Disposable 'party phone' a best-seller for Tesco

The rise and rise of expensive smartphones has also seen a rise in sales of more disposable phones that people can take on nights out without fear of losing them. One of the best-selling mobile handsets at Tesco over Christmas was an £18.99 "party phone" aimed at forgetful consumers who prefer to leave their iPhones and BlackBerrys at home. Tapping into a disposable trend pioneered by budget high street fashion stores, Tesco's telecoms arm sold more than 10,000 VX1i Party Phones in the two weeks leading up to the New Year. The phone comes without a SIM but allows users to put in their own card and so keep their own number. Tesco said some customers are buying the cheap handsets instead of more expensive phones while others are buying them in addition to their existing phones. "Our handset was developed as an affordable replacement, temporary phone or alternative to a more expensive phone, but its popularity really has taken us by surprise," said Lance Batchelor, chief executive for Tesco Telecoms and Tesco Mobile. Tesco Telecoms said the phone's slim design was intended to meet the demands of women who do not want to carry handbags on nights out and also to coincide with a trend for skinny jeans.