LONDON—The Walt Disney Co. has opted to delay the launch of its mobile virtual network operator phone service in the United Kingdom.
“We have decided to postpone the launch of the Disney Mobile service,” said Disney Mobile U.K. spokeswoman Sandra van Vreedendaal.
Van Vreedendaal added that the delay was due to recent consolidations in retail stores that she said would impact Disney Mobile’s retail distribution possibilities. Disney Mobile’s U.K. service had been slated to launch before the end of this year on carrier O2 plc’s network. The carrier has not yet set a new launch date.
“We will continue to evaluate, and we’ll remain set to move as the environment becomes more conducive,” van Vreedendaal said.
Disney’s U.S.-based MVNO runs on Sprint Nextel Corp.’s network and the operation appears to have faired poorly in the most-recent quarter. Sprint Nextel reported that its MVNO/wholesale division, which counts a number of partners including Disney Mobile, Mobile ESPN L.L.C., Helio L.L.C. and Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C., posted a net loss of 31,000 customers during the period.
