mmO2 and coffee chain Tchibo are teaming up to establish a virtual mobile network in Germany. mmO2 claims 1.39m German customers already, but the Tchibo joint venture will target lower-spending pre-pay customers.

In a brief statement mmO2 said: "Over the next 12 months, the Hamburg-based operation known as Tchibo Mobilfunk GmbH & Co. KG plans to develop, test and launch mobile services in Germany. The company will announce further details in due course."

The deal is similar to the one MMo2 did with Tesco to offer its customers mobile services. Tesco and MMo2 is available in 500 stores and now has 250,000 users.

Tchibo started as a mail-order coffee supplier in Germany in 1949. It now supplies coffee and consumer goods by mail order, through shops, cafes and through concession stands in supermarkets. It employs 10,600 people and last year turned over €3,300m. ®

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