Carphone Warehouse goes broadband

PHONES group Carphone Warehouse will pave the way tomorrow for an upbeat results announcement by launching its broadband internet service.

The scheme, predicted by Financial Mail last month, will be aimed initially at the 500,000 residential customers on its TalkTalk service. The deal is expected to be packaged as a simple flat rate payment for unlimited internet use.

The launch of TalkTalk Broadband will come two days before the group - now BT's biggest residential phones rival - unveils half-year results expected to show profits before tax of £27m.

Sales and profits tend to be far higher for Carphone Warehouse in the second half of its financial year, which includes the Christmas sales season.

Analysts are predicting fullyear profits of about £98m, up from £76.5m last year.