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PC World reports surge in fax machine sales as postal strike continues

“BEEEEEEEEE….OOOOO…….WEEOOWEEOOWEEOO”

(THE FAX IS BACK)

- PC World and Currys report buoyant fax machine and scanner sales as postal strikes hit homes

- Fax machine sales up 25% and scanner sales up 20% as the postal dispute bites

The fax machine, one of the icons of the eighties and nineties office, is staging a comeback as homes look for new ways to offset the impact of the current wave of industrial action at the Royal Mail. Sales of fax machines have been tracking as much as 25% above expectations as industrial action at the Post Office has caused homeowners to find alternative methods of getting their messages through.

“We’ve seen a run on faxes and scanners this week,” said Niall O’Keeffe, marketing director at PC World. “Customers have been flocking to buy them this week, many of them a vibrant shade of pillarbox red.”

Scanner sales at PC World are 20% ahead of expectations this week as households rely more heavily on email and broadband to getting crucial documents that they would otherwise post to their destinations.

Niall O’Keeffe added: “We’d thought that faxes were heading for extinction with the advent of broadband, but the recent industrial action has caused us to think twice. The fax is a simple and reliable technology that can get messages across with a minimum of fuss.”

Computing and internet technology is now responsible for the distribution of most written communication around the world according to estimates. In early 2006, approaching 200 billion emails were being sent every day, according to the Radaciti Group, a technology market research firm. Though for now, electronic transfer is confined to words sounds and images, it may not be long before physical objects can be transferred from one place to another instantly. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon Institute are working on a project that may achieve what has been confined to date to the realms of science fiction, notably in Star Trek.

- Ends –

More information:

Rob Forbes, PC World, 01727 204248
rob.forbes@dsgiplc.com

Hamish Thompson, Twelve Thirty Eight Ltd, 07702 684290
hamish.thompson@1238kmh.com

Notes to Editors

About PC World
PC World is Britain’s largest specialist chain of computing superstores. The superstores offer more than 5,000 product lines including extensive ranges of PCs, laptops, printers, software, peripherals and accessories from the major brands, as well as many PC World exclusive products. In-store PC Clinics offer on the spot advice and service. Component Centres offer a ‘one-stop shop’ for customers with advanced technical knowledge, providing a vast choice of PC components and upgrade products at competitive prices. In 2007, PC World won Retail Week’s Product Innovation of the Year award, for its Data Recovery service. Every PC World store has an in-store business centre staffed by experienced business specialists. They offer local companies face-to-face help and advice with choosing the best IT solutions. There are 157 stores in the UK and 10 in the Republic of Ireland.

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