Our History

2008	2007	2006	2005
2004	2003	2002	2001
2000	1999	1998	1997
1996	1994	1989-93

2008
In May 2008, we agreed to form a new venture with Best Buy Co., Inc. in which they acquired 50% of our retail and distribution business (which includes all retail stores, our mobile airtime reselling operations, and our insurance operations) for a total cash consideration of £1.088 billion ($2.142 billion). The transaction included our retail operations across Europe and our share of profits in Best Buy Mobile in the US. The transaction excluded our fixed line operations, our share in Virgin Mobile France and our major freehold properties. The transaction was completed at the end of June 2008.
View the press release

2007
We entered into two commercial agreements with Best Buy, a leading US consumer electronics retailer at the end of 2006. Firstly, we launched Best Buy Mobile, an independent retail format in the US. The initial launch phase was successful and by the end of 2009 there will be 1000 stores, including both a ‘store within a store’ and a ‘stand alone store’. Secondly, we launched the Geek Squad, a home technologuy support business, in the UK, to assist customers with their increasingly complex home technology needs.
View the Best Buy press release

2006
On the 11th April, we were the first company in the UK to launch free broadband to nearly 70% of the UK population.
View the Free Broadband press release

In November we reached an agreement with Time Warner Inc. to acquire AOL’s internet access business in the UK. As a result of this acquisition, we became the number 3 broadband provider in the UK.
View the AOL UK acquisition press release

2005
April 1st saw the launch of Mobile World – an industry first mobile service which allows customers to make cheap international calls from a mobile phone. International start from as little as 5p per minute. In December 2005 we acquired two of our major residential fixed line competitors, Onetel and Tele2 UK.
View the Onetel press release
View the Tele2 press release

As a result we doubled our share of the UK residential market to 10%.

2004
In March we made our first move into the continental European fixed line market with the acquisition of Xtra in Spain. We followed this up with the acquisition of NTel in Switzerland in April, with a view to introducing TalkTalk in a number of countries across Europe by the end of the year.

2003
In February the company launches talktalk, its new residential fixed line telecoms service, as a direct competitor to BT. View the press release

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In April the company reaches an agreement with Sainsbury’s, the UK supermarket chain, to provide mobile and fixed line services to Sainsbury’s customers.
View the press release

In June the company acquires Hutchison Telecommunications GmbH, a German service provider with over 500,000 subscription customers.
View the press release

2002
In November 2002 the company announces the acquisition of Opal Telecom PLC, an alternative network operator providing fixed line solutions to the business market.
View the press release.

2001
In May the company continues to build its Telecom Services division through the acquisition of CMC, one of the leading mobile telecoms services businesses in France, which manages over 600,000 customers on behalf of Orange and SFR.
View the press release

2000
In February 2000, the company acquires ACJM SL, a Spanish specialist mobile phone retailer with 46 stores trading under the Viva Voce fascia.

In April the company significantly increases its presence in Germany through the acquisition of Otto Boenicke, a chain of 97 CTN stores.

The company consolidates its market position in The Netherlands through the acquisition of the 20 store Road Phone chain in June.

In 2000 The Carphone Warehouse also acquires Cellcom, a UK provider of billing, customer call and messaging services. This represents its first move into Facilities Management (‘FMS’) and a significant extension of the existing retail strategy.

1999
In January 1999, the company acquires the UK business of Tandy, the general electrical goods and mobile phone retailer with 268 stores spread across the UK. The deal transforms the scale of the UK business.

The company acquires 45 stores in France in September via the acquisition of FNAC Telecom, making the French business the leading independent mobile phone retailer in France.

In November the company acquires Polirent, a company with 6 stores in the Lisbon area, as a first move into Portugal. This move is subsequently complemented by three further small acquisitions.

In December, Value Telecom, The Carphone Warehouse’s own network or MVNO, is launched.

1998
The company acquires GEAB Teleshop, a leading independent mobile phone retailer in Sweden, and Comprotoel Groep, a Dutch mobile phone wholesaling and retailing business. Both acquisitions give The Carphone Warehouse a significant presence in their respective markets.

1997
The Phone House launches in Madrid.

1996
Under the Phone House brands, the company opens its first stores outside the UK, in Paris and Dublin.

1994
The company establishes Carphone Warehouse Insurance to provide an additional value-added service to customers, including the prompt provision of replacement phones.

1989-93
The Carphone Warehouse was founded as a UK mobile phone retailer by Charles Dunstone. The company enters a period of rapid organic growth.