Virgin Mobile launches the world's first left-handed phone

Virgin Mobile has unveiled a new mobile phone specifically designed for left-handed people. Available, exclusively from Virgin Mobile, the new Sony Ericsson LH-Z200 has a unique keypad layout with the number keys positioned from right to left, instead of the standard left to right.

In Britain today twelve per cent of the population is left-handed which equates to a massive seven million people who are frustrated by the right-handed bias in the product design of phones. This simple but clever design makes dialling, texting and menu navigation quicker and easier for anyone left-handed. Famous left-handers include Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman, Prince William, glamour model Melinda Messenger and former Sex Pistols front man and 'I'm a Celebrity' contestant John `Rotten' Lydon.

Steven Day, the left-handed Corporate Affairs Director at Virgin Mobile, said: "We have been approached by thousands of left-handed customers who told us they wanted a phone which would work for them. Britain's seven million left-handed people should not be ignored and Virgin Mobile is the first mobile company in the world to offer a solution to this problem working in partnership with Sony Ericsson. We are confident there will be huge interest in this product."

In addition to the redesigned keypad the new Sony Ericsson LH-Z200 boasts all the great features of the right-handed variant with an innovative flip design and integrated aerial, top quality colour screen, polyphonic ringtones and a built-in modem.

Virgin Mobile and Sony Ericsson plan to produce a range of left-handed phones and their soon to launch 3G phones will also have left-hand friendly keypads.

The Virgin Mobile Sony Ericsson LH-Z200 will be available early April. The retail price is GBP119.99.

About Virgin Mobile:

Virgin Mobile is now established as the most successful virtual network operator in the world, and is the UK's fifth network. Since its launch in November 1999 it has attracted more than 3.7 million customers, making it one of the fastest growing mobile phone companies in history.

Virgin Mobile is owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and is the UK's first mobile virtual operator, it uses T-Mobile's network.

Virgin Mobile employs 1,700 staff on four sites, Trowbridge, London, Daventry and Middlesbrough. It was recently voted one of the top 50 places to work in Britain.

Virgin Mobile has a no contract policy and uses a simple tariff with calls charged at 15p/min for the first 5 minutes of use each day, then 5p/min after that. Virgin Mobile customers can also text another Virgin Mobile in the UK for just three pence per text.

THE DEVIL MAKES WORK FOR IDLE THUMBS. KEEP YOURS BUSY.

TEXT ANOTHER VIRGIN MOBILE CUSTOMER WITHIN THE UK FOR 3P.

Source: Virgin Mobile

For further press information or artwork please contact: Big-mouths PR: Sarah Baron, Julie Watson or Alix Vonk, Tel: +44 (0)207 385 0009, Email: virginmobile@big-mouths.com, Virgin Mobile Hotline Press Office number: +44 (0)845 600 6272, Email: pressoffice@virginmobile.com