2021.

The company says it has invested more than £10 billion in the UK since the merger, but its new strategy places greater emphasis on cash generation, profitability and reducing debt rather than network expansion.

Further details of the strategic plan will be announced around the company’s full-year results.

The network could cut up to 4,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring, according to a report by Sky News.

The broadcaster reported that redundancies were being planned for the coming months, predominantly affecting staff in non-customer-facing roles. Union officials at the CWU and Prospect have reportedly been briefed on elements of the plans.

Sky said the final headcount reduction remained undecided. A Virgin Media O2 spokesman declined to comment on the redundancy plans.

Reuters subsequently picked up Sky’s reporting, noting that the operator employs around 16,000 people. A reduction of 4,000 would represent a quarter of its workforce. The news agency said Virgin Media O2 had not immediately responded to its request for comment.

The restructuring reports follow mounting scrutiny of the group’s finances. The Financial Times reported in September that joint owners Liberty Global and Telefónica were seeking approximately £600m in savings through a combination of job losses and reductions in operating and capital expenditure.

The FT linked the proposed savings to investor concerns about the sustainability of VMO2’s £22bn debt burden following a summer sell-off in its bonds.

The operator’s latest published results underline the competitive pressure on the business. Second-quarter service revenue fell 3.9 per cent year on year to £2.04bn, while adjusted EBITDA declined 2.9 per cent to £975.2m, with both comparisons adjusted for the Daisy transaction.

Virgin Media O2 is scheduled to publish its third-quarter results on Tuesday, November 3.

It has slelected the Hertford based charity Mudlarks as its first charity, Mudlarks helps adults with learning disabilities.

The fund will be administered by the foundation, with investment returns providing funding for local causes. Bamboo Connect also plans to make further contributions linked to its business activity, funded by the company at no additional cost to clients or their customers.

Mudlarks was selected following a review of more than 300 charities and community organisations across Hertfordshire. The Hertford-based charity supports adults and young people with learning disabilities and mental health concerns through horticulture, hospitality, supported learning and employment.

Bamboo Connect will also match eligible employee contributions and fundraising up to £1,000 per person annually. It will also organise company fundraising activities and provide dedicated time for staff to volunteer.

Bamboo Connect co-founder and CEO Juney Mistiki (below) said: “Looking after people have always been a big part of how we work. We wanted to turn those values into something structured and long term, rather than simply making one-off donations.”

“Mudlarks is a fantastic first partner and we look forward to supporting its work through fundraising, matched giving and volunteering as well as the Fund.”

Mudlarks CEO Ricky Kaplan said the two-year commitment combined charitable funding with fundraising, company matching and employee involvement.

“That sustained support will help us continue creating opportunities for adults and young people with learning disabilities and mental health concerns across East Hertfordshire,” he said.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/bamboo-connect-establishes-25000-charity-fund/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/iphone-duo-screen-cracks-put-apples-foldable-response-under-pressure/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/iphone-duo-screen-cracks-put-apples-foldable-response-under-pressure/#respond Mon, 26 Oct 2026 19:42:58 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180965 Apple faces an early test of customer confidence in its first foldable after reports of inner displays cracking along the Duo’s hinge, sometimes within hours of use.

IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo says early display failures highlight the challenges of foldable engineering, but warns against drawing conclusions about the scale of the problem

Apple has acknowledged an issue affecting a small number of iPhone Duo units and advised owners experiencing display problems to contact AppleCare for a replacement. It has not disclosed an affected-unit figure or confirmed the cause.

The problem sppears to be with the hinge under the display. The cracks in all the Duos are appearing in the same location . One user found a bump under the display where the hinge is has a 3D printed cover and around 100 other components, one of which may be damaging the screen.

 Jeronimo said the reports demonstrate that even Apple’s engineering resources and supply chain expertise cannot eliminate the challenges of entering the foldable market.

“The early reports of inner display failures on the iPhone Duo show that even a company with Apple’s engineering resources and supply chain discipline faces a steep learning curve in foldables,” he said.

Reports describe cracks appearing in a similar position along the centre of the hinge, often followed by a bright line of stuck pixels. Several owners claim the failures occurred after only a handful of openings.

“That consistency points to a possible sensitivity in the hinge tolerances or in how the display is supported during the fold,” he said.

However, he cautioned that the available evidence does not establish a fault across the production run.

“The scale is still unknown. Apple has shared no figures, and some of the images circulating online are recycled or altered, so caution is needed before drawing conclusions about the whole production run.”

Replacement response

Some owners have reported receiving replacements in Apple stores, although replacement availability has varied, according to the MacRumors web site.

Jeronimo drew a parallel with the problems experienced by Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold in 2019.

“What matters now is how the company responds,” he said. “We all remember when Samsung experienced problems with the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, but it also showed that a fast and transparent response can contain the damage to a category.”

He welcomed Apple’s instruction to seek a replacement, describing it as “the right first step”.

Warranty clarity

The implications extend beyond Apple’s own sales, with the company’s response potentially influencing confidence in foldable devices more broadly.

“At $1,999, Apple is positioning the Duo as a premium alternative to established foldables, and how it handles this first-generation issue will shape buyer confidence in the category well beyond its own sales,” he said.

Apple’s loyal customer base and retail network give it advantages in managing replacements. A further rollout into 28 markets on October 30 increases the urgency of explaining how affected buyers will be treated.

“Apple has a loyal customer base and a retail network that can swap devices on the spot, but with a further 28 markets launching on 30 October, it needs to clarify its warranty position quickly.”

The regulator’s latest figures, covering April to June, show O2 complaints were mainly driven by faults, service problems and difficulties getting services connected. Sky Mobile customers’ biggest source of dissatisfaction was their experience of changing provider.

Service problems and switching difficulties drive complaints as mobile sector shows no overall improvement

EE, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Three, Vodafone and iD Mobile generated the lowest complaint rates.

Across the pay-monthly mobile market, complaints remained unchanged compared with both the previous quarter and the same period last year.

A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said: “Two years ago, with Ofcom’s complaints data showing Virgin Media and O2 at or near the bottom of every category, we drew a line in the sand and committed to fixing our customer service for good.

 “While we still want to go further, today’s data shows that Virgin Media recorded the fewest proportion of complaints of any broadband provider, while also achieving further significant reductions across TV and landline. Meanwhile, just two per 100,000 O2 customers made a complaint to the regulator – a 75% reduction from two years ago.

 “These statistics are further evidence that our strategy has been the right one, and moving forward we’ll continue to invest in our people and in new technologies to make it easier for our customers to get the support they need

Ofcom measures complaints per 100,000 customers, allowing comparisons between providers with different subscriber bases. The figures cover complaints received by the regulator rather than all complaints made directly to operators.

The differences between some providers were small. Ofcom treats results separated by fewer than one complaint per 100,000 customers as comparable. O2 and Sky Mobile fell within that threshold, while O2 was also comparable with Three, iD Mobile and the industry average.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/o2-and-sky-mobile-generate-most-complaints-in-latest-ofcom-figures/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/envirofone-takes-phone-trade-ins-into-richer-sounds-stores/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/envirofone-takes-phone-trade-ins-into-richer-sounds-stores/#respond Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:21:05 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180952 Envirofone has partnered with Richer Sounds to let shoppers trade in unwanted phones and tablets for an immediate discount on TVs and audio equipment at the specialist audio-visual retailer.

The service has launched in six stores, with a nationwide rollout across 50 stores planned. A date for the wider launch has yet to be announced

]Customers can bring their devices into a participating store, where they are tested and valued. The agreed value is then applied immediately as a discount against their purchase, allowing shoppers to put an old iPhone towards a new television or audio system.

Broken phones and tablets are also accepted. Trade-in valuations match those available directly through Envirofone’s website, with the valuation confirmed in store.

The partnership gives Envirofone another route to source used devices while offering Richer Sounds customers a way to reduce the cost of purchases without selling their technology privately.

Suitable devices collected through the scheme will be refurbished and returned to circulation, according to the companies.

Envirofone director Sam Hargreaves said: “Partnering with Richer Sounds is an exciting opportunity to bring the benefits of technology trade-in directly to the high street.”

Richer Sounds deputy operations director Phil Marrow said: “Working with Envirofone means we can offer customers a convenient way to trade in unwanted technology and put that value towards something they’ll really enjoy.”

Hargreaves also indicated that further retail partnerships are in the pipeline, although details have yet to be disclosed.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/envirofone-takes-phone-trade-ins-into-richer-sounds-stores/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/floating-iphones-and-ai-fakery-the-extraordinary-strait-of-hormuz-smartphone-story/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/floating-iphones-and-ai-fakery-the-extraordinary-strait-of-hormuz-smartphone-story/#respond Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:12:39 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180948 Viral footage of fishermen recovering hundreds of boxed iPhones from the sea has turned an actual maritime disaster into a global social media sensation. 

A container ship sinking in the Strait of Hormuz has sparked a wave of viral videos apparently showing fishermen hauling hundreds of brand-new Apple iPhones from the water.

The footage shows small fishing boats piled high with pristine iPhone retail boxes, supposedly recovered after a container vessel was struck in the strategically important shipping route between Iran and Oman.

Some social media accounts claim the cargo included Apple’s latest iPhone 18 models, with reports suggesting salvaged handsets were subsequently being offered for sale in Iran.

But while the incident s genuine, there is no evidence that the ship was carrying thousands of iPhones. Some of the salvage footage has been identified as AI-generated.

Ddisaster

The incident involved the Singapore-flagged container vessel GFS Pride, which reportedly caught fire and sank in the Strait of Hormuz on 14 October after being hit by an unidentified projectile. All 21 crew members were evacuated safely.

Iran claimed the vessel had struck a naval mine while navigating an unauthorised route and the circumstances of the sinking remain disputed.

Images of shipping containers and debris floating in the water provided the backdrop for an  claims about the vessel’s cargo.

Fishing for iPhones

Videos purported to show fishermen retrieving boxes of expensive Apple smartphones from the sea. Boats appear filled with retail-packaged iPhones, with the boxes looking remarkably clean despite supposedly having spent time floating in seawater.

Other reports suggested that recovered phones were being sold cheaply in Iran. The evidence has not kept pace with the claims.

No authenticated cargo manifest has emerged establishing that GFS Pride was transporting the alleged shipment of iPhones.

Fact-checking organisation Lead Stories concluded that it was AI-generated rather than genuine footage of a smartphone salvage operation.

The investigation, published on 20 October, challenged the authenticity of footage showing fishermen apparently recovering boxed iPhones following the maritime incident. But the supposed recovery of thousands of brand-new iPhones remains unsubstantiated.

The story shows how the global fascination with Apple’s products can transform an unverified claim into a viral sensation and is a warning about the difficulty of verifying video evidence in the age of generative AI. And yes, the main illustration to this story is imaginary and was created by AI!

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/floating-iphones-and-ai-fakery-the-extraordinary-strait-of-hormuz-smartphone-story/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/network-rivals-explore-joint-european-satellite-spectrum-bid/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/network-rivals-explore-joint-european-satellite-spectrum-bid/#respond Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:28:25 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180945 Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Telefónica are exploring a joint bid for European satellite spectrum to bring direct-to-device connectivity to mobile customers beyond terrestrial coverage. 

The four operators have signed a letter of intent covering a potential bid for the future allocation of Mobile Satellite Services spectrum in Europe.

Their proposed model would give all mobile network operators open, non-discriminatory access to offer direct-to-device services to customers.

The ambition is to fill coverage gaps, strengthen network resilience and protect critical communications, while supporting the development of a European satellite constellation.

However, the operators do not plan to invest directly in a constellation. A satellite partner, yet to be selected, would provide that infrastructure.

The operators instead plan to establish key ground network infrastructure, alongside critical coordination and monitoring functions, in Europe.

They say combining their customer reach, network capabilities and operational expertise could accelerate deployment and make it easier to integrate satellite connectivity into existing mobile networks.

The initiative also backs the European Commission’s push for greater European sovereignty, security and resilience in critical connectivity infrastructure. The proposed partnership would combine European governance and market access with a satellite operator’s technology and deployment expertise.

The companies say the open-access approach is intended to encourage competition, reduce market fragmentation and widen consumer choice.

For now, the agreement is exploratory: no joint spectrum bid has been confirmed and no satellite partner has been named.

The operators said the initiative does not replace their existing satellite partnerships.

Customers choosing an Unlimited SuperMobile premium 5G+ connectivity plan will pay from £50.46 a month, also with £100 upfront. Vodafone says SuperMobile costs £3 a month more than its equivalent full-speed Xtra plans.

The operator says a trade-in of up to £855 could be offered depending on phone. Its Trade-in Guarantee provides a valuation upfront, with the saving applied towards monthly payments or settling an existing Phone Plan.

The iPhone Duo is available with interest-free device finance over terms of up to 48 months and a choice of upfront payments. Vodafone’s Lifetime Service Promise includes battery health checks, battery replacements and a lifetime warranty, subject to eligibility and conditions.

SuperMobile uses Vodafone’s 5G+ FastTrack service, which the operator claims delivers speeds up to four times faster than standard plans in busy areas.

The plans also include a minimum download speed guarantee of 15Mbps within 5G+ coverage. Vodafone says customers can leave without an exit fee if the guarantee is not met, subject to its terms.

Security features include Secure Net Mobile, offering protection against malicious websites and phishing, alongside identity monitoring and AI-powered warnings about suspected scam calls.

SuperMobile Premier customers also receive an inclusive OneNumber connectivity plan for an Apple Watch, normally priced at £7.50 a month.

“The snag for Apple is that many of us have gone off the big phone contract. We keep our phones for longer now, or go SIM only, and plenty of us are perfectly happy with a refurbished device. More people are working out that they can buy a handset outright and pay just £10 a month for minutes, texts and data.

Uswitch mobile expert Ernest Doku commented: The snag for Apple is that many of us have gone off the big phone contract. We keep our phones for longer now, or go SIM only, and plenty of us are perfectly happy with a refurbished device.

“More people are working out that they can buy a handset outright and pay just £10 a month for minutes, texts and data. A starting price of £1,999 is a lot, but the iPhone Duo is a lot of phone – and given the hype surrounding Apple’s first foldable, stock will be in short supply regardless of the asking price.