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.
I’m just wondering how long these ‘ free’ services and sites will be able to sustain themselves. Ad revenue may pay the cost but at what point do they make any profit? I would want a better revenue model if i were an investor. I say this won’t last beyond the initial hype.
Main problem is that European users (sorry, CENTRAL European users) are abusing most of the free services. Fair use is unknown there. I worked several years in Europe for several telco’s and the cheaper the prices… the more is the abuse.
But I think in the UK this service could work….
I’m curious what is meant by “an endless stream of advertising” by Blyk?
Is it on the actual phone’s display, the voice mail system, in SMS messages?
They all come up with ‘free services’ but along the way or they sell out or ….
To answer Dominic, investors invested in Google; what is the difference?
Can u send me mobiles
How can we easily log-in the yahoo ! MASH ?
One has to wonder about “smart” people investing millions in yet another “focus group” MVNO. One can count on one hand, indeed one finger, the number of successful MVNO(s) that have been launched. And that one begins with a big red V. Amp’d, ESPN, and now Disney have all poured millions of other peoples money down a rathole to chase a dream as elusive as the Unicorn – making money off of the race to the bottom of mobile minute pricing.
Now Blyk comes along and after 18 months of research they have decided to sell a limited range of handsets and a “free” 43 minute + 217 Text tariff plan to University students. Oh, of course they have to watch at least 6 “interactive” adverts per day – but that’s not compulsory. Once they go over the limit they can then top up at a non-free, looks like pre-paid subscription minute pricing. Of course we all know that Uni students will no doubt stick to the 43 minutes per month and 217 text messages. Brilliant! Bravissimo!
The research (which delayed the launch) surely cost quite a bit of money and I am in no doubt that many trees and many kw hours were consumed in creating the research which has resulted in the Blyk service. Not being as smart as the Mandarins at Blyk I decided to contact my daughter who goes to university in Scotland and do a little market research of my own. This is what I always do when I hear about middle-aged “smart” guys & gals who are bringing “disruptive” technologies to the “yuuf” marketplace. I described the service to her and said they would be recruiting on campus. Her reaction – “Why would I do that?” Her response reminded me of the scene in the movie, “Big”, when Tom Hanks is presented with the new toy of the season and in the presence of the adults he says, “I don’t get it.” And there you have it. Not scientific, But it does say it all – I don’t get it.
…..does anyone remember PeoplePC? free pc with an adstream – u know when ISPs measured service in minutes as well. to quote Will Ferrell’s character Mogatu from “Zoolander”, “am I taking crazy pills?”