EE powers new and existing customers with a free Power Bar to charge smartphones

To be eligible for this Power Bar mobile charging kit (which will be made available in the coming weeks), you'll need to be on a 30-day, 12, 18 or 24 month contract, be it mobile, fixed line or broadband. PAYG (Pay As You Go) customers are also eligible, but they need to have been with EE for at least three months. All you need to do is text "POWER" to 365.

Those of you who are only broadband customers, the instructions differ slightly. You'll need to text "JOIN" and your EE landline number to 60005. This will result in a redemption code being provided, which can be used to collect a 2,600mAh Power Bar. This charger can provide some much-needed juice to your smartphone when a power outlet is not available.

As well as acting as a mobile charger, the Power Pack also features an LED torch and indicator lights to show how much power is currently available. Not only can the portable battery be charged at home, EE will swap a depleted Power Bar for a fully-charged replacement bar at any EE store nationwide – for free and as many times as you like.

As noted already, this offer will kick off in the coming weeks. See the press release below and contact EE for more details.

London, 2 April 2015 – EE, the UK's most advanced digital communications company, has announced the launch of EE Power – a free portable smartphone charger with unlimited swaps in store – available to all active* customers on mobile and broadband plans in the coming weeks. The innovative scheme is designed to ensure that EE customers stay charged at all times with 'never ending power'. EE Power is the latest initiative to demonstrate the brand's commitment to reward all new and existing customers and forms part of EE's plan to become the number one network for service.

From launch, EE customers will be able to pick up a free Power Bar in any EE store by requesting a unique code via text. Once the EE Power Bar has been used to charge a device, customers can recharge the portable battery themselves or, if out and about, they can swap it for a fully-charged replacement bar at any EE store nationwide – for free and as many times as they like.

It has been just over two years since EE introduced 4G to the UK and network usage has grown exponentially in this short period. Video streaming and social media engagement now accounts for over 50 per cent of all data use on EE's network as customers access more content on the move. However, this increased activity comes at a cost to battery life and recent research2 shows that there is a genuine consumer need for more power –

Nearly 60 per cent of UK smartphone users claim their battery doesn't last a full day Over half of all smartphone users wish there were more ways to charge their phone in public places - this rises to over 70 per cent of 18-24 year olds Pippa Dunn, Chief Marketing Officer EE, said: "Almost everyone's experienced the frustration associated with running out of battery and it always seems to happen when you need your phone the most. With EE Power, we're trying to help by giving our customers a Power Bar that can simply be swapped for a fully charged one at any of our stores, at any time, for free."

All eligible* customers can get their free EE Power Bar when the promotion launches in the coming weeks by texting 'POWER' to 365 to receive a promotional code. Texts cost 35p and customers can collect their free EE Power Bar by redeeming this code at any EE store across the UK. Each Power Bar typically gives one full smartphone charge per use.

For more information about EE please visit www.ee.co.uk

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.