The UK’s leading discount and voucher code website has seen a significant increase in people accessing the site from their mobile phone in the last year, with sales exceeding £2.5m over mobile internet browsers for the site last month.

More than 600,000 people visited discount voucher code website www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk via their mobile browsers throughout December 2009, according to traffic statistics from the site, up 158% on December 2008.

Traffic from mobile phone browsers consistently increased month-on-month for the site in 2009 as smartphones increased in popularity, with more than £2.5 million spent through MyVoucherCodes.co.uk alone.

In December 2008, 378,000 unique visits from mobile phone browsers were noted by retail expert and MyVoucherCodes.co.uk founder Mark Pearson, up to just over 600,000 for December 2009. To put this into perspective, more than 11m people logged on to the site throughout December to search for Christmas savings – with mobile phone visits accounting for 5% of total traffic to the website.

Sales through mobile phone web browsers were consistent with the growth in users accessing the site through their mobiles, with an increase of 208% from £1.2m in December 2008, up to £2.5m in December 2009.

A study of 1,820 MyVoucherCodes.co.uk users found that 8% had surfed the site from the comfort of their mobile phones.

Of those that had used their mobile browser to use the site, 62% said they had used the site to search for discount voucher codes whilst physically shopping on the High Street to see if they could get a better deal online.

11% said they thought that mobile browsers were improving to the point where they felt they used them more regularly than desktop browsers.

Discount retail expert Mark Pearson, founder of www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk said,

“It seems that many consumers are literally going to High Street shops to effectively sample products, and then searching for, and in many cases, buying whilst still in-store having found a better deal online through their mobiles!

“Where High Street prices remain relatively high, the same retailer may be offering 20% off online through voucher codes. If you have a particular product in mind, it’s always worth checking to see if you can save any money on it online, as there is often more choice through different retailers all vying for your cash, even at discounted rates.

“Although some people are starting to leave the Credit Crunch behind them, the savings are still there to be made and it’d be impractical to waste them.”

MyVoucherCodes.co.uk features discount voucher codes and offers from the most popular retailers in the UK, including Currys, Comet, Argos, Dell, House of Fraser and many more.

The site had sales exceeding £481m in 2009, saving consumers £52m on products they would otherwise have paid full RRP for.

Link: http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk

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10 YETIS JOURNALIST TRIVIA QUIZ:

For a chance to win a prize, be the first to respond with the correct answer to the following question:

Q. What percentage of MyVoucherCodes’ total traffic does traffic from mobile phone browsers account for?

For more information contact Gabrielle Lofthouse, [email protected] 01452 348211 or on Twitter @Gabriella_PRowl.

EDITORS NOTES

Mark Pearson, MD of MyVoucherCodes is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. At 29 his personal worth is more than £30 million. Mark was previously a trainee chef working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, London.

MyVoucherCodes has had sales exceeding £481m in the last year
Consumer savings on online shopping via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk up from £28m in 2008 to £52m in 2009.
MyVoucherCodes is the UK’s most popular discount site.

Fort Collins, COLO. – Do more with the new OtterBox Defender™ Series case for the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphone. For extreme users, the OtterBox Defender Series provides a rugged solution so a picture can be snapped above tree line, a call can be made on a crowded subway or a text can be sent from a sandy beach.

Three layers of unbeatable protection combine together offering a safeguard against bumps, shock, drops, dirt and dust:*

Layer 1:

* Thermal formed protective clear membrane over keypad. Protects against scratching, as well as dust intrusion (layer optional depending on the level of ruggedization desired).
* Hard-coated PC screens protect display screen, camera and flash from scratching and dust intrusion.

Layer 2: Hi-impact polycarbonate shell.

Layer 3: Durable silicone skin to absorb bump and shock.

Features of the Defender Series case include acoustic vents on the headset speaker, a foam sound-isolating ring over the microphone, silicone plugs over the ports to provide easy access and a holster style swivel belt clip to get things done hands-free.

Do more without fear of damage or destruction by protecting with the OtterBox Defender Series case for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone.

OtterBox Defender Series for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone:

Environmental Protection:

· Drop and shock – protection against drop, bump & shock

· Water protection – not tested or recommended for water protection

· Dust intrusion – dust does not enter in a sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of equipment

Colors:

· Layer 2: Black (polycarbonate)

· Layer 3: Black (silicone)

Dimensions (case only):

· 4.59” (116.65 mm) x 2.77” (70.27 mm) x 0.87” (22.12 mm)

Approximate Weight (case only, including layer 1):

· 1.39 oz  (39.4 g)

About OtterBox:

Built upon fundamentals of hard work, innovation and perseverance, OtterBox is a leader in the production of premier protective solutions for global handheld manufacturers, wireless carriers and distributors.

Incorporating creativity and cutting-edge design into every product, OtterBox creates sleek and durable cases that offer reliable device protection to complement any lifestyle.

OtterBox was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo.

For more information, visit www.otterbox.com or call 888-695-8820. OtterBox — We’ve got technology covered.

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Note:

*Defender Series case NOT protected against water. Will provide some added protection against drop, bump and dust.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

77% of smartphone owners won’t get a proper break from work this Christmas, research by the UK’s leading mobile phone price comparison website has shown.

New research of 1,053 smartphone owners by the UK’s leading mobile phone price comparison website has shown that more than 3 in 4 people claim they will not be able to take a proper break from the office this Christmas, as their Blackberry or iPhone handsets will prevent them from being able to relax completely.

www.rightmobilephone.co.uk discovered that of the 77% who said they will be checking their smartphones over the festive period, two thirds would do it on a daily basis. Other findings of the study included the top reasons why people felt they had to check their emails whilst on holiday.

The most common reason was dedication, with 45% claiming they will keep their smartphone on them at all times in case something important crops up. 26% said checking emails is a habit they are unable to break, while 11% admitted they will be more concerned about impressing their boss in the hope of a New Year promotion or bonus.

Just under half of the respondents, 49%, are predicting that their obsessive smartphone checking will cause a row with family members this Christmas and 58% will be packing their phone charger before taking trips to see friends and relatives.

Rightmobilephone.co.uk has come up with the top five tips for switching off this Christmas;

1. Leave it at home – If you know that you aren’t going to be needed for anything, leave your Smartphone at home when visiting family and friends. If you don’t have it on you, it won’t interfere with your plans.
2. Switch it off – If only for an hour or two, switch your smartphone off to avoid arguments and to have a bit of time to totally relax.
3. Out of office – Set up an auto-response to let people know you’re out of the office. If you don’t get back to them straight away, they won’t start chasing you.
4. Make your absence known – Let colleagues and clients know what days you will not be working, so they are less likely to contact you during your leave.
5. Silence is Golden – Switch your handset to silent, not vibrate or loud mode. If you get a call or an email, you won’t know and won’t be tempted to answer or read it. You might even find you forget that your Blackberry exists… for a minute or two!

Speaking about these latest findings, Neil McHugh, co-founder of rightmobilephone.co.uk commented;

“I wasn’t surprised by the number of people who said they will be checking their smartphones this Christmas. Checking emails is a hard habit to break, especially in the case of the Blackberry when that flashing red light catches your eye!

“Our top five tips will hopefully help people to have a more relaxed Christmas that allows more quality time for family and not clients. I know how difficult it can be to switch off from work when you have a constant reminder in your pocket or bag all day, but for one day of the year at least, people should be able to switch off.”

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For further information or to set up interviews with Neil McHugh or James Zielinski please contact Shannon Haigh , 10 Yetis PR Agency, [email protected], 01452 348211.

Notes to editors

Rightmobilephone.co.uk was launched in November 2007 to help consumers save time and money by providing a trusted comparison platform for customers to purchase from.

The site has become the UK’s most comprehensive and user friendly mobile phone comparison engine, with 600,000+ mobile phone offers combined with user friendly consumer reviews, ratings and video.

Users can review and compare over 800 handsets with images, specifications and video with unique users reviews, opinions and ratings provided by handset owners and compare over 2000 + pay as you go offers and tariffs from all major networks.

Fort Collins, COLO. – Did you know the average cell phone has more germs per square inch than a toilet seat? With new features and applications revolutionizing the medical field, handheld devices are more prevalent than ever in doctors’ offices and hospitals—helping professionals track patient records, check emails or look up data on the go. But these fast-paced, germ infested medical environments can spell disaster for you and your device. With help from OtterBox cases, you can keep your smartphone protected and clean, especially during flu season.

The first step to a safe smartphone is protecting against bumps and drops. With cases for Apple®, BlackBerry®, Palm®, Samsung devices and more, OtterBox is ready for any medical environment. The second step to a safe smartphone is keeping it clean. All OtterBox cases are made out of material that can be easily disinfected. Plus, silicone plugs keep dust and dirt out of ports and jacks while still maintaining full device functionality and interaction.

“This time of year many people are sick so it’s important to keep yourself and your technology germ free,” said Katie Ross, Doctor of Pharmacy in Castle Rock, Colo. who uses the Impact™ Series for her BlackBerry Curve™ 8300. “OtterBox is an ideal solution because it protects my phone in a hectic work environment plus it’s easy to sanitize.”

OtterBox offers cases for every medical professional:

•    Defender™ Series: Protect against frequent drops and the hustle and bustle of medical offices with this three-layer case. A built-in screen protector, polycarbonate shell and silicone overwrap provide the ultimate rugged case.*

•    Commuter™ Series: Find a sleek and sturdy safeguard with this new, hybrid case line. An adhesive screen protector, silicone under layer and polycarbonate outer shell combine for on-the-go protection that slides easily in and out of a briefcase or lab coat pocket.**
•    Impact™ Series: For simplicity, grab this slick single-layer design. With inner coring in the corners and spine of the case to dissipate impact away from your device, plus an included self-adhering screen protector, this case isn’t your average skin.***
Don’t let a chaotic hospital environment or a busy private practice schedule wreak havoc on your smartphone; keep it both clean and protected by encasing it in an OtterBox!

About OtterBox:

Built upon fundamentals of hard work, innovation and perseverance, OtterBox is a leader in the production of premier protective solutions for global handheld manufacturers, wireless carries and distributors.

Incorporating creativity and cutting-edge design into every product, OtterBox creates sleek and durable cases that offer reliable device protection to complement any lifestyle.

OtterBox was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo.

For more information, visit www.otterbox.com or call 888-695-8820. OtterBox — We’ve got technology covered.
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Notes:
*Defender Series cases do NOT protected against water. Will provide some added protection against drop, bump and dust.
**Commuter Series cases do NOT protect against water. Will provide some added protection against bump and shock.
***Impact Series cases do NOT protect against water. Will provide some added protection against bump and shock.