PRESS RELEASE
- O2 becomes the first major UK mobile network operator* to allow users to adjust their data plan every month, putting customers in the driving seat and catering for ‘Generation Flex’
- 64% of contract customers reveal that they are not managing their data well, often exceeding their data usage or having spare data at the end of each month.
Thursday 26th October: O2 is launching its revolutionary flexible tariffs which will offer customers more flexibility and control over the amount of data they pay for.
Launching tomorrow (27th October), O2’s flexible tariffs will make O2 the first UK mobile network operator to allow users to increase or decrease the cost of their plan every billing month, depending on how much data they anticipate using.
Research by O2 reveals there is a strong desire for a more flexible approach to mobile contracts that gives users the freedom to change their tariffs on a monthly basis. O2 research found that two thirds (64%) of contract customers don’t manage their data well, either exceeding their data usage or having spare data at the end of each month. Furthermore more than a third of those on contracts said they would like to gain more control by being able to alter their tariffs.
Today’s consumers, ‘Generation Flex’, want greater flexibility and control while expecting more from their services and O2 believes that mobile contracts should be no exception. O2’s ambition is to lead the industry in responding to the needs of ‘Generation Flex’, by giving control back to the customer.
Now, customers on O2’s flexible tariffs have the opportunity to increase or decrease their data allowance to make sure they get the most out of life’s special occasions. Whether it be increasing your data tariff ahead of Christmas or a family wedding to help you share those FOMO moments with your friends and family or reducing it ahead of a quiet month.
O2 CMO, Nina Bibby, said, “Mobile plays an intrinsic role in our everyday lives which is why it’s vital that it continues to adapt to meet customers’ changing needs. In 2013, O2 transformed the market with the launch of O2 Refresh, changing the way consumers could purchase the latest phones. We know today’s customers want even greater flexibility and control to manage their budgets so we’re now going even further with the launch of O2’s flexible tariffs. Now customers can have complete flexibility with the ability to change their data plan each month in order to suit their individual needs.”
O2 Refresh customers don’t pay for a phone they already own. Originally launched in April 2013, the pioneering tariff changed the way people buy mobile phones by separating the cost of their phone from the cost of their minutes, texts and data. As well as giving customers greater transparency over what they are charged, O2 Refresh also allows customers to change devices whenever they want and automatically lowers their bills once they’ve paid for their phone.
O2’s new flexible tariffs are available to anyone choosing selected handsets directly from O2 from 27th October 2017. All the benefits of O2 Refresh remain, allowing customers to change their handsets before their contract ends provided they have paid off their device plan. Free screen replacement cover will also be available for the latest handsets at selected tariff prices within the plan.
The detail:
Customers on Flexible Tariffs who want 50GB of data one month can do so on a £41 tariff, then switch to pay only £19 a month if they want to decrease their data allowance. Customers can change their tariff every 30 days via the MyO2 app, in store or over the phone.
A supporting advertising campaign for the new tariff will go live on Monday 6th November.
*Three, EE, Vodafone and O2 are the major UK mobile network operators.
A representative sample of 2000 UK adults were surveyed between 20th October – 23rd October 2017 by OnePoll.
About O2
O2 is the commercial brand of Telefónica UK Limited and is a leading digital communications company and is the mobile network operator with the highest customer satisfaction in the UK according to Ofcom. With over 25 million customers, O2 runs 2G, 3G and 4G networks across the UK, as well as operating O2 Wifi and owning half of Tesco Mobile. O2 has over 450 retail stores and sponsors The O2, O2 Academy venues and the England rugby team. Read more about O2 at www.o2.co.uk/news.
