T-Mobile rolls out interactive kiosks

T-Mobile has rolled out interactive kiosks to 250 stores in what it has called a multimillion-pound technology investment.

The kiosks allow customers to find out about the mobile network's range of handsets and services. The kiosk screens are linked to live handsets so customers can sample T-Mobile's internet and music download services.

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Previously kiosk technology has seen little success in the retail environment, despite the trend toward providing better in-store customer experience or 'retail theatre'.

However mobile phone retailers have struggled in the past to find ways of introducing handsets to customers as they become more feature-rich, without exposing live units to shoplifters.

The move underlines T-Mobile's commitment to its own-store strategy which involved the doubling of its estate throughout 2006.

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T-Mobile head of retail Russell Taylor said in a statement: "The development of our interactive offering ensures that we are enabling the greatest possible mobile experience by providing customers with the information they need, in a simple, straightforward and exciting format."

The T-Mobile kiosks were built in-house by subsidiary T-Systems and supported by content management system specialist MDT.