The Carphone Warehouse has published its interim results for the six months to 30th September 2010.
Operating expenses increased year-on-year from £3 million to £4 million following the demerger of the TalkTalk business, while after-tax profit was up from £7 million for the same period in 2009 to £25 million this year.
Roger Taylor, CEO of Carphone Warehouse plc, said "We have delivered a strong first half with good performances across all our businesses, and we are raising our guidance for the full year. A key growth driver is the increasing popularity of smartphones and customers’ growing interest in the ‘Connected World’, coupled with their recognition of our heritage of expertise and independent advice in explaining complex technologies. In the US, Best Buy Mobile is performing even better than we had expected with Best Buy Mobile’s US market share now around 5%, compared to around 1% when the venture started in 2006. Reflecting our confidence in the future and our strong cash position, we wish to introduce a progressive dividend policy, commencing with a final dividend for the current financial year."
The company will be putting more money into promoting its Best Buy partnership than initially planned, with operating losses from Best Buy UK now expected to be between £50 million and £55 million.