Dot.com and bricks and mortar in innovative marketing deal

22 June 2000 - The Carphone Warehouse has joined up with YAC to offer customers a unique FREE YAC Number in addition to their mobile number. YAC allows redirection of calls nationally and internationally and gives users the ability to receive voicemail messages and faxes to their email inbox.

YAC, the fast growing personal communications management company, has more than 100,000 existing users and over 1,500 new sign ups daily. Sales advisors will be offering FREE YAC Numbers to each new customer as a value-added service to enhance usage of their mobile phone.

Mobile phone users form YAC's core market, as they are likely to have more than two contact numbers.

The deal represents a powerful combination between on-and-off-line marketing, with visitors to Carphone Warehouse's popular Website having the opportunity to find out more about YAC and sign up for their own FREE YAC Number. Presenting customers with the opportunity to take a YAC Number at the point-of-sale in a Carphone Warehouse outlet is an, as of yet, unparalleled example of highly targeted marketing to potential users.

A FREE YAC Number gives an extra level of control over personal communications: users are not tied to any single phone number and can decide where and when they can be contacted and - with YAC's call barring option - by whom.

Mike Feerick, Chief Executive Officer of YAC said: "This deal takes YAC to the next level of growth and confirms our place at the forefront of the net-based telecommunications industry. Our collaboration with The Carphone Warehouse will increase our user base significantly and this is a massive vote of confidence from one of the most important players in the mobile communications industry.

"We aim to have a million users of the YAC service by the beginning of 2001 and the agreement with The Carphone Warehouse is a big step towards hitting this target. The company's pan-European presence also complements our intended roll-out into other EU countries"

Andrew Harrison, Commercial Director, The Carphone Warehouse comments: "Mobile phones are now so established that people call people rather than places. We're constantly looking at ways that we can help customers simplify their mobile communications package. This type of service gives people greater control over their communications, especially for high end business users and people on the move."