O2


O2

O2 is a leading telecommunications provider that has more than 25 million subscribers making it the second largest behind EE in the United Kingdom.  O2 which is stylized as O2 runs 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks all across the UK while they also operate their O2 Wifi service nationwide. They sell mobile phones either as SIM-only or on a pay monthly billed basis while they also sell tablets and accessories too such as headsets, Bluetooth receivers and car phone accessories.  There are more than 450 O2 retailers in the UK with the majority of stores being found in the major cities. If you need a mobile phone contract setting up, you can walk directly into a store, choose a new phone and a plan that works for you.

O2 Store Opening Hours and Locations

The high street and shopping centres are the most likely places that you will find an O2 store. Of the 450 establishments, 310 of these are found in major cities such as London, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool while larger towns are also likely to have at least one store located nearby.

Opening hours for O2 stores are normally standardised across most stores but these can differ in certain circumstances. Most 02 stores will be open Monday to Saturday between the hours of 9 AM to 5.30 PM and then on Sunday between 10 AM and 4 PM. As with most other retailers in the UK, these 02 store opening and closing times are likely to change during holiday periods and on bank holidays. Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year, Good Friday and Easter Monday are just some holiday periods where you can expect to see a change in the normal opening times of their branches.

The big and bold O2 logo is hard to miss and most of you will recognize it instantly when on the high streets. As mentioned previously, the logo in visual form is shown as O2, similar to that of the chemical element that represents oxygen.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About O2

O2 in its current guise has been around for more than 15-years and has become a major player in the telecommunications industry in the UK. However, here are five facts about O2 that you possibly didn't know about:

  1. O2 was previously called Cellnet and then BT Cellnet before being rebranded as O2 in 2005
  2. As BT Cellnet, they launched the world's very first GPRS network in 2000
  3. O2 offers Europe's largest free wi-fi zone in London which covers the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea
  4. O2 regularly sponsor sports teams and events such as the England Rugby team, Rugby World Cup and previously Arsenal football club
  5. The Millenium Dome is sponsored by O2 and is now named the O2 Arena which holds sporting and music events such as various events during the 2012 Olympics.

Products and Services

O2 primarily focuses on selling access to its mobile networks via their SIM cards used in mobile phones. These SIM cards can be bought as part of a deal when buying a mobile phone from many of the world's leading manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Blackberry, Sony, Huawei and Google.

Customers can either pay for their phone and subsequent subscription on a monthly basis via bill or they can opt to buy the phone outright with a Pay As You Go SIM card which can be topped up as and when required.

O2 also sells standalone SIM cards, other gadgets such as tablets and also a variety of accessories for both mobile phones and tablets. They also offer their own insurance to its subscribers to cover them if their phone is lost, damaged or stolen.

Another reason for the popularity of O2 among UK consumers are the many perks that are offered by the company when using their networks. Tickets to the O2 Arena, discounts at restaurants and free coffee are just some of the regular perks that customers will be offered by O2.

A Brief History

02 was originally formed and launched back as Cellnet in 1985 as one of the UK's first mobile telecommunication providers. At that time it was owned and run as a joint venture between BT and Securicor before the latter sold their 40% share to the former in 1999. That led to Cellnet being rebranded as BT Cellnet for the next six years before it was rebranded once again to become the O2 that we all know.

Over the years O2 has always been one of the leading mobile telecommunication providers in the UK, regularly being in the top three.

More Phone and mobile in the UK

O2 closed? Then try one of the other Phone and mobile nearby.