UK kids to get free calls and texts in return for ads
PrintNo sir, I don't believe you are 16
Posted in Mobile, 26th March 2007 15:11 GMT
Free webcast: Service level monitoring and management
A mobile phone start-up will offer UK teenagers free phone calls and texts in return for listening to adverts from this summer.
Blyk, the company behind the scheme, has already signed Buena Vista, Coca-Cola, L'Oreal Paris, and Yell.com for the British launch. It is rumoured to be close to a network deal with Orange.
The company will target 16 to 24 year olds, who will "earn" free phone calls and text messages in exchange for receiving adverts on their phones.
A spokesman for Blyk couldn't tell us much more than that.
Pronounced "blick", the firm was co-founded by Pekka Ala-Pietla, who was president of Nokia from 1999 to 2005. The company is backed by private investors and Sofinnova Ventures.
The Reg is glad the last remaining teenager on the bus home who doesn't have a phone will now also be entertaining us with adverts as well as ringtones. ®
What Exchange can't do - and Dell can
Enabling The Agile Data Center
Enterprise PBX buyer's guide
Analyst Keynote: The Register Agile Data Center Summit
Dirty, dirty PCs: The X-rated picture guide
Top 500 supers - rise of the Linux quad-cores
Early adopters bloodied by Ubuntu's Karmic Koala
Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter