Virgin Mobile makes a splash in Western Canada...

Branson Kitesurfs into Squamish for X-Treme Announcements:

Virgin Mobile Pledges $100,000 in Virgin Mobile X-Treme Team Sponsorship.

Virgin Mobile Offers $100,000 in Airtime to Western Canadians

(Squamish, BC – August 8, 2005) – Virgin Mobile stirred up the competition in Western Canada’s mobile phone market today when Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Chairman and Virgin Mobile Canada founder, kitesurfed into Squamish.

Branson was in British Columbia to launch the search for Virgin Mobile’s first X-Treme Team – a group of four Canadian extreme female athletes who’ll qualify for a year-long, $100,000 team sponsorship.

"Pushing things to the extreme is a way of life for everyone at the Virgin group of companies – we just do things differently than other companies," said Branson." Our X-Treme Team rewards athletes who represent what Virgin Mobile is all about: living on the edge, taking risks and competing at the top of their game."

Virgin Mobile’s X-Treme Team will include four female athletes who are competitive in one or more of the following sports: BMX, free skiing, kiteboarding, mountain biking, motocross, snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding and wakeboarding.

Adrenaline junkies, freestylers, high-fliers can apply for the Virgin Mobile X-Treme Team at www.virgin.com/mobile/xtreme. Applications will be accepted until September 30th, 2005 and the final team will be announced in November. The team will be sponsored for one year, which will include sponsorship money, a Virgin Mobile phone, year’s service and clothing. To be considered, candidates must be Canadian and be over the age of majority.

Branson was accompanied by three professional MF, including Daphnee Laliberte, a 23-year old professional who hails from Quebec. "I’ve kitesurfed around the world for the last three years, but didn’t think I’d ever be kitesurfing with Richard Branson – what a rush!" said Laliberte. "It’s great to be here representing the hundreds of amazing extreme female athletes across the country and focusing attention on our sports."

$100,000 Free Airtime Offer

Andrew Black, CEO of Virgin Mobile Canada, turned up the heat on Virgin Mobile’s competitors in Western Canada when he announced that the company will be giving away $100,000 in free airtime to B.C. or Alberta residents. Starting today until August 14th, the first 1000 B.C. and Alberta residents to take the plunge, buy a Virgin Mobile phone and activate will receive $100 in airtime credit.

"Virgin Mobile continues to make waves in Canada’s mobile phone market," said Black. "When we launched in March, we committed to bringing customers a simpler, better deal because we knew customers were losing out. Well, it doesn’t get much better than $100 of free air time."

Who is Virgin Mobile Canada?

Virgin Mobile Canada operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and is a partnership between Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and the Bell Mobility division of Bell Canada. Virgin Mobile was first launched in the U.K. in November 1999, Australia in 2000, the U.S. in July 2002 and Ontario/BC/Alberta/Atlantic Canada in March 2005. Together, the Virgin Mobile group of companies have attracted more than nine million customers worldwide.

Virgin Mobile customers enjoy great anytime rates with no hidden fees and no contracts to sign. Phones can be purchased at retailers across the country including Best Buy, Future Shop, London Drugs, 7-Eleven, Wal-Mart, Zellers, Indigo-Chapters and Telephone Booth.