Ikea to launch cheap Irish mobile service
FLAT-PACK mobile phones are set for Irish shores -- the Scandinavian discount furniture giant, IKEA, will launch a mobile phone operation once its Dublin store opens early next year.
The phone will be offered to customers who sign up to a loyalty card scheme, and will be pay-as-you-go. Ikea is planning to offer family-friendly packages.
"Parents will have a master account for their mobile phone and they'll be able to create sub accounts for their children," said Teddy Pedersen, managing director of Mobile Partners UK, which is planning the Irish launch of the IKEA phone.
"They will be able to transfer money from the master account into the children's sub accounts. They will have total cost control over their kids' mobile phone use."
Earlier this month, IKEA launched a British mobile phone after striking a deal with T-Mobile to piggy back on its network.
IKEA is in discussions with Irish operators to try strike a similar deal here. "Prices for calls and texts will be cheaper than what's available from other Irish operators," said Pedersen. "It will cost the same to call or text any mobile."
- Louise McBride
