Blyk partnership with Orange to signal end of free mobile credit model

LONDON - Blyk, the ad-funded mobile network, has formed a new partnership with Orange UK that promises to put an end to its free-mobile credit model.

Orange/Blyk partnership: Pekka Ala-Pietilä (left) and Marc Overton shake on the deal
Orange/Blyk partnership: Pekka Ala-Pietilä (left) and Marc Overton shake on the deal

Blyk has acquired in excess of 200,000 users in the UK since launching in 2007, all provided with free credit in exchange for receiving targeted advertising.

This is set to end on 26 August when Blyk's new partnership with Orange will start.

Blyk's current members will be given the option to migrate to Orange's network or stay on the ad-funded model.

Marc Overton, vice-president of wholesale, business development and partnerships at Orange, said: "We're strengthening our advertising arm and will continue with combining Blyk's integrated campaigns on a mass market scale. It's the next step in mobile media, which is about engagement."

Blyk's co founder and chief executive Pekka Ala-Pietilä said: "The model is about generating relevant advertising based on profiling.

"Because advertising is relevant, members don't see it as spam. We have a 25% response rate, but, because of the increase in numbers, we see this as a major building block for Blyk's international expansion. The next part of the strategy is about partnerships."

It is not clear at this stage if the partnership will lead to any jobs cuts.

 

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