Fantasy Phonebook Poll Topped by British Alpha Males

Chatting about pleasantries and the weather is a thing of the past, with Brits ready to swap PC chit-chat for a good old-fashioned rant, according to a new survey from Tesco Mobile.

The poll reveals that the five celebrities Brits would most like to call from their mobile phone are strong-headed alpha males, famous for their opinionated views.

Business tycoon Richard Branson tops the chart, with 21.2 per cent of the vote, followed by no-nonsense TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, with 20.8 per cent.

And loud-mouth chef Gordon Ramsay was also in demand for a chat on the mobile, gaining 18 percent of the vote.

The top five fantasy phonebook entries are:

1. Richard Branson (21.2%)
2. Jeremy Clarkson (20.8%)
3. Ant & Dec (19%)
4. Gordon Ramsay (18%)
5. Sean Connery (17%)

But despite male TV presenters topping the poll, the research shows that people actually spend a lot of time on the phone to their mum (11 per cent). Dads meanwhile are the least dialled numbers, with only 1 per cent of the vote.

And despite living under the same roof, the most commonly dialled numbers are to other halves (21 percent).

Tesco Mobile has conducted the research to celebrate the launch of a new tariff, which offers half price calls and texts to customers' five favourite numbers. Research from Tesco Mobile shows that existing customers make 80% of their calls to five numbers. So from now on these will cost just 10p per minute for most of their calls, and 5p for texts.

Noel Burrows, Head of Marketing at Tesco Mobile, comments; "These results highlighting the popularity of male celebrities have really surprised us. Whether that's because they want to hear more from them, or want the chance to challenge them to a debate, remains to be seen!"

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Editor's Notes

The survey was conducted for Tesco Mobile by YouGov, using a representative sample of 2,551 participants.

Further Research Findings:

Overall Favourite Five:

1. Richard Branson (21.2%)
2. Jeremy Clarkson (20.8%)
3. Ant & Dec (19%)
4. Gordon Ramsay (18%)
5. Sean Connery (17%)

Favourite artists:

1. Kylie Minogue (17%)
2. Paul McCartney (12%)
3. Charlotte Church (10%)
4. Cheryl Cole (8%)
5. Madonna (7%)
6. Lily Allen (7%)

Favourite actors / actresses:

1. Sean Connery (17%)
2. George Clooney (16%)
3. Keira Knightley (14%)
4. Helen Mirren (13%)
5. Brad Pitt (12%)
6. Angelina Jolie (12%)

Favourite Royals:

1. Prince William (13%)
2. The Queen (12%)
3. Prince Harry (11%)
4. Prince Charles (7%)

Favourite Politicians:

1. Nelson Mandela (17%)
2. Gordon Brown (9%)
3. David Cameron (8%)
4. Tony Blair (7%)
5. Margaret Thatcher (7%)

Favourite Business people:

1. Richard Branson (21%)
2. Alan Sugar (16%)

Favourite Sports people:

1. David Beckham (13%)
2. Lewis Hamilton (10%)
3. Alex Ferguson (6%)
4. Tiger Woods (5%)
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (4%)

Favourite TV personalities:

1. Jeremy Clarkson (21%)
2. Ant & Dec (19%)
3. Gordon Ramsay (18%)
4. Jonathan Ross (15%)
5. Simon Cowell (13%)
6. Terry Wogan (13%)
7. Davina McCall (13%)

Top 5 numbers people call:

1. Partner or spouse (21%)
2. Best friend or mate (15%)
3. Children (15%)
4. Mother (11%)
5. Work colleagues (11%)
6. Boyfriend or girlfriend (6%)
7. Father (1%)
8. Boss (1%)
9. mistress or male lover (1%)

About Tesco Mobile:

Tesco Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture between Tesco and O2. The company sells exclusively Tesco Mobile branded services in Tesco stores across the UK using O2's technology and network. The service gives Tesco Mobile customers value, simplicity and choice, offering them supermarket style offers and the chance to earn Clubcard points when buying handsets and call time.

For further information please contact:

Hill & Knowlton: Darja Noren - darja.noren@hillandknowlton.com - 020 7413 3238
Tesco Mobile Press Office: 01707 360349 or 07510 534 502

• One easy to understand pay-as-you-go tariff
• Half price calls and texts to five favourite numbers - 10p per minute calls and 5p texts to 5 favourite numbers
• 150 free bonus minutes or 500 free bonus texts when you top up £15 in any month, in addition to top-up

Tesco Mobile today announces the launch of an inflation-busting pay-as-you-go tariff, offering half-price calls and texts to five favourite friends. Existing Tesco Mobile customers make 80% of their calls to five numbers, so this means that they will pay just 10p per minute for most of their calls, and 5p for most of the texts they send. Other calls will cost 20p per minute and texts will be 10p each.

The new tariff replaces the four existing call plans, in a bid to make life simpler for customers. However, existing customers can choose to remain on their current tariff if they wish.

As an additional bonus, customers topping up by £15 or more in any month will receive 150 free minutes or 500 free texts - this is over and above their £15 top-up.

The free texts and call-time can be used to contact any UK mobile or standard fixed landline number, regardless of network or time of day. So users won't face any restrictions on when they use their bonus time or which networks they call or send texts to, as is the case with some other providers.

The new tariff has been designed with help from customers, who told Tesco Mobile that they wanted simple, relevant benefits that represent real value for money. Listening to its customers has earned Tesco Mobile its prized status as No. 1 Pay as you go Mobile Provider for Customer Satisfaction in the UK.*

Customers will also earn 4 Tesco Clubcard points for every £1 they top up. The points can be redeemed in vouchers for anything from discounts on the weekly shop, to days out with the family at theme parks and attractions, or even Airmiles.

David Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer at Tesco Mobile, comments; "Right now, everyone wants to make their money go further, so we've been looking for ways to help our customers save.

"While many of us have a long list of contacts in our phones, the reality is that we only call five of them on a very regular basis. Half-price calls to five favourite contacts will make a big difference to the amount customers spend on their phone calls."

Customers can join Tesco Mobile by visiting their local Tesco store or buying online at www.tescomobile.com. Top-ups can be made at checkouts in Tesco stores, over the phone, online or at over 100,000 further locations in the UK that carry the top-up logo.

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* J.D. Power and Associates 2008 United Kingdom Mobile Telephone Customer Study, based on 3,340 consumer responses, measuring 7 providers about opinions of wireless service subscribers surveyed in February 2008. Your experiences may vary. jdpower.com

About Tesco Mobile:

Tesco Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture between Tesco and O2. The company sells exclusively Tesco Mobile branded services in Tesco stores across the UK using O2's technology and network. The service gives Tesco Mobile customers value, simplicity and choice, offering them supermarket style offers and the chance to earn Clubcard points when buying handsets and call time.

For further information please contact:

Hill & Knowlton: Darja Noren - darja.noren@hillandknowlton.com - 020 7413 3238
Tesco Mobile Press Office: 01707 360349 or 07510 534 502

Tesco Mobile has announced it is reducing charges for customers sending texts or browsing the internet from abroad in time for those taking a summer holiday overseas.

From 7th July, data roaming charges from within the EU will be reduced to £4 per megabyte. Customers outside the EU will pay £8 per megabyte.

On 28th July, the price of sending a text message back to the UK from within the EU will fall to 25p from 40p.

Customers will be advised of the new rates by SMS. However, they will not have to opt-in to receive the price cuts as the new benefits will immediately be made for all.

Noel Burrows, head of marketing for Tesco Mobile, commented: "Last year, Tesco Mobile was the first operator to reduce the price of making mobile calls from abroad. By reducing rates for texting and browsing the internet from abroad before the end of July we're making sure that customers will automatically get the benefit in time for their summer holidays."

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For further information please contact the Tesco Mobile Press Office on 01707 360349 or 07510 534502

Notes to Editors:

About Tesco Mobile:

Tesco Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture between Tesco and O2. The company sells exclusively Tesco Mobile branded services in Tesco stores across the UK using O2's technology and network. The service gives Tesco Mobile customers value, simplicity and choice, offering them supermarket style offers and the chance to earn Clubcard points when buying handsets and call time.

It's official - Tesco Mobile is the number one pre-pay mobile telephone provider for customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 UK Mobile Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study.

Now in its 11th year, the authoritative industry study measures customer satisfaction with pre-pay and contract plans among the leading UK mobile network providers.

Tesco Mobile scored particularly high scores for call quality and coverage, cost, handsets and customer service. The study also found that Tesco performs well in satisfying customers through "green" initiatives, such as efficient handset recycling.

The J.D. Power and Associates study backs up other industry polls that also show Tesco Mobile leading the industry. For example, CFI Group has ranked Tesco Mobile as number one for overall customer satisfaction and telephone customer service for two years running.

A spokesperson for Tesco Mobile commented: "Tesco Mobile is all about great value and exemplary customer service, so it's great news to have such a powerful endorsement to show we're getting it right for customers."

The J.D. Power and Associates 2008 UK Mobile Telephone Customer Satisfaction StudySM is based on responses from 3,340 pre-pay and contract mobile phone customers throughout the UK. The study was fielded in February 2008.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact the Tesco Mobile Press Office on 01707 360349 or 07510 534502.

Notes to Editors:

About Tesco Mobile:

Tesco Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture between Tesco and O2. The company sells exclusively Tesco Mobile branded services in Tesco stores across the UK using O2's technology and network. The service gives Tesco Mobile customers value, simplicity and choice, offering them supermarket style offers and the chance to earn Clubcard points when buying handsets and call time.

About J.D. Power and Associates

The European headquarters of J.D. Power and Associates is located in Guildford, UK. With world headquarters in Westlake Village, California, U.S.A., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion.

Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.