As a result, the anonymised data, which will be available on the Integrated Data Service (IDS), will be used to support the UK Government’s work at national and local levels, providing insights that reveal population dynamics, travel patterns, and other movement trends.

Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Magazine

Click here to get the latest marketing news free in your inbox every Thursday

The IDS cloud-based platform provides governmental bodies access to a rich data repository, empowering users with valuable information for them to make “data-driven policy decisions” on things such as public health, regional growth, climate change, jobs and skills.

Currently operating in public beta, the IDS platform and data releases will scale at pace over the coming months with a planned pipeline of additional and transformational capability, data, projects and users onboarded, the telecoms giant revealed.

VMO2 Business, Head of AI and Data Insights, Geoff Wappett, said: “We are proud to extend our partnership with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and to integrate our aggregated and anonymised O2 Motion data into their Integrated Data Service (IDS).

“Generated from billions of daily network events, our mobile data will provide governmental organisations and officials with reliable information to inform their work addressing major societal challenges at pace. Beyond numbers, the IDS platform and our wider work with ONS will ensure quality insights are easily accessible to support data-driven decision making.”

The post VMO2 partners with ONS to support the UK Government with mobility insights appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

In a bid to bridge the digital divide by helping people in need get online across the UK, the TLC aims to tackle digital exclusion and electronic waste, preventing items such as computers, tablets and smartphones to not ending up on the landfill.

Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Magazine

Click here to get the latest marketing news free in your inbox every Thursday

As a result, the telecoms giant revealed it donated over 500 tablets and smartphones, which will be powered by free O2 mobile data from the National Databank, are being donated to homelessness charities, Centrepoint and Thames Reach.

It is also continuing its efforts to fund and support Refuge, a charity which supports women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, the company stated.

The initiative forms part of Virgin Media O2’s sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, which includes the goal of connecting one million digitally excluded people through free and affordable connectivity and services by the end of 2025.

VMO2 Chief Sustainability Officer, Dana Haidan, said: “We know that having data and devices can be a lifeline for people in need, enabling them to access essential websites, from applying for jobs, to accessing medical appointments, and to stay in touch with loved ones.

“That’s why initiatives like The Tech Lending Community scheme and National Databank are vital in addressing digital exclusion and data poverty, and help to transform people’s lives in communities across the UK.”

Hubbub CEO, Alex Robinson added: “The Tech Lending Community (TLC), in partnership with Virgin Media O2, has shown us the tangible impact a second-hand device coupled with free connectivity can have on someone’s life. Beneficiaries of the project have been able to access job support and stay in touch with friends, things that those of us who own smart devices can take for granted.

“Hubbub is thrilled to be launching a second phase of TLC, working alongside homelessness charities Thames Reach and Centrepoint, and Refuge, a charity supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence, to provide an additional 520 tablets and smartphones for them to lend to their service users. We are proud to continue doing work to bridge the digital divide in the UK, whilst keeping tech in circulation for longer.”

The post VMO2 and Hubbub boost £400,000 tech lending scheme with further product donation appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

In addition to popular gaming systems from PlayStation, Xbox, Oculus and Nintendo, the telecoms giant is now accepting MacBooks, alongside smartphones, tablets, wearables and earbuds to promote the circular economy where devices can be used again.

Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Magazine

Click here to get the latest marketing news free in your inbox every Thursday

Customers can send their unwanted tech to O2 Recycle for free where the device will be repaired, refurbished and resold, or recycled – with zero parts going to landfill.

The news comes as research by the telecoms giant revealed 58% of gamers were unaware that consoles could be recycled.

Some 83% admitted they’re holding onto old consoles, despite not planning to use them, and more than four in ten revealed they don’t use their old gaming device because it’s broken or missing a part.

VMO2 Chief Sustainability Officer, Dana Haidan, said: “We’ve powered up O2 Recycle to cover consoles and MacBooks, making it even easier for people to trade in their unwanted tech for cash and to protect the planet by saving their device from landfill.

“With almost four million devices recycled and £340 million paid out, O2 Recycle is leading the UK’s circular economy and giving tech a second life so it can be used again and again.”

The scheme forms part of Virgin Media O2’s sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan which encourages consumers to carry out 10 million ‘circular actions’ by the end of 2025.

The post VMO2 offers gamers cash to trade unused consoles appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

As a result, the creative agency has launched The Bubl Generator, which creates imagery of O2’s brand character based on client prompts.

Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Magazine

Click here to get the latest marketing news free in your inbox every Thursday

For example, if a marketer from the telecoms giant needed a brand image of Bubl with a rugby ball, the model is able to generate one on request – allowing for quick, reactive work across channels including social, web, apps and internal communications.

Meanwhile, the second GenAI tool, The Copy Checker, focuses on the tonal consistency of the brand’s written marketing communications, the telecoms giant revealed.

As a result, The Copy Checker allows O2’s copywriters to simply paste in text to get detailed feedback and suggestions.

Virgin Media O2, Marketing Director Simon Valcarcel said: “The Bubl Generator and The Copy Checker are tangible results of our Gen-AI explorations with faith and how we might deploy the technology in our marketing.

“The models we’ve developed together create consistent, high-quality distinctive brand assets and copy at speed – allowing us to work in ways which would not previously have been possible. It’s exciting to keep learning by doing, as the GenAI space continues to evolve.”

Faith Creative Directors, Morten Legarth & Ben Hopkins, added: “Gen-AI tools often lack the creative control and brand identity needed for production assets.

“This limits the practical usage of AI to concepting or simple background tasks – we wanted AI to do more of the heavy lifting and prove its worth in creative applications, this is what this work represents.”

The post O2 upgrades brand mascot by tapping AI appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

As a result, the partnership will offer Skyrise clients more effective media campaigns and strategic decisions based on reliable data.

Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Magazine

Click here to get the latest marketing news free in your inbox every Thursday

According to the audience design and data technology company, the insights will be a crucial tool for marketers as it analyses hundreds of thousands of scenarios for campaigns, including where and when adverts will be seen.

The partnership will also Skyrise to expand its exclusive audience design technology to include data from O2 Motion.

VMO2 Head of AI and Data, Geoff Wappett, said: “In an increasingly data-driven world, it’s crucial to have access to reliable information for informed decision making. We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Skyrise, helping their clients to benefit from fully anonymised data on movement trends across the UK.

‘This information comes from Virgin Media O2 Business’ O2 Motion service, using anonymised and aggregated data from the mobile network to paint a picture of how people move around the country. In addition to these insights, Skyrise will have access to exclusive support to generate bespoke audiences to further help their clients to make data-driven decisions.”

Skyrise Co-Founder, Ian Vint, added: “Our partnership with Virgin Media O2 Business solves this by giving brands access to the best data on which to make investment decisions.

“It represents a huge improvement in how brands and agencies can plan and buy media. Using the power of anonymised and aggregated O2 Motion data through Skyrise brands can see their audiences like never before, and make better media investment.”

The post VMO2 launches 5 year partnership with Skyrise appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has partnered with voice security leader, Hiya to roll out AI-powered spam-fighting and branded calling services.

The new partnership will provide the mobile service provider’s customers additional protection from spam and fraudsters, existing alongside its firewall technology which has prevented more than 89 million spam texts from reaching customers in 2023.

Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Magazine

Click here to get the latest marketing news free in your inbox every Thursday

According to Hiya, phone spam and fraud “are persistent challenges for telco carriers worldwide”, reporting, in the UK alone, 28% of unknown calls were spam, with nearly 10% of those being fraud calls.

As a result, Hiya’s advanced caller identification service, Hiya Connect, will allow companies to add identity information to their calls with their company name, logo, call purpose and location, so recipients immediately know who is calling and why.

VMO2 Director of Fraud, Murray Mackenzie, said: “In the fight against fraud, we’re committed to rolling out the latest technology to help keep our customers safe.

“From AI tools to help us block fraudulent calls, to services that help identify callers before a customer has even picked up the phone, our extensive partnership with Hiya will see us continue to improve on our existing measures and give customers additional protection from spam and fraudsters.”

Hiya President, Kush Parikh added: “Carriers around the world are wrestling with how to prevent phone spam and scams and protect the reputation of business customers. Hiya is doing its part to restore confidence in voice calling by aligning with leaders like Virgin Media O2.”

The post VMO2 rolls out AI tools to combat spam calls appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

Virgin Media O2 and Tesco Mobile have signed a 10-year renewal of their 50/50 joint venture.

According to the company, the renewal of the venture reconfirms Virgin Media O2’s position as the network of choice among the larger mobile providers.

Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Magazine

Click here to get the latest marketing news free in your inbox every Thursday

The move comes 20 years after Tesco Mobile was launched and has since grown to be the UK’s largest mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), with more than 5.5 million customers.

Virgin Media O2 CEO, Lutz Schüler said: “We have enjoyed great success with Tesco Mobile over the past 20 years, as a partner and a network provider, and I have no doubt that will continue over the next decade.

“With demand for mobile data greater than ever, we’re continuing to invest heavily in our network to give our customers, and those of other providers who use our connectivity, an even better experience with the fast and reliable mobile services they expect and rely on.”

Tesco Mobile CEO, Jonathan Taylor continued: “With the combined power of Virgin Media O2 and Tesco we’re an MVNO which packs an almighty punch. We’re incredibly proud of the success we’ve achieved over the last 20 years, we’ve gone from strength to strength and now serve over 5.5 million customers across the UK.

“We’re looking forward to unlocking further opportunities with our partners to drive future growth and continue to offer our customers the best value, helpful propositions and award-winning service.”

According to Jason Tarry, Tesco UK CEO, this renewal will ensure its customers can “continue to benefit from excellent connectivity across the UK, while enjoying all the benefits of supermarket mobile, including exclusive deals with Clubcard Prices.”

The news comes as Tesco Mobile recently appointed ex-Boyzone singer, Ronan Keating, as its first-ever Roaming Ambassador.

As part of the campaign, the singer, who has been renamed as ‘Roaming Keating’ on social media, will ‘roam’ around stores across the country this week with surprise performances and holiday gift cards.

The post VMO2 and Tesco Mobile extends joint venture for 10 years appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.