Virgin signals an end to rip-off Britain with a new consumer shopping service

This ground-breaking initiative, 'Virgin Shopper', will be available exclusively to Virgin Mobile and Virgin.com customers. Virgin Shopper, an electronic shop assistant, will search in real-time for best prices, best delivery times, and stock availability from thousands of items that are on sale on the High Street and the web.

Using state-of-the-art online and mobile technologies Virgin Shopper works by accessing a massive database of products and prices to ensure the consumer is fully informed with all the facts before parting with their cash.

After searching and comparing consumers can then buy at the click of a button - either via their WAP mobile phone or PC. This will be the first service of its kind on any mobile network anywhere in the world.

Initially, consumers will be able to search and compare goods across 25 categories including DVDs, Videos, CDs, PDAs, TVs, VCRs, camcorders, DVDs, minidisc players, MP3 players, Walkmans, music systems, household goods such as fridges, freezers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and microwaves, as well as games, consoles and accessories and wines. Virgin Shopper will add further categories such as furniture, cosmetics and houses after launch this autumn.

Virgin Shopper is powered by UK-based technology company digitalRUM.

The new service will mean that, if a customer wants to buy one of the latest digital cameras, for example, and is looking at a particular model in a high street shop, they can tap into the intelligence of the Virgin Shopper service via their mobile phone, right there and then, to compare both price and features against others on the market ensuring they get the best camera at the best price.

Alternatively, shoppers can browse at their leisure on a PC before committing to a purchase.

How it works

• Consumers set up a 'Virgin Shopper' account on the Virgin.com website or on their Virgin Mobile WAP phone by registering their credit or debit card details and a delivery address.


• Whenever a consumer wants to buy anything they simply access Virgin Shopper either by using a WAP phone or their PC at home or work.


• They can then tap in the barcode of the particular item they want or search by the type of product they are looking for. The digitalRUM search engine then trawls online and offline retailers and displays at least three comparisons. Customers can compare prices and product features and check on availability all in real-time. Quoted prices include delivery and VAT.


• Items can be purchased on the spot. The goods get debited directly to the credit or debit card that has been registered with the Shopper account.


• Through a 'My Account' service customers can track their order via PC and WAP phone, and see at a glance the status of previous orders and vendors' contact details.

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Group, said: "King consumer now has his crown with Virgin Shopper. With an ever-increasing range of choices, this service will be the essential weapon in the consumer's armoury. It will help them find what they want, at the price they want, whenever they want. It will completely revolutionise the way we shop. Why bother spending hours comparing prices and products when this service does it all for you?"

Johan van de Steen, co-founder and CEO of digitalRUM, said: "We are very excited about the future of our partnership with Virgin. Our technology is aimed at eliminating one of the key consumer dilemmas when shopping - knowing you have a good deal. It combines the in-store experience that many of us still value with the efficiency and information transparency of shopping online."

For more information:

Steven Day, Virgin Mobile:
020 7484 4322 or 07931 777 777.
Robert Pepper, Virgin.com:
020 7484 4444 or 07973 295250.
Debra Burtt, Consolidated Communications:
020 7208 2714 or 07941 200 300.
Johan Van de Steen, digitalRUM: 020 7691 5528.

Photography and demonstrations are available.

Notes to editors:

Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile was established as the UK's first virtual operator in November 1999 as a 50:50 joint venture between Virgin and Deutsche Telekom's One 2 One. It is the fastest-growing mobile start-up ever seen in the UK, with in excess of 350,000 customers. Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600 on the web at www.virgin.com/mobile and also in over 300 Virgin Megastores and Our Price stores.

Virgin.com
Is Virgin's online portal, through which consumers can access the Virgin world and more? It also manages several of its own dotcom businesses including Virgin Wines, Virgin Cars, Virgin Student and the soon-to-launch Virgin Travel.

digitalRUM
digitalRUM is a UK-based technology company that develops and markets scalable wireless and internet solutions. digitalRUM's commerce platform helps users search, compare and buy products and services, anytime, anywhere. The Wireless Shopping Assistant is an intelligent system capable of searching across online sources to deliver accurate and timely comparative product information to shoppers via their mobile phone or PC. DigitalRUM is a privately-owned company, backed by Atlas Venture and a number of strategic investors, with headquarters in London and offices in Paris and Munich.