Ad-supported mobile service Blyk does MVNO deal
By Vivek | April 4th, 2007 at 12:51 pm ET
Blyk is learning to take the first steps that can change the mobile industry. The Finland based startup today announced that it has signed a MVNO deal with Orange. The two companies have entered into a wholesale agreement regarding the transportation of voice and data traffic across the Orange network. Blyk, founded last year and headed by the former President of Nokia Pekka Ala-Pietilä, plans to provide free-ad supported mobile calling. Target age group for the service is 16-24 year olds while advertisers lined up for the service includes Buena Vista, Coca-Cola, I-play Mobile Gaming, L’Oreal Paris, StepStone and Yell.com. Deal with Orange or one of the other mobile carriers from UK was imminent ’cause UK is the first country where the service is supposed to be rolled out sometime this year.
LightReading is also reporting that Blyk has chosen Nokia Siemens Networks to supply, build and host its core network. Nokia Siemens Networks will be hosting the entire operation of Blyk’s core network which would avoid infrastructure investments from the startup.
