Three slashes the cost of entry to the world of smartphones.
Three has made entering the world of smartphones easier and more affordable, announcing five of the UK’s top selling HTC and Samsung models starting from just £15 per month, with no upfront handset cost and a minimum 500MB per month internet allowance.
To help customers looking to try a smartphone or simply switch handset or network, Three has chosen some of the most popular Android devices with all-round great value. The launch comes in light of market data** suggesting that expensive upfront phone costs are a key barrier to those looking to move into the world of smartphones; coupled with the fact that Android offers a number of different handset brands to choose from and a real variety in form and function. Only last week Google reported that it is activating 550,000 Android handsets each day, a 10 per cent increase in just the last three weeks.
Three, which is rated the No. 1 network for smartphones by Yougov***, is the only major operator offering The HTC Desire S with no upfront cost and gives you 100 minutes (any time, any network), 5000 texts and 500MB for only £22 per month. Similarly, no other major operator can beat Three’s bundle of voice, text and data on the Samsung Galaxy Ace, with no upfront cost and 100 minutes (any time, any network), 5,000 texts and 500MB of data on its Text 100 plan for £15 per month****.
William Ripley, director of voice at Three, says: “At Three we always try to help our customers choose the best smartphones and give them the best deals. Our emphasis is not just on voice and text, but also a generous internet allowance, which is ideal for new smartphone users. Smartphone adoption is increasing at a rapid rate and Android is proving popular due to the great value, variety of manufacturers and choice of form and function it offers. As such these excellent new deals aim to cut the cost of entry to the many benefits of mobile internet.”
Full details of Three’s new tariff deals can be found at www.Three.co.uk/Phones/Android.
Network comparison:
| Three | 02 | Vodafone | T Mobile | Orange | |
| Samsung Galaxy Ace | £15100 mins5000 texts500MB | £10.5050 mins250 textsNo data | n/a | £15.32 +£110 100 mins3000 texts500 MB | £15 +£99 100 mins3000 texts250 MB |
| HTC Desire S | £22100 mins5000 texts500MB | £21.50 +£104.99100 mins500 texts500MB | £26100 mins500 texts250MB | £20.42 +£150300 mins3000 texts500MB | £20 +£149.99200 mins3000 texts500MB |
| Samsung Galaxy S | £22100 mins5000 texts500MB | £21.50 +£104.99100 mins500 texts500MB | n/a | £20.42 +£135300 mins3000 texts500MB | n/a |
| HTC Sensation | £30500 mins5000 texts1GB | £32 +99.99 600 minsUltd texts500MB | £34300 minsUltd texts500MB | £30 +£100600 mins3000 textsUltd MB | £30 +£149.99500 mins3000 texts500MB |
| Samsung Galaxy SII | £30500 mins5000 texts1GB | £32 +£99.99600 minsUltd texts500MB | £36 +£99900 minsUltd texts750MB | £30.64 +£75600 mins3000 textsUltd MB | £30 +£99.99500 mins3000 texts500MB |
*GFK Retail & Technology – week 28 (10th – 16th July) Contract Sales Handset Report
** Kantar Worldpanel ComTech
*** All figures are from the independent YouGov Smartphone mobile internet experience report wave 7 (June 11). For more information go to www.three.co.uk/awards
**** Three’s Text 100 tariff includes 5,000 texts, 100 minutes and 500MB of data, while the Text 500 tariff includes 5,000 texts, 500 minutes and 1GB of data. Text 100 and Text 500 are 24 month contracts. All comparisons were correct at the time of writing, 28 July, 2011 and compares operators standard offers available online for new customers, and does not include special promotions. MVNOs or independent retailers have been excluded.
Notes to Editors
Contact information.
| Name | Three Consumer PR Team |
| Phone | 020 7234 9150 |
| three@cowpr.com |
Follow @ThreeUK on Twitter for the latest product announcements.
About Three
Three is a communications company. We are focused on challenging the industry to make mobile better for everyone.
We want to give customers a quality mobile experience and address the industry issues that frustrate them.
We were the first UK network to introduce all-you-can-eat data and offer 4G at no extra cost. We let customers roam abroad with their domestic bundle for no extra charge and do not charge for calling 0800 numbers.
We continue to look at ways of improving the experience we offer our customers.
Three carries over 45% of the UK’s mobile data. Our 3G network covers 98% of the UK population.
We launched 4G in 2014 and plan to have 50 cities and 200 towns covered by 4G by December 2014. By the end of 2015 98% of the population will be able to access 4G through a combination of new sites and deploying new spectrum.
Three is a member of the HWL group of companies, with investments in mobile operations in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Macau, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Vietnam.
Three employs over 4,400 people across its offices in Maidenhead, Glasgow and Reading and its 345 retail stores.
For more information visit www.three.co.uk.
