Re Joint Venture

Carphone Warehouse Group PLC
24 October 2005



24 October 2005


For immediate release


Virgin Mobile, Carphone Warehouse and Virgin in talks to launch French MVNO on
the Orange network


Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) PLC ('Virgin Mobile'), The Carphone Warehouse Group
PLC ('Carphone Warehouse'), and Virgin Management Limited ('Virgin') today
announce that they are in discussions regarding the launch of a nationwide
Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in France.


Subject to agreement being reached, the MVNO will operate under the Virgin
Mobile brand and use the Orange network.


Further details relating to the venture will be announced in due course.


- Ends -



For Further Information:

Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) PLC

Analysts:

Mike Thomas                                        [phone]

Media:

Steven Day                                         [phone]



Don Hunter                                         [phone]

Finsbury                                           [phone]



The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC

Analysts:

Peregrine Riviere                                  [phone]

Media:

Vanessa Tipple                                     [phone]



Anthony Carlisle                                   [phone]

Citigate Dewe Rogerson                             [phone]



Virgin Management Ltd

Will Whitehorn                                     [phone]



About Virgin Mobile:

Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) PLC, the UK's largest mobile virtual network
operator, is majority owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and uses
T-Mobile's network. Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin Mobile has
attracted more than 5 million customers.



Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,400 staff at three sites, Trowbridge,
London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by
approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough.



Virgin Mobile is in 'The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For' 2005 and
is part of the FTSE4Good Index.


About Carphone Warehouse:

The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC was set up in 1989 by Charles Dunstone with
£6,000. Today it is Europe's leading independent mobile communications retailer,
generating annual turnover of £2,300m (y/e March 05), offering customers
impartial and expert advice, the widest choice of the latest handsets, and
unbeatable service. It also provides residential telecoms services to over 1m
customers in the UK under the TalkTalk brand.  The company operates across 10
markets and employs over 12,000 people.



About Virgin:

Virgin, a leading branded venture capital organization, is one of the world's
most recognized and respected brands.  Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson,
the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very successful businesses in sectors
ranging from mobile telephony, to transportation, travel, financial services,
leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing. Virgin has created more than
200 companies worldwide, employing approximately 35,000 people, in 29 countries.
Revenues around the world in the last 12 months were approximately £5 billion.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END

JVEIIFIDISLSFIE