Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile now available at The Source
With 750 locations, The Source is Canada's largest retailer of wireless products MONTRÉAL and BARRIE, ON, Jan. 4 2010 -- The Source and Bell today announced that The Source has begun rolling out Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile wireless products to its retail locations across Canada. With new wireless experts on staff, bold new in-store fixtures and access to the world's best mobile smartphones and network services, The Source is ready to assist Canadians in making the right choice in wireless. "The Source is excited to move forward as Canada's largest wireless retailer, providing our customers from coast to coast with access to the latest mobile products and services from Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile and the knowledgeable sales support and dedication of The Source team," said Ron Cuthbertson, President and CEO of The Source. The Source began offering Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile products at selected stores this past weekend, and most locations will be fully equipped by the end of this month. To help ensure consumers have the best wireless buying experience, The Source has expanded its wireless service force, training and support programs, and put in place exclusive new store display fixtures offering hands-on access to the newest smartphones and virtual product tours on interactive flat-screen displays. "Delivering state-of-the-art wireless products and network services to even more Canadians is a core part of Bell's strategy to accelerate wireless," said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility and Chief Brand Officer for Bell. "Wireless clients at The Source locations across Canada will now have direct access to both the world's hottest smartphones and the country's fastest, largest and most powerful wireless network." Launched by Bell in November, the new network is the largest wireless network in Canada and the largest privately funded wireless network in the world, offering high-speed mobile access to 93% of the Canadian population and global roaming to more than 200 countries. "The Source's knowledgeable team, high-traffic locations in malls and on main streets and popularity with young shoppers makes the national chain a perfect distribution partner for Virgin Mobile," said Robert Blumenthal, President of Virgin Mobile Canada. The Source was acquired by Bell in 2009, preserving its more than 3,000 Canadian jobs and retail locations across the country following the bankruptcy of the retailer's U.S. parent Circuit City Stores, Inc. Now operating independently as The Source and as La Source in Québec, the Barrie, ON-based retailer also offers Bell TV, Canada's High Definition television leader, and high-speed Bell Internet services. About The Source The Source is a leading Canadian consumer electronics retailer with more than 750 stores across the country, all of them offering a wide range of brand name communications, computing, television and audio products. More than 70% of Canadians live within five kilometres of stores operated or licensed by The Source, and more than 80 million technology-savvy consumers shop at The Source each year. Please visit www.thesource.ca for more. About Bell Headquartered in Montréal, Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs, including Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite television, Bell Home phone local and long distance, and IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell is proud to be a Premier National Partner and the Exclusive Telecommunications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For information on Bell's products and services, please visit www.bell.ca. For corporate information on BCE, please visit www.bce.ca. About Virgin Mobile The Virgin Mobile group of companies has attracted more than 12 million customers worldwide. As the No.1 mobile youth network, Virgin Mobile Canada's mission is to be Canada's most loved mobile company. Its simpler, better deals offer customers control, flexibility and choice to design mobile packages that truly works for them. J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Canadian Wireless Customer Satisfaction Study has awarded Virgin Mobile "Highest in Customer Satisfaction With Prepaid Wireless Service, Five Years in a Row" and it has ranked Virgin Mobile "Highest in Customer Satisfaction With Postpaid Wireless Service" . 91% of customers would also recommend Virgin Mobile to a friend. Virgin Mobile phones are available at more than 4,000 locations with top-up cards available at more than 10,000 locations nationally. Virgin Mobile products can also be purchased online at www.virginmobile.ca or by calling 1-888-999-2321. Get personal with Virgin Mobile Canada on Facebook at facebook.com/virginmobilecan and Twitter at twitter.com/virginmobilecan. For further information: For media inquiries: Julie Smithers, Bell Media Relations, (416) 528-9409, julie.smithers@bell.ca; For investor inquiries: Thane Fotopoulos, BCE Investor Relations, (514) 870-4619, thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca
SOURCE Mobility / Wireless