Latest news with #Vodafone


Stuff.tv
9 hours ago
- Business
- Stuff.tv
Here's how you can save over £1000 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7
Been eyeing the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Flip 7 and wincing at the price tag? I know, me too. The new flagship folding phones offer some big upgrades over the previous generation, but they don't come cheap. Fortunately, Vodafone is offering a rather tempting deal: trade in your current phone and you could save over £1000 on Samsung's new foldables. Read more: A week with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 convinced me this is the new foldable to beat You can save up to £1032 on the Fold 7 – made up of £504 off the device and airtime plus up to £528 for your trade-in. For the Flip 7 and the more affordable Flip 7 FE, the total trade-in saving caps at £528 – still not bad considering they already start at relatively low prices for flagship foldables. When you trade your old device in, you get a guaranteed value straight away. You can apply it as a monthly discount or use it to pay off your current phone plan. Vodafone also throws in its Lifetime Service Promise where you can get repairs and services done for free. You can spread contract payments over 36 months at 0% APR with flexible upfront costs and even upgrade from just three months in. Plus, you can sign up to Vodafone's rewards and gadget insurance that uses approved parts. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is available from £54 a month (plus a £50 upfront cost), based on a 36-month Phone Plan and 24-month Unlimited Max Airtime Plan – with a £22 monthly saving from trade-in applied for two years. The Z Flip 7 comes in at £27 a month (also £50 upfront), while the Flip 7 FE goes even lower at £21.50 a month (£40 upfront). Each of these prices also includes a £22 trade-in saving per month for 24 months.


The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Vodafone CEO asked how she sleeps at night by ex-franchisee amid £120m legal action
The Vodafone chief executive has been asked how she sleeps at night by one of the 62 former store owners involved in a £120m legal action that claims the mobile operator 'unjustly enriched' itself at their expense. Donna Watton, one of the group of 62 franchisees that have taken their claim to the high court, challenged Margherita Della Valle at Vodafone's annual general meeting on Tuesday. 'I have a question for the chief executive,' said Watton, speaking at the sparsely attended meeting at Vodafone's headquarters in Newbury. 'I am a Vodafone ex-franchisee, and I am one of the group of 62 suing this company for £120m for what it did to us, and I want to know: Margherita, how do you sleep at night knowing Vodafone's actions left people suicidal, cost them their homes, and left them drowning in debt?' The legal case was launched in December, claiming Vodafone slashed commissions paid to franchisees operating the mobile phone company's retail outlets. Many have claimed the company's actions made them fear they would lose their livelihoods, homes or life savings after running up personal debts of more than £100,000. Jean-François van Boxmeer, the chair of Vodafone leading the meeting proceedings, stepped in to field the question on behalf of Della Valle. He said that it was right he field the question as 'the master of ceremonies here and also protecting the sleep of Margherita'. 'I understand your question and I am not saying I do not feel the pain that you might [be going] through,' he said. 'You are referring to a case which is a commercial case between Vodafone UK and a group of franchisees in the UK. That case has been through a mediation that has been unfortunately unsuccessful. It is now a matter in the hands of court. You will allow us not to comment on procedures that are in court. I will not in this general assembly make further comments on what is now in the hands of courts.' He said that Vodafone remains open to further mediation, a process that ended without resolution in May. Vodafone, which says the legal claim is worth £85.5m, has consistently said that it refutes the claims made by the franchisees in their legal action. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion One shareholder, who said they had travelled a great distance to attend the Newbury meeting, challenged why Della Valle was too 'shy' to address attendees. 'I don't come for the sandwiches, I come to engage with the board and management,' he said. 'I've gone to a lot of AGMs this year. [At] the other AGMs the chief executives were not so shy that we weren't addressed. I've come a long way, I've probably used a lot of petrol to come here. Surely as one of the seven shareholders that have turned out I deserve some sort of address from the chief executive. Is there nothing good to report, is there nothing bad to report?' Van Boxmeer responded that Della Valle would only offer replies to 'very concrete questions relating to how the business is going'.


The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
O2 and Vodafone mobile customers warned of network problems TODAY due to ‘essential works'
O2 and Vodafone mobile customers have been warned of network issues today. The tech giants will be carrying out essential maintenance work, which may affect services until 8 pm this evening. 1 Customers had hoped the work was about 5G upgrade Credit: Getty The work is being carried out in The news is expected to leave a sour taste in the mouths of O2 customers in Devon's capital city after recent complaints over the network in the area. The telecoms company, owned by Virgin Media O2, has previously responded to problems in the St Thomas area. A message was sent to customers, which read: "To make our network more reliable, we'll be starting essential works in the area. read more on O2 "This may affect your services for a while. We know this isn't ideal, but we aim to have you back online by 8pm on July 29." The message also included a link for users to track the progress of the work being carried out. And hopes that the latest maintenance work would bring improved 5G to the area have been squashed. Most read in Tech reveals that Vodafone and O2 do not currently provide 5G mobile in the area. Vodafone confirmed the work is not related to increasing 5G coverage. A spokesperson for the company said: "Our team is undertaking essential site maintenance in this area. "We encourage customers to sign up to Network Checker to receive status updates regarding network issues and planned work.' 5G is the fifth generation in mobile network technology and was launched across the UK in 2019 and 2020. EE was the first company to launch commercial 5G and Vodafone followed shortly after, treating customers to the service in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London. O2 rolled out its 5G service in October 2019 and covered Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough and Leeds. Giffgaff, which uses O2's infrastructure, only started offering 5G in January 2021. How to tackle phone addiction Mobile phone addiction is becoming a growing concern, with many people spending an excessive amount of time glued to their screens. This constant engagement with our devices is not just a harmless habit; it can lead to a range of health issues. Experts have warned that the overuse of smartphones can contribute to problems such as eye strain, poor posture, and disrupted sleep patterns. The blue light emitted by phone screens can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, making it harder for individuals to fall asleep and stay asleep. Moreover, the addiction to phones can have psychological effects. The pressure to stay constantly connected and the barrage of notifications can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Social media, in particular, can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, as people often compare their lives to the seemingly perfect lives portrayed online. This can lead to a vicious cycle where individuals seek validation through their phones, further entrenching their addiction. To mitigate these effects, it is important to establish healthier phone usage habits. Setting boundaries, such as designated phone-free times or areas, can help reduce screen time. Engaging in activities that do not involve screens, such as reading a book or going for a walk, can also be beneficial. By taking proactive steps to limit phone use, individuals can improve both their physical and mental well-being.


Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
O2 and Vodafone mobile customers warned of network problems TODAY due to ‘essential works'
The mobile moguls confirmed they were not bringing 5G to the area Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) O2 and Vodafone mobile customers have been warned of network issues today. The tech giants will be carrying out essential maintenance work, which may affect services until 8 pm this evening. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Customers had hoped the work was about 5G upgrade Credit: Getty The work is being carried out in Exeter in the EX4 neighborhood, which stretches across St Thomas, Redhills and Pennsylvania. The news is expected to leave a sour taste in the mouths of O2 customers in Devon's capital city after recent complaints over the network in the area. The telecoms company, owned by Virgin Media O2, has previously responded to problems in the St Thomas area. A message was sent to customers, which read: "To make our network more reliable, we'll be starting essential works in the area. "This may affect your services for a while. We know this isn't ideal, but we aim to have you back online by 8pm on July 29." The message also included a link for users to track the progress of the work being carried out. O2 blamed the 'congestion' in the region and has promised customers to improve its service. And hopes that the latest maintenance work would bring improved 5G to the area have been squashed. reveals that Vodafone and O2 do not currently provide 5G mobile in the area. Vodafone confirmed the work is not related to increasing 5G coverage. A spokesperson for the company said: "Our team is undertaking essential site maintenance in this area. "We encourage customers to sign up to Network Checker to receive status updates regarding network issues and planned work.' 5G is the fifth generation in mobile network technology and was launched across the UK in 2019 and 2020. EE was the first company to launch commercial 5G and Vodafone followed shortly after, treating customers to the service in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London. O2 rolled out its 5G service in October 2019 and covered Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough and Leeds. Giffgaff, which uses O2's infrastructure, only started offering 5G in January 2021.


The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
O2 and Vodafone mobile customers warned of network problems TODAY due to ‘essential works'
O2 and Vodafone mobile customers have been warned of network issues today. The tech giants will be carrying out essential maintenance work, which may affect services until 8 pm this evening. 1 The work is being carried out in Exeter in the EX4 neighborhood, which stretches across St Thomas, Redhills and Pennsylvania. The news is expected to leave a sour taste in the mouths of O2 customers in Devon's capital city after recent complaints over the network in the area. The telecoms company, owned by Virgin Media O2, has previously responded to problems in the St Thomas area. A message was sent to customers, which read: "To make our network more reliable, we'll be starting essential works in the area. "This may affect your services for a while. We know this isn't ideal, but we aim to have you back online by 8pm on July 29." The message also included a link for users to track the progress of the work being carried out. O2 blamed the 'congestion' in the region and has promised customers to improve its service. And hopes that the latest maintenance work would bring improved 5G to the area have been squashed. reveals that Vodafone and O2 do not currently provide 5G mobile in the area. Vodafone confirmed the work is not related to increasing 5G coverage. A spokesperson for the company said: "Our team is undertaking essential site maintenance in this area. "We encourage customers to sign up to Network Checker to receive status updates regarding network issues and planned work.' 5G is the fifth generation in mobile network technology and was launched across the UK in 2019 and 2020. EE was the first company to launch commercial 5G and Vodafone followed shortly after, treating customers to the service in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London. O2 rolled out its 5G service in October 2019 and covered Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough and Leeds. Giffgaff, which uses O2's infrastructure, only started offering 5G in January 2021. How to tackle phone addiction Mobile phone addiction is becoming a growing concern, with many people spending an excessive amount of time glued to their screens. This constant engagement with our devices is not just a harmless habit; it can lead to a range of health issues. Experts have warned that the overuse of smartphones can contribute to problems such as eye strain, poor posture, and disrupted sleep patterns. The blue light emitted by phone screens can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, making it harder for individuals to fall asleep and stay asleep. Moreover, the addiction to phones can have psychological effects. The pressure to stay constantly connected and the barrage of notifications can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Social media, in particular, can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, as people often compare their lives to the seemingly perfect lives portrayed online. This can lead to a vicious cycle where individuals seek validation through their phones, further entrenching their addiction. To mitigate these effects, it is important to establish healthier phone usage habits. Setting boundaries, such as designated phone-free times or areas, can help reduce screen time. Engaging in activities that do not involve screens, such as reading a book or going for a walk, can also be beneficial. By taking proactive steps to limit phone use, individuals can improve both their physical and mental well-being.