The iPhone goes on sale in the UK this Friday, 9 November at the very precise time of 6:02pm (O2 – geddit?) at Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse retail and online stores.
O2 is clearly expecting brisk demand for the device. The network operator says it is boosting its UK workforce by 1,427 people as a direct result of the iPhone launching in the UK. 700 new jobs will be added to customer services, while another 727 people are being recruited for O2s retail stores to ensure the best possible customer experience for new iPhone customers.
The iPhone is a revolutionary device and we need to ensure a fantastic overall experience for customers using it, says O2 UK Sales Director, Mark Stansfeld. So we are investing in training and increasing our workforce to ensure this good experience from the moment you purchase the iPhone through to activation and ongoing support.
Each O2 retail store will have live demonstration devices and a dedicated iPhone specialist to guide customers through the devices features. They will be able to advise customers on everything from setting up personal email through to downloading songs via the iTunes wi-fi music store. All other staff are also receiving iPhone training.
A dedicated iPhone customer services unit will be created in O2s Glasgow call centre with 1,000 agents. As a result, new jobs are being created in Glasgow, and in O2s other call centres in Leeds, Cardiff and Dearne Valley. In total, 700 new jobs will be created in customer services, with the rest of the roles going to existing employees.
O2 says the additional jobs are designed to ensure that it is well equipped to handle expected significant demand for the iPhone, while at the same time catering for overall customer needs during the busy seasonal period.