The roads are quiet in the morning which can only mean one thing; the kids are off school.

Whether you’re a parent looking at what you can do to keep the little ones busy, or you’re looking for some fun plans to fill the time you’ve saved on your commute – Priority’s got you covered.

Whatever the weather, make sure you download the Priority app. It’s you’re ‘in’ to cheaper lunches, fun days out and amazing live experiences with your friends and family.

Here are some of the top offers available on Priority over the holidays:

Go out for some food

Give the oven a break and take the family out for some food.  Exclusive to Priority, pick up a £5 main course at Pizza Express.

Take a road trip

From Land’s End to John O’Groats, the UK has some amazing locations to explore and now with #O24G hitting 98% indoor population coverage you can stream and share all your adventures on the go.

Make sure you’re prepared for any long car journeys with breakdown cover.  Exclusive to Priority, get 25% off AA breakdown cover.

If you’re travelling around the UK or Europe, hire a car with rentalcars.com and get a 15% discount on Priority.

Do something unique

Why not try something different these holidays, such as:

1-            Go to a gig, listen to your favourite music live, get tickets here: https://priority.o2.co.uk/tickets

2-            Walk over our house. It’s pretty big. See London from on high with Up at The O2 

3-            Race some Segways

 

What else can you do?

Enter a competition

With great competitions running on Priority, why don’t you start making plans for the next holidays?

Win a golden ticket for Peppa Pig World. A must for parents of children who love to catch up with Peppa and her family’s antics.

You can also win VIP tickets to the Arcadia festival for you and four friends. This prize includes a meet and greet experience with Rudimental. Do hurry, this one closes at 23:59 03/04/2018

The winners will be contacted from 16 April.

All offer details including terms are available through the links

 

The post The kids are off. What do you do? appeared first on O2 The Blue.

Source: O2 Blog
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• O2 will stock the Huawei P20 Pro and P20 in black, available for pre-order from 29^th March
• Pre-orders before 5^th April eligible for a free pair of BOSE QC35 ii headphones (RRP £329.95)

O2 has revealed it will stock the newly announced Huawei P20 Pro and P20, with pre-order launching for customers on 29^th March.

Both available in black on O2’s range of newly announced flexible* O2 Refresh** tariffs, those who pre-order before 5^th April will receive a free pair of BOSE QC35 ii headphones, worth £329.95.

The P20 Pro and P20 packs a heavy punch in the camera world, allowing customers to take perfect photos every time, even at night, with the latest generation Leica Triple and Dual Cameras, powered by AI. These photos can be enjoyed on the 6.10-inch and 5.8-inch Huawei full view display models, all wrapped up in a compact glass and metal body. With its impressive battery optimised with AI, the P20 Pro and P20 will keep customers going from dawn until dusk.

On O2 Refresh, customers can move to a higher or lower tariff in their family of tariffs once every billing month, depending on how much data they anticipate using, giving customers’ flexibility and control over their bills. Customers who want to upgrade early from another handset need only pay off the remaining balance of their Device Plan to stay bang-up-to-date. What’s more, customers who want to keep their phone after two years will only pay for their monthly Airtime Plan from that point. Terms and conditions apply, visit o2.co.uk/termsandconditions for full details.

Plus, by recycling an old handset through O2 Recycle***, customers can receive a cash payment when they upgrade. This could be up to £190 for the Huawei P10 Plus, depending on the condition of the device. Customers can recycle in-store or online at www.o2.co.uk/recycle.

For more information on new phone launches, visit www.o2.co.uk.

– ENDS –

*Only on O2 Refresh tariffs purchased directly from O2. Change your airtime tariff after 30 days and then once every billing month during your minimum contract period, choosing from a selected family of tariffs. Some tariff extras are only available on the starting tariff, are not transferable, and may be lost if you change to an ineligible tariff. Devices are subject to availability. O2 Refresh: Finance is subject to status, credit check and direct debit. 18+. 0% APR. Terms apply, see o2.co.uk/terms.

**O2 Refresh has two parts: a 24 month Airtime Plan (your calls, texts and data) and a device taken either on a 24 month consumer credit agreement Device Plan or by paying the upfront cash price. You need to pass credit checks, be 18 or over and pay by Direct Debit.  Subject to status. Credit’s provided by Telefónica UK Ltd (you know us as O2), 260 Bath Road, Slough, Berks SL1 4DX. In relation to consumer credit Telefónica UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our terms apply: o2.co.uk/terms.

***Your device must pass our checklist. The value will depend on the model and condition. We can transfer the money or you can use the money towards a new purchase from O2 in the same transaction. Our terms apply o2recycle.co.uk.

The post O2 to range Huawei P20 Pro and P20 appeared first on O2 The Blue.

Source: O2 Blog
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• Fortnightly gig attendance could extend life expectancy by NINE years
• Wellbeing increased by 21% from just 20 minutes of gig-time, compared to just 10% for yoga and only 7% for dog-walking
• O2 commissioned scientific study reveals the power of live music on the human body and mind

Attending a live music gig once a fortnight could have life expectancy rocketing by nine years due to its power to positively impact wellbeing, new scientific research reveals.

The scientific study by O2 and Patrick Fagan, expert in behavioural science and Associate Lecturer at Goldsmith’s University, reveals there is an alternative cure for those struggling to find their Mr. Brightside, and it can be found at your local music venue –  with just 20 minutes of gig-time resulting in a significant 21% increase in feelings of wellbeing. Added to this, additional scholarly research directly links high levels of wellbeing with a lifespan increase of nine years pointing to a direct link between gig-going and longevity.

The findings come off the back of bespoke psychometric and heart-rate tests at a range of wellbeing activities – including gig-going, yoga and dog walking. The gig experience increased participants feelings of wellbeing by 21% – with key markers across the happiness spectrum showing increases, including feelings of self-worth (+25%) and closeness to others (+25%) whilst mental stimulation climbed by an impressive 75%.

Accompanying research showed a positive correlation between regularity of gig attendance and wellbeing. Those who attend live concerts once a fortnight and more were the most likely to score their happiness, contentment, productivity and self-esteem at the highest level (10/10), suggesting that regularly experiencing live music is the key to building a long-standing improvement to wellbeing.

Nina Bibby CMO at O2 said:

“We all know just how good it is seeing your favourite band or artist live, but now we have the proof. Life doesn’t come with catch up and through Priority Tickets, O2 customers have access to over 5,000 live shows in more than 350 venues across the UK every year.”

Those looking for a quick-fix however should not look to just listen to music in private, with over two thirds (67%) of Brits surveyed saying experiencing live music makes them feel happier than simply listening to music at home – showcasing that the shared experience, which performed so strongly in the research, is key to increasing wellbeing.

Patrick Fagan, Expert in Behavioural Science and Associate Lecturer at Goldsmith’s University, said:

“Our research showcases the profound impact gigs have on feelings of health, happiness and wellbeing – with fortnightly or regular attendance being the key. Combining all of our findings with O2’s research, we arrive at a prescription of a gig a fortnight which could pave the way for almost a decade more years of life.”

About O2 and live music:

• The O2 is the world’s most popular music and entertainment venue
• The O2 has welcomed over 60 million visitors and sold 20 million tickets since opening in 2007
• O2 has 19 O2 Academy venues in 13 cities across the UK
• To date, 25 million people have been through the doors of an O2 Academy venue
• O2 customers have access to tickets to over 5,000 shows in over 350 venues across the UK each year via Priority Tickets

To find the nearest gigs and get that much needed life-span boost, visit here.

The post Science says gig-going can help you live longer and increases wellbeing appeared first on O2 The Blue.

Source: O2 Blog
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• O2 launches new flexible O2 Refresh tariffs across all handsets and tablets
• New tariffs include roaming in 75 destinations at no extra cost, featuring countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand

O2 has today launched a brand new set of flexible Pay Monthly O2 Refresh tariffs. The new tariffs, ranging from 1GB to 50GB, allow customers choosing any available handset or tablet to move their airtime bills up and down each month.

The launch follows O2’s pioneering work at the end of last year when flexible tariffs were first introduced to give customers even more flexibility and control over their bills. Now, due to extensive customer feedback, flexible tariffs are available to all new and upgrading customers on O2 Refresh.

Customers can move to a higher or lower tariff once every billing month, depending on how much data they anticipate using. Breaking away from conventional fixed plans, customers who want 1GB of data one month can do so on a £16 tariff, then switch to pay £36 a month if they want to increase their data to 50GB – giving customers the peace of mind that the package they choose will always be right for them.

What’s more, on selected new tariffs, customers who already enjoying roaming at no extra cost in O2’s Europe Zone can now benefit from roaming* in 27 additional destinations worldwide**, including countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Nina Bibby, CMO at O2 said: “Last year we put O2 customers back in control of their data with the introduction of revolutionary flexible tariffs. Now we’re taking this new, flexible approach even further by giving customers more choice to move their airtime bills up and down each month on our entire range of O2 Refresh smartphones and tablets. Not only do we offer customers more flexibility and control, but we are also introducing more places to roam than any other major operator, with 75 destinations at no extra cost.”

With O2 Refresh, customers don’t pay for a phone they already own. Originally launched in April 2013, the groundbreaking tariff changed the way people buy mobile phones by separating the cost of their phone from the cost of their minutes, texts and data. Customers who want to upgrade early from another handset need only pay off the remaining balance of their Device Plan to stay bang-up-to-date. What’s more, customers who want to keep their phone after two years will only pay for their monthly Airtime Plan from that point.

For more information on terms and conditions, visit o2.co.uk.

– ENDS –

*Customers with the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt-On have a daily allowance of 120 minutes, 120 texts and data.

**O2’s Europe Zone includes: Austria, French Guiana, Latvia, Portugal, Azores, Germany, Liechtenstein, Reunion, Belgium, Gibraltar, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Luxembourg, Saint Barthelemy, Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Saint Martin, Croatia, Guernsey, Malta, San Marino, Cyprus, Hungary, Martinique, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Iceland, Mayotte, Slovenia, Denmark, Ireland, Monaco, Spain, Estonia, Isle of Man, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, France, Jersey, Poland and Vatican City.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone includes: Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greenland, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yemen.

Full O2 Travel terms here.

Major operators include Vodafone, EE, Three, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile (as of Feb 2018).

The post O2 gives customers even more control with launch of new range of flexible tariffs and roaming to 75 destinations appeared first on O2 The Blue.

Source: O2 Blog
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Traditionally, many of us do a spring clean in our homes around this time of year – doing a deep clean of the house, throwing out clutter, changing your duvet from the heavy winter one. But we’re not going to talk about that; instead, we’re going to talk about doing a spring clean of your phone with a bonus of helping to keep you organised this spring.

Why a spring clean?

Over time your phone can get cluttered up and bogged down – all those games and apps you’ve downloaded but no longer use and all those photos and videos you’ve taken that you don’t want to get rid of, but don’t really need on your phone anymore. Keeping your phone in check can help ensure it continues running smoothly and frees up more space for what’s truly important to you.

Declutter games and apps

Many of us will have had our smartphones for months or even years with games and apps on it we won’t have used in a long time – some of them may even be running in the background, using up your phone resources and maybe even your battery.

So, it’s time to think about that long overdue declutter – think of it like your annual Social Media ‘friend cleanse’ – be ruthless!

• Will I ever use this app again?
• Do I really need 19 photo-editing apps?
• Am I likely to use it again this year?
• If you answered “no”, tap that uninstall button – you can always reinstall it again if or when you need it

Tip for Android: There are loads of apps that can ‘mass uninstall’ apps you select if you know exactly what you want to get rid of. This could make this task easier and faster.

Organise your apps

Once you’ve gotten rid of all the apps you no longer need, it’s time to get organised, and folders are the best way to do this.  Create one for your Social Media apps, another one for games, another for your entertainment apps, and of course an ‘O2’ folder for My O2 and Priority.

Tip for iPhone: Did you know if you swipe down on your home screen you’ll see a search box to search for the app you’re after? A handy alternative to folders.

Tip for Android: Widgets are hugely useful and you can add a search box wherever you want on your screen, to search for games, apps, emails, particular texts etc

Get storage space back

There are many ways to achieve this – getting rid of apps you no longer use is one of them, but there are other options:

Photos & Videos. What if we said you could automatically save and upload all your photos and videos to a free online storage, giving you instant easy access to them without taking up any space on your phone? Google Photos gives users free and unlimited storage for photos up to 16MP and 1080P videos and it even uses magic to detect what the photo subjects are, and smart organise them for you.

Hire a cleaner. Magic Phone Cleaner for iOS is one of the top rated ‘cleaners’ on the App Store and can help you identify the largest files on your device making it easier for you to delete the ones you no longer need, helping you free up space quickly.

If you’re on Android, Clean Master on the Play Store has an average 4.7* rating from nearly 42 million reviews, making it one of the best on the market. With it, you can clean up far more storage and files such as app cache, ad junk, obsolete files, and even clean up your phone’s memory.

Clean your phone

According to a Which? Report a few years ago, a smartphone has more bacteria than a typical office toilet seat so if you don’t clean your phone regularly, we’d absolutely recommend it. Here are some ways to ensure your phone stays shiny and new-looking for longer.

1. The DIY clean. Grab a microfiber cloth (we’d be surprised if you don’t have at least one laying around at home) and consider giving your phone a clean a few times a week.
2. The deep clean. Microfiber cloths will help remove fingerprints and a lot of bacteria, but not all.  Pick up a ‘cleaning kit’ from most phone or tech shops that will help remove more bacteria.
3. Get some protection. Cases are a great way to protect your phone from scratches, but these too can collect germs and bacteria very quickly, so make sure to take the correct steps to clean your case regularly as well. If your case is a little worse for wear, we have a huge selection of fantastic cases right here. Similarly, you can also get film & glass screen protectors to help keep your screen protected, with glass screen protectors offering a bit more protection.

Recycle your old tech

If during your home spring clean you find old tech that you don’t use or no longer need, recycle them with O2 Recycle and you can even get yourself some cash for it – better yet, get 10% extra on your device’s value this Easter with O2 Recycle on O2 Priority. Offer valid 14/03/18 – 03/04/18.

And, who knows, if you’re an O2 Refresh customer where we split your device cost from your airtime plan, you might even get enough back from O2 Recycle to pay off your device plan early and get that brand new upgrade you’ve been looking for… Samsung Galaxy S9 or Sony Xperia XZ2, perhaps?

The post Spring clean your smartphone appeared first on O2 The Blue.

Source: O2 Blog
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• Jo Bertram, former Uber Regional General Manager for Northern Europe, appointed as Telefónica UK Chief Digital and Strategy Officer
• Gareth Turpin, former O2 Director of Customer Service, appointed as Telefónica UK Sales Director
• Both will assume their roles in April, reporting directly to CEO, Mark Evans

O2 today announces it has appointed two new members to its Executive Committee, signposting its ambitions to transcend the sector by innovating for the customer. Jo Bertram, former Uber Regional General Manager for Northern Europe, and Gareth Turpin, former O2 Director of Customer Service, have been appointed as Telefónica UK’s Chief Digital and Strategy Officer and Sales Director respectively. Both will assume their roles in April and report directly to Mark Evans, Telefónica UK CEO.

Telefónica UK’s business strategy is Customer-Led, Mobile-First. In a speech made earlier this month at the Media and Telecoms 2018 & Beyond conference hosted by Enders, Mark Evans, Telefónica CEO, addressed delegates by saying: “Our intention is to exploit the potential that mobile has to offer, redefining yet more ways in which people and businesses can take advantage of the mobile-powered world.” The two new Executive Committee members, with their experience, will strengthen Telefónica UK’s route to achieving this goal.

Mark Evans, Telefónica UK’s Chief Executive Officer said of the appointments, “I am excited to be able to announce that Jo Bertram will be joining the team and bringing with her a wealth of innovative and customer centric experience. Alongside her, Gareth Turpin will assume the role of Sales Director following a long and successful tenure in the business. Both appointments will strengthen the team as a whole, bringing new perspectives from inside and out. I am confident that our 50:50 gender split Executive Committee has the talent and capability to take Telefónica UK to the next level.”

Jo Bertram joins Telefónica UK with an expansive background in management consultancy and leading innovative digital business models. With an MBA from INSEAD, Jo spent eight years of her career consulting both for Accenture in London and Melbourne and McKinsey in Geneva and Johannesburg. Latterly, Jo spent four years as Regional General Manager for Northern Europe at Uber – growing a team of three to over 300 across 10 countries, overseeing the expansion across the UK, and the launch of Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Jo is an Executive in Residence for EQT Ventures, where she supports ambitious founders on their journeys to global success. Her new appointment with Telefónica, which commences on 9^th April, builds on her previous experience of tech, strategy and innovative business models.

Jo said of her appointment, “I am thrilled to be joining Telefónica UK at this exciting time of unprecedented change, where new technologies have the ability to shape the industry, and where digital will be critical to future success. O2 has a long heritage in putting the customer first and I am honoured to be joining such an impressive, passionate and collaborative team. In addition to my new appointment with Telefónica, I will be continuing in an advisory support role for EQT Ventures and its portfolio companies on the growth stage of their journeys.”

Gareth Turpin joined O2 in 2001 and has held a number of senior appointments in his 17-year tenure. He has led the Consumer Sales and Supply Chain functions as well as O2’s company-wide transformation programme. Most recently, Gareth was Director of Customer Service, leading responsibility for O2’s key strategic partnership with Capita since 2012. He was invited by Mark Evans, CEO, to act as interim Sales Director on the Executive Committee in September 2017, an appointment which has now been made permanent.

Gareth said of his appointment, “I am delighted to be accepting the role of Sales Director for Telefónica UK, having spent nearly two decades with the company. The opportunity will allow me to bring together all the experience amassed in my various roles with my passion to make every day better for our customers. As well as helping to grow our consumer base, I am excited by the prospect of helping our business customers unlock significant gains in productivity, performance and profitability using the power of mobile.”

Telefónica UK’s Executive Committee has a 50:50 gender split, which the business hopes will become the yardstick for the industry and beyond.

The post Telefónica UK (O2) appoints two new members to its Executive Committee signposting ambition to innovate appeared first on O2 The Blue.

Source: O2 Blog
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New analysis shows how 5G will improve household finances and drive savings for councils

• Households stand to save £450 a year on energy, council and food bills
• Councils will regain £2.8 billion annually thanks to the introduction of smart lighting and smart refuse collection, as well as improved social care
• The NHS is also set to benefit as 5G frees up 1.1 million GP hours by facilitating tele-health video conferencing and real-time remote health monitoring
• Meanwhile, cities will increase their liveability through reductions in road congestion and rail delays and improvements to smart grids and healthcare – generating total productivity savings of £6 billion for the UK’s cities economy

O2’s The value of 5G for cities and communities report, launched today, identifies how 5G will ‘update the operating system’ of our cities, making them smarter and creating tangible benefits for citizens and local councils – as well as generating £6 billion in productivity savings for the UK economy.

Speaking at the launch of the report in London today, O2 CEO, Mark Evans said: “Of all the ingredients that keep our economy and society moving, arguably top of the list is mobile. Our report demonstrates how 5G technology, when it arrives, will provide unprecedented benefits for consumers, councils and cities alike. The enhanced connectivity on offer will make a real difference to people’s lives and pockets. However none of these benefits are assured. We need a high level of collaboration to press ahead with the rollout and to hardwire 5G into the fabric of our cities.”

Joining him at the event, Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries said:
“We want the UK to be a world leader in 5G, and this report highlights the huge potential we have to get ahead and reap the benefits of this exciting new technology.

“We’re already investing £25 million in new testbeds across the UK that will pave the way for our 5G future and our work with industry will be vital to help us achieve our ambitions.”

The report predicts that through 5G:

Every household will save up to £450 a year:

• £145 will be shaved off household energy bills through the introduction of 5G-enabled smart grids that drive dynamic pricing, enable better distribution, and allow consumers to choose where they buy energy.
• Households’ council tax bills will be £66 less, if councils pass on the saving created through smart refuse collection.
• Households will save an additional £236 by reducing food waste thanks to the introduction of smart fridges, which will send ‘shelfies’ of their contents to consumers’ smartphones, helping them avoid buying un-needed food.
• Car owners could save an additional £1,600 in annual fuel costs, when an extra 1.3 million electric cars are brought onto the roads by 2025 as a result of 5G-proofed energy grids that can withstand mass charging of electric cars.

Local councils will collectively share an annual £2.8 billion of efficiency savings, brought about by:

• An £890 million reduction in social care costs for those living alone like the elderly, facilitated by 5G telehealth and monitoring. This will allow families and councils to consider alternatives to private residential care or employing carers.
• The introduction of commercial and residential smart refuse collection, which will save councils £1.8 billion
• Energy savings of £91 million, facilitated by the adoption of smart LED street lighting, which can be dimmed or brightened remotely as needed – like Telefónica’s projects in Malaga and Santander.

GP consultations will be streamlined, relieving pressure on the NHS:

• Replacing just 5% of GP appointments with telehealth video conferencing will reduce physical GP visits by 4 million per year. This will be made possible thanks to the responsiveness and speed of 5G, which will also power improvements in telehealth imaging and data collection.
• Waiting times for GP appointments will fall, as 1 million hours of GP time is freed up, creating productivity gains of £1.3 billion through less employee absence during the working day.
• Meanwhile, 5G will enable the widespread adoption of wearable monitoring devices that will reduce 30-day NHS hospital re-admissions by 30% through aftercare monitoring, saving our cities £463 million per year and decreasing overall bed occupancy rates by 6%.

 Cities’ transport infrastructure will be improved, reducing commuting time:

• 5G sensors on railway lines will drive improvements in predictive maintenance, reclaiming an estimated £440 million in lost productivity for the UK economy and regaining the average rail commuter 2.6 hours a year.
• Meanwhile, 5G-enabled road management systems, able to respond seamlessly to traffic volumes, will reduce the time spent stuck in traffic by 10% for the UK’s 5.6 million vehicle commuters.
• Commuters will also be better connected to street-level data via mobile journey planning apps linked to connected street furniture such as lamp posts and bus stops, helping them better plan journeys and avoid congested routes.

At the launch event, O2 today called for greater collaboration between industry, Government, local councils, landlords and developers to ensure Britain can reap the benefits of 5G and maintain its digital leadership.

O2 has already been taking steps to pave the way for the rollout of 5G in the UK. Just last month, it announced it will partner with AEG to launch a 5G trial at The O2. Its parent company Telefónica also launched its 5G Technological Cities project in January, which will see the Spanish cities of Segovia and Talavera de la Reina converted into 5G living laboratories over the next three years to 2020.

Derek McManus, O2’s Chief Operating Officer said: “There are more mobile connections in Britain than there are people and the demand for mobile frequency and easier access is only increasing. It’s clear from our report that 5G technology will play a vital role in ensuring that all citizens get the mobile service they deserve. But while 5G promises a range of unprecedented benefits, we should be clear that these won’t be achieved without collective investment and collaboration. That means complete alignment from operators, public service providers, local authorities, landlords and technology companies to explore new opportunities for better connectivity and denser coverage.”

The post Upgrade UK cities now or miss out on productivity savings of £6 billion a year from 5G – O2 appeared first on O2 The Blue.

Source: O2 Blog
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