Press release

Customers of any network can exchange old phones for cash

O2 today announced the launch of O2 Recycle, an online service to make it as easy as possible for people to responsibly recycle old handsets in return for cash. Operated by leading phone recycling specialist Redeem Plc, O2 Recycle is part of O2's commitment to bringing products and services to market which motivate and help customers to be more sustainable.

With an estimated 90m handsets thought to be lying in drawers and cupboards across the UK, O2 Recycle will help to avoid unwanted handsets ending up in landfills by incentivising people to send them back for recycling*. The service can be used by anyone in the UK, regardless of network, and in addition to mobile phones, will also recycle mp3 players, digital cameras, satellite navigation systems and other consumer electronic devices.

O2 Recycle launches today at http://www.o2recycle.co.uk/ and is easy to use. Customers simply visit the site and enter details of their mobile phone or device and receive an estimated value, which is subject to the device working. They then print off a receipt and a pre-paid postage bag is sent to them to put the phone and receipt in and send back. Alternatively, the bags will also be available in all O2 stores. Once the device has been received and is confirmed to be in good working order, the customer receives a text to say that the money will be transferred to their account. For every recycled device O2 will donate £1 to "Its Your Community" which is O2's chosen charity. With "Its Your Community," awards of between £100 and £1000 are available to local groups and individuals for anything that they can show will benefit their community. 

All products received through the service will be collected and handled through Redeem's Falkirk distribution centre before being processed and sold on to global markets. Additionally, all waste residues and non-workable products received will be sent for responsible materials recycling.

O2's Marketing Director Sally Cowdry commented, "We are committed to embedding sustainability at the core of our business and following our launch of Sony Ericsson's more sustainable handset, the Naite, this is yet another example of O2 bringing environmentally friendly products and services to its customers, and making it easier for them to do their bit for the Environment. With O2 Recycle we aim to offer all customers the very best service, experience and most competitive prices when disposing of their electronic devices."

Jamie Rae, Chief Executive of Redeem commented: "This partnership with O2 demonstrates the growth of our business and the recognition that what we can offer to an operator and to a consumer is unmatched in the UK. This represents an excellent step for us as we have achieved a fundamental goal for the future strategy of our business."

O2 is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of mobile phones and, in addition to this phone recycling initiative, pioneered SIM-only tariffs with O2 Simplicity to encourage customers to keep their handsets for longer.

Ends

*Source: Mobile Phones & Safety: http://www.mobilephonesandsafety.co.uk/environmental-impact-mobile-phones.html

O2 contacts

Nick Wilkins
O2
Nick.wilkins@o2.com
m +44 (0)1753 565656 

O2 press office: t +44 (0)1753 565656

All O2 news releases can be accessed at our website: www.o2.co.uk/news

Notes to editors:

Products that are supported on http://www.o2recycle.co.uk/ include:

• Mobile Phones (including accessories)
• MP3 players
• Laptops, (web-books and notebooks)
• Printer cartridges
• Satellite Navigation Systems
• Digital cameras

About O2

• Telefónica O2 UK Limited is a leading communications company for consumers and businesses in the UK, with 20.7 million mobile customers and 457,000 fixed broadband customers as at 30 June 2009.
• Telefónica O2 UK Limited is part of Telefónica Europe plc which is a business division of Telefónica S.A. and which owns O2 in the UK, Ireland, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic, and has 46 million customers.
• In 2006 Telefónica Europe acquired Be*, the UK fixed broadband provider, and in October 2007 O2 launched its broadband service using the Be* network.
• O2 is the naming rights partner of The O2, the world-class entertainment venue.
• O2 was ranked highest in customer satisfaction for both UK mobile and fixed broadband customers according to the J.D. Power and Associates UK Mobile and Fixed Broadband Studies 2009.
• In February 2009 O2 became the first UK mobile operator to be officially certified with the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of O2's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and the 15% reduction in energy consumption achieved over the past three years.
• O2 was launched on 1 May 2002 and now has more customers than any other UK mobile network.
• O2's UK mobile network covers 99% of the UK's population. O2's 3G network covers over 80% of the UK population and is fully HSDPA-enabled, providing speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps for customers with an HSDPA-enabled device.
• Telefónica Europe also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany.
• For further press information about O2 go to www.o2.co.uk/news

About Redeem

• Redeem plc was founded in 1999 and currently employs 75 staff across its six sites in London; Falkirk (Scotland); Rome; Dublin; Istanbul and Hong Kong.
• Their success has been recognised by numerous awards including seven Business in the Community Big Tick Standard of Excellence Awards, Chamber Awards Business Commitment to the Community for Scotland, Business in the Community Small Company of the year 2009, The Quality Scotland Corporate Citizenship Award, Scottish Business in the Community SME of the Year 2005.
• Once Redeem receives used electronics they are graded and sold on for second hand use, very often in developing countries where the mobile phones are in particular demand. Due to landline infrastructure which is poor, they become an essential means of communication for both business and personal use. Used products which are unable to be resold are recycled down to their component parts, which include precious metals such as gold and silver. Printer cartridges are refilled for reuse and returned to the consumer stream as a more environmentally friendly option.

For more information on Redeem, please contact:
Kate Hayward
Weber Shandwick
Tel: +44 7770 886 902
Email: khayward@webershandwick.com

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