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? → Read More
From TechCrunchUK: Europe’s Blyk, the much anticipated and much delayed advertising supported mobile service, may be gearing up for launch very soon. They’ve scheduled a press conference for September 24. The service has also recently said they are “on track for launch.” The service will be free for users and targeted to 16-24 year olds. Presumably that age group will be more receptive to receiving an endless stream of advertising in exchange for free mobile minutes and texting. Mosh Mobile is theoretically a U.S. equivalent to the service, but none of the carriers I’ve spoken to have ever heard of them, and they don’t appear to be funded. My guess is it’s more of a pipe dream than anything. Look for iPhone UK news next week as well. CrunchBase Information Blyk Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More
Blyk is supposed to be some sort of Euro-only free cellphone service that depends on ads and interstials to offer free calls and texting to subscribers. As we all remember, this business model really works well — just look at eMachines, for gosh sakes — but that won’t stop fools from trying it. To that end, it turns out the the service is currently delayed and probably won’t appear for a few months. The company is led by former Nokia president, so that gives it some respectability, but I’m going to have to call bullshit on this one until I see it. Blyk’s free mobile launch delayed [Guardian] → Read More
Are ads going to pay for mobile content? That’s the analysis coming from Red Orbit, which reports that the UK mobile network market has taken its first fully-fledged steps towards the ad-funded model. And other European carriers, such as Blyk, a pan-European network, will soon offer free mobile phone calls and text messaging services for free in return for accepting advertising on handsets. This business model is being aimed at the 16 to 24-year old market, one that has less disposable income for making calls, but one that still tends to gab it up considerably. According to Red Orbit, Blyk will work closely with advertisers to pioneer more creative ads, and further track these ads in real time to allow the advertisers to view and adjust their ads accordingly. Ad-Funding Looms for Mobile Realm [Red Orbit] → Read More
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