Hot topics

europe

Comment

Blyk wins more funds to expand, starting with Netherlands

Mike Butcher

View Staff Page

Mike Butcher is the European Editor for TechCrunch. A former grunge rock drummer, he became a long time journalist, and has since written for UK national newspapers and magazines including The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The New Statesman. Mike is also a co-founder and shareholder of TechHub, a co-working space/service/community with several locations... → Learn More

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
Comments

Startup MVNO Blyk – which supports its free mobile network for 16 to 24 year olds by sending them targeted adverts – has secured undisclosed investment from Goldman Sachs and the Industrial and Financial Investments Company (IFIC), and plans a launch in the Netherlands. It launched first late last year in the UK. Also in the round were Sofinnova Partners and some private investors. Founded by ex-Nokia president Pekka Ala-Pietilä and Antti Ohrling, Blyk will piggyback on Vodafone’s network, and plans other Euorpean launches. Last week they denied slow subscriber rates after a disgruntled Blyk user said they and their friends had turned off the Blyk handset’s messaging capabilities in order to avoid receiving the adverts. Kids huh?

Tags:
  • http://www.towerone.com Andy

    When I blogged this yesterday Blyk were scheduling a Dutch launch second half of 2008.

  • http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/21/is-blyk-on-the-blink-for-subscribers/ TechCrunch UK » Blog Archive » Is Blyk on the blink for subscribers?

    [...] expect a free, subsidised handset. There are also rumours that kids are buying into Blyk but then turning off the advertising messages which they are supposed to opt into. Not so good. Despite the numbers, Blyk is ploughing on with a [...]

blog comments powered by Disqus