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'{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox company | name = The Carphone Warehouse Ltd. | logo = Carphone Warehouse logo.svg | logo_caption = | caption = | type = | traded_as = | industry = | fate = | successor = | foundation = {{Start date and age|1989|df=yes}} | founder = [[Charles Dunstone]] and Julian Brownlie | defunct = | location = [[London]], England, UK | key_people = | products = | revenue = [[Pound sterling|£]]10.7 million (2013)<ref name=AR>[http://www.cpwplc.com/media/pdf/Carphone%20Warehouse%20Group%20Plc%20Annual%20Report%202013.pdf Annual Report 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012010616/http://www.cpwplc.com/media/pdf/Carphone%20Warehouse%20Group%20Plc%20Annual%20Report%202013.pdf |date=12 October 2013 }}</ref> | operating_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]57.1 million (2013)<ref name=AR/> | net_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]4.2 million (2013)<ref name=AR/> | num_employees = over 11,500<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 2014 |url=http://www.cpwplc.com/media/pdf/Carphone%20Warehouse%20plc%20Annual%20Report%202014.pdf |website=Carphone Warehouse Group |access-date=7 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810164300/http://www.cpwplc.com/media/pdf/Carphone%20Warehouse%20plc%20Annual%20Report%202014.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2014 }}</ref> | parent = [[Dixons Carphone]] | subsid = | homepage = {{nowrap|{{Official URL}}}} }} number 24h 07955 012206 '''The Carphone Warehouse Ltd.''' is a mobile phone retailer based in [[London]], United Kingdom. It trades as Carphone Warehouse in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and as '''Phone House''' elsewhere. Since 7 August 2014 the company has been a subsidiary of [[Dixons Carphone]], which was formed by the merger of its former parent Carphone Warehouse Group with [[Dixons Retail]]. Prior to this merger, Carphone Warehouse Group was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]], and was a constituent of the [[FTSE 250 Index]]. ==History== The company was co-founded in 1989 by [[Charles Dunstone|Sir Charles Dunstone]] and Julian Brownlie, who put £6,000 into the company from their savings.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Armitstead|first=Louise|date=9 May 2011|title=Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone becomes UK's first digital billionaire|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/8501233/Carphone-Warehouse-founder-Charles-Dunstone-becomes-UKs-first-digital-billionaire.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=The Telegraph|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Day|first=Peter|date=2014-05-28|title=Carphone Warehouse and the art of innovation|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-27486707|access-date=2020-09-01}}</ref> [[Guy Johnson (businessman)|Guy Johnson]] of [[NEC]] UK became the third partner at the company, later taking up the role of Logistics and Distribution director.<ref name="Indp1">{{cite news|last=Cope|first=Nigel|date=13 July 2001|title=Carphone Warehouse founder quits while he's (£140m) ahead|work=The Independent|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/carphone-warehouse-founder-quits-while-hes-acircpound140m-ahead-677594.html|access-date=14 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wray|first=Richard|date=13 July 2001|title=Founder exits 'back seat' at Carphone Warehouse|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2001/jul/13/citynews.media|access-date=14 December 2008}}</ref> In 1990, Dunstone brought in his school friend [[David Ross (businessman)|David Ross]], a [[chartered accountant]],<ref name=":0" /><ref> {{cite web|date=17 February 2006|title=David Ross appointed to board of the National Portrait Gallery|url=http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/page9080.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006022644/http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/page9080.asp|archive-date=6 October 2007|access-date=2 November 2006|publisher=10 Downing Street}}</ref> who became Chief Operating Officer in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-12-08|title=Carphone Warehouse Co-Founder Resigns|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2008/12/08/carphone-warehouse-cofounder-resigns.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> In January 1999, the company bought [[Tandy Corporation|Tandy]]'s operations in the United Kingdom for £9 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cope|first=Nigel|date=1999-01-26|title=Carphone Warehouse buys Tandy stores|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/carphone-warehouse-buys-tandy-stores-1076408.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Guard1">{{cite news|last=Wray|first=Richard|date=8 December 2008|title=Profile: David Ross|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/dec/09/profile-david-ross|access-date=8 December 2008}}</ref> In July 2000, Carphone Warehouse issued an [[Initial public offering|IPO]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Sabbagh|first=Dan|date=9 December 2008|title=David Ross: glitz and glamour of the upper class 'barrow boy' with all the right connections|language=en|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/david-ross-glitz-and-glamour-of-the-upper-class-barrow-boy-with-all-the-right-connections-5n9xqs385mt|access-date=2020-09-01|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> In July 2001, Johnson sold the majority of his stake and retired.<ref name="Indp1" /> Carphone Warehouse bought [[Opal Telecom]] in November 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/carphones-bt-challenge-with-65m-opal-buy-126642.html|title=Carphone's BT challenge with £65m Opal buy|publisher=The Independent|date=7 November 2002}}</ref> In 2003, Ross started to step down from the COO role.<ref name=":1" /> In July 2005, he became deputy chairman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Amy|date=8 December 2008|title=Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross quits after disclosure failure|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/3681461/Carphone-Warehouse-co-founder-David-Ross-quits-after-disclosure-failure.html|access-date=8 December 2008}}</ref> On 10 October 2006, the Carphone Warehouse announced that it would purchase the Internet access business of [[AOL]] in the United Kingdom for £370m.<ref>{{cite news|date=11 October 2006|title=Carphone Warehouse to acquire Time Warner's AOL Internet access business in the UK for £370 million|work=AOL UK Press Release|url=http://media.aol.co.uk/ukpress_view.cfm?release_num=55254646|access-date=27 October 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=11 October 2006|title=Carphone Warehouse buying AOL UK|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6039740.stm|access-date=11 October 2006}}</ref> Also in that month, it was announced that [[Geek Squad]] would be launching in the United Kingdom, in a 50/50 joint venture between Carphone Warehouse and [[Best Buy]].<ref>Durman, P. "[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9076-2350232,00.html Geek Squad comes to Britain]", ''The Sunday Times''. Retrieved on 4 April 2007.</ref> In May 2008, Best Buy agreed to buy a 50% share in Carphone Warehouse's retail business for £1.1 billion, to launch the [[Best Buy Europe]] joint venture, named CPW Europe.<ref name="carphone">{{cite news|date=8 May 2008|title=Carphone in £1.1bn US partnership|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7389291.stm|access-date=29 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Carphone Warehouse to buy Best Buy's stake in CPW Europe|url=https://moneyweek.com/231533/carphone-warehouse-to-buy-best-buys-stake-in-cpw-europe-130430-1619-98222|access-date=2020-09-01|website=MoneyWeek|language=en}}</ref> Best Buy and Carphone Warehouse also opened joint venture stores in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Fahad|date=2008-04-07|title=UK's Carphone Warehouse to Open 1000 Stores in US with Best Buy|url=https://www.phonenews.com/uks-carphone-warehouse-to-open-1000-stores-in-us-with-best-buy-3163/|access-date=2020-02-13|website=PhoneNews.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Ross, by now a non-executive director, resigned from the board in December 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Boyle|first=Catherine|date=8 December 2008|title=Carphone Warehouse chief resigns over share disclosure|work=The Times|location=London|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article5305879.ece|access-date=9 December 2008}}</ref> === 2010 to present === In 2010, the broadband and home phone business was spun off as [[TalkTalk Group|TalkTalk]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scroxton|first=Alex|date=29 March 2010|title=Carphone Warehouse completes TalkTalk split|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/microscope/news/2240154193/Carphone-Warehouse-completes-TalkTalk-split|access-date=2020-09-01|website=MicroscopeUK|language=en}}</ref> In May 2014, Carphone Warehouse Group and [[Dixons Retail]] announced their merger to create [[Dixons Carphone]]. The merger completed on 7 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web|date=15 May 2014|title=Dixons and Carphone Warehouse shares drop on merger|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27420599|access-date=15 May 2014|work=BBC News}}</ref> The Dixons Group staff moved into 1 Portal Way, the original home of Carphone Warehouse in North London, in May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 May 2014|title=Dixons and Carphone Merge Offices|url=http://www.costar.co.uk/en/assets/news/2015/April/140000-sq-ft-former-Dixons-HQ-sold/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420010719/http://www.costar.co.uk/en/assets/news/2015/April/140000-sq-ft-former-Dixons-HQ-sold/|archive-date=20 April 2018|access-date=5 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In May 2015, Carphone Warehouse launched [[iD Mobile]], a [[mobile virtual network operator]] using [[Hutchison 3G|Three]]'s network.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curtis|first=Sophie|date=11 May 2016|title=Carphone Warehouse reveals pricing plans for iD mobile network|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/11597353/Carphone-Warehouse-reveals-pricing-plans-for-iD-mobile-network.html|access-date=31 May 2016}}</ref> In March 2020, the company announced that they would be closing all 531 stand-alone UK stores the following month, with sales operations continuing within [[Currys PC World]] stores.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2020-03-17|title=Carphone store closures to cost 2,900 jobs|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51923295|access-date=2020-03-17}}</ref> It was said that this measure was a result of the changing mobile market.<ref name=":2" /> In April 2020, products and services from the [[O2 (UK)|O2 network]] ceased to be available from Carphone Warehouse after the companies were unable to reach a contractual agreement.<ref>{{cite web|date=1 April 2020|title=O2 pulls out of Carphone Warehouse stores|url=https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/o2-pulls-out-of-carphone-warehouse-stores|access-date=1 April 2020|publisher=Tech Radar}}</ref>[[File:Carphone Warehouse Group.png|thumb|right|Former Carphone Warehouse Group plc logo in use until merger of 2014 with Dixons Retail plc]] ===Demergers=== On 8 May 2009, Carphone Warehouse agreed to pay £236m in cash for the United Kingdom assets of [[Tiscali]], an Italian telecoms group.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-05-08|title=Tiscali deal puts Carphone Warehouse top of broadband league|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/may/08/carphone-warehouse-buys-tiscali-uk|access-date=2020-09-01|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Tiscali UK later became part of [[TalkTalk Group|TalkTalk]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beavis|first=Gareth|date=8 May 2009|title=TalkTalk buys Tiscali UK for £236m|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/internet/broadband/talktalk-buys-tiscali-uk-for-236m-597337|access-date=2020-09-01|website=TechRadar|language=en}}</ref> In March 2010, TalkTalk and Carphone Warehouse split and [[Dido Harding]] became CEO of TalkTalk, and Roger Taylor CEO of New Carphone Warehouse.<ref name=":3">[http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/carphone-puts-demerger-details-table/2010-02-01 Carphone puts demerger details on the table] Sean Buckley. Fierce Telecom. 1 February 2010</ref> Dunstone remained Chairman of both companies.<ref name=":3" /> On 30 April 2013, Carphone Warehouse agreed to purchase Best Buy's 50% stake in Best Buy Europe for £500 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/april-30-2013-best-buy-sells-its-stake-in-european-joint-venture/205353831/|title=Best Buy sells its stake in European joint venture to Carphone Warehouse|last=Lee|first=Thomas|date=4 December 2014|website=StarTribune}}</ref>[[File:Carphone warehouse main office.jpg|thumb|Carphone Warehouse Support Centre in Acton, London (2006)]] Carphone Warehouse owned 46% of [[Virgin Mobile France]] in a joint venture with [[Virgin Group]]. In June 2014, Carphone and Virgin agreed to sell Virgin Mobile France to [[Numericable]] for €325 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-carphone-warehse-virgin-mobile-idUKKBN0F50J620140630|title=Carphone Warehouse, Virgin agree Virgin Mobile France disposal|date=2014-06-30|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-01-06|language=en}}</ref> French competition regulators, [[Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes|ARCEP]], approved the deal in November 2014.<ref name="VMF">{{cite press release|title=Virgin Mobile France |publisher=Carphone Warehouse Group PLC |date=27 June 2014 |url=http://www.cpwplc.com/about-us/key-investments/virgin-mobile-france/ |access-date=7 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810162837/http://www.cpwplc.com/about-us/key-investments/virgin-mobile-france/ |archive-date=10 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://telecoms.com/307762/altice-completes-sfr-acquisition-gets-thumbs-up-for-virgin-buy/|title=Altice completes SFR acquisition, gets thumbs up for Virgin buy|last=Aittokallio|first=Auri|date=2014-11-28|website=Telecoms.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-06}}</ref> ==Data protection issues== During April 2005, Customers who bought mobile phones from Carphone Warehouse retail outlets alleged that their landline accounts were subsequently switched without their consent.<ref name=slam2>{{cite news | url=http://money.guardian.co.uk/phones/story/0,13283,1466811,00.html| title=When slamming the phone prompts a row|work=The Guardian | date=23 April 2005| access-date=19 March 2007| location=London| first=Miles| last=Brignall}}</ref> On 15 August 2006, the [[Information Commissioner's Office]] issued Preliminary Enforcement Notices for breaches of PECR (The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) against Carphone Warehouse and [[TalkTalk (Telecommunications Company)|TalkTalk]] for making marketing calls to people who are signed up to the [[Telephone Preference Service]] (TPS) or people who have asked that the company make no further calls to them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/privacy_and_electronic/notices/pecr_enforcement_notice.pdf |title=Preliminary Enforcement Notices |publisher=ICO |access-date=13 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112034620/http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/privacy_and_electronic/notices/pecr_enforcement_notice.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032426.htm |title=Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 2426 The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=13 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114055417/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032426.htm |archive-date=14 November 2006 }}</ref> On 28 October 2006, in an interview in ''[[The Times]]'', [[Richard Thomas (lawyer)|Richard Thomas]], Britain's [[Information Commissioner's Office|Information Commissioner]], stated:<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2425085,00.html| title=Full text of the interview with Richard Thomas|work=The Times | date=28 October 2006| access-date=13 November 2006| location=London | first1=Alice| last1=Miles| first2=Helen| last2=Rumbelow}}</ref> <blockquote>We're taking action against some of the telecom companies, Talk Talk and Carphone Warehouse. We're taking action against them because we've had a lot of complaints that they've been telephoning people with marketing calls, people whose name is on the telephone preference service. And then we do these prosecutions, particularly with private detectives. We've got a big case coming up.</blockquote> On 5 August 2015, hackers gained access to customer data for 2.4 million people who had used sites operated by Carphone Warehouse, including OneStopPhoneShop.com, e2save.com, Mobiles.co.uk and TalkTalk Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/cpw/11791988/Carphone-Warehouse-hackers-gain-access-to-bank-details-of-2.4-million-customers.html |title=Carphone Warehouse hackers gain access to millions of customer bank details|publisher=The Telegraph|date=8 August 2015|access-date=12 September 2015}}</ref> In January 2018, the company was fined £400,000 by the ICO for "multiple inadequacies" in Carphone's security processes, including using old software and failing to carry out routine security testing. Intruders were able to access personal information, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, marital status and, in more than 18,000 cases, historical payment card details of customers of the Carphone Warehouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/baa7e2d0-82fb-3363-8d3b-170425b8043a|title=Carphone Warehouse fined £400,000 over 2015 data breach|publisher=Financial Times|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> == Marketing and sponsorship == ===''The X Factor''=== On 19 June 2007, the Carphone Warehouse became the official sponsor of the fourth series of ''[[The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor]]''. The sponsorship deal was to last for three years. The Carphone Warehouse also became the sponsor of its spin off show, ''The Xtra Factor''. After the Carphone Warehouse and TalkTalk split, TalkTalk took over the sole sponsorship of ''The X Factor''.<ref>{{cite news | title =Carphone Warehouse gets the X Factor | publisher =MediaGuardian | date =19 June 2007 | url =http://media.guardian.co.uk/realitytv/story/0,,2105944,00.html | location=London | access-date=25 May 2010| first=Mark| last=Sweney}}</ref> ===''Big Brother''=== The company were the [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]]s for the United Kingdom's version of ''[[Big Brother (UK)|Big Brother]]'' from 2004 to 2007. In 2006, they also sponsored ''[[Big Brother (UK)#Celebrity Big Brother|Celebrity Big Brother]]'' and related ''Celebrity Big Brother'' shows on [[Channel 4]].<ref name=sponsor/> On 17 January 2007, in response to [[Celebrity Big Brother racism controversy|alleged racism in ''Celebrity Big Brother'']], [[Charles Dunstone]] said: "We are talking to [[Channel 4]]. The sponsorship is constantly under review. Clearly we are against racism. Most people understand that the person who has their name associated with the programme does not necessarily condone the content."<ref>{{cite web | title =UK police investigate threats against Big Brother celebs | publisher =Ireland on-line | date =17 January 2007 | url =http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/?jp=cwsnmhqlkfcw | access-date =17 January 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090104025637/http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/?jp=cwsnmhqlkfcw# | archive-date =4 January 2009 | url-status =dead | df =dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Brook | first =Stephen | title =Big Brother complaints explode |work =The Guardian Unlimited | date =17 January 2007 | url =http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1992246,00.html | access-date =17 January 2007| location=London}}</ref> On 18 January 2007, Carphone Warehouse announced that it had suspended its sponsorship of the show as Channel 4 had not taken sufficient action in response to the alleged racism in the show.<ref name=sponsor>{{cite news | title =Big Brother sponsor suspends deal |publisher=BBC News | date =18 January 2007 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6274881.stm | access-date =18 January 2007 }}</ref> On 8 March 2007, the company permanently dropped its sponsorship of the show.<ref>{{cite news | title =Sponsor evicts C4's Big Brother | publisher=BBC News | date =8 March 2007 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6429863.stm | access-date =8 March 2007 }}</ref> ===Appys Awards=== In April 2011, Carphone Warehouse sponsored the [[Appy Awards]], calling them "the United Kingdom’s first major app awards ceremony designed to recognise innovation and development in app technology".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://appys.com/about/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227031214/http://appys.com/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2011 |title=FAQs |publisher=appys.com |access-date=12 April 2011 }}</ref> ==Charity support== In October 2001, Carphone Warehouse established a corporate partnership with [[Get Connected UK]], a confidential helpline service for young people, that continues today. Carphone Warehouse supplies Get Connected with office and helpline equipment and has been instrumental in ensuring it is free to call from all landlines and mobiles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getconnected.org.uk/1363/our-supporters/corporate-supporters.html|title=Corporate Supporters|publisher=getconnected.org.uk|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630004646/http://www.getconnected.org.uk/1363/our-supporters/corporate-supporters.html#|archive-date=30 June 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> This partnership won the ''[[Charity Times]]'' Corporate Partnership Award in 2003 and the ''[[Third Sector (magazine)|Third Sector]]'' Excellence Award for Corporate Partnership in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/marketplace/peoplemoves/get-connected-appoints-fiona-clark-and-helen-wood-senior-charity-roles|title=Get Connected appoints Fiona Clark and Helen Wood to senior charity roles|publisher=sportbusiness.com|access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|Companies}} * [[Local loop unbundling]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Carphone Warehouse}} [[Category:Consumer electronics retailers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Dixons Carphone]] [[Category:Best Buy]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Mobile virtual network operators]] [[Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Retail companies based in London]] [[Category:British companies established in 1989]] [[Category:Retail companies established in 1989]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1989]] [[Category:1989 establishments in England]] [[Category:British Royal Warrant holders]] [[Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]'