Dixons opens shops for baffled buyers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.DIXONS is to open a new chain of stores to help consumers who want to take part in the brave new world of mobile telephones and computer information services but are baffled by its complexity.
The Link, whose first four outlets will be open by Christmas, will sell hardware but its focus is to be on providing information and demonstrations of services.
John Clare, chief executive of Dixons, Britain's largest consumer electronics retailer, said: 'The sales process between staff and customer will be completely different from other stores, with an emphasis on providing information and advice.'
He added that new technology was increasingly a combination of access to an entertainment, communications or information network as well as a piece of equipment.
The Link will sell satellite television, mobile telephone and on-line computer information services and the hardware associated with them including pagers, faxes and telephones.
The first store, at Kingston, Surrey, opens at the end of the month. Three others, all in London, will open by the end of the year, with four more sites completing the pilot chain in February.
Dixons, which has more than 750 stores in the UK including its Currys and PC World outlets, believes the new technology will be one of the fastest-growing consumer markets of the next few years.
More than two million peoples are connected to a mobile phone network and the introduction of lower tariffs and free off-peak calls has seen consumer interest explode. Forecasts see 14 million subscribers by 2000.
With four different national networks and the added complication of GSM, the new worldwide digital network, however, buying the right service is confusing. A quarter of The Link's floor space will be devoted to simply explaining the difference between available services.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments