Free Phones for UK Teens - Exchanging Freebies for Adverts

Similar to beta service MOSH Mobile in the U.S., Blyk is an invite-only cell phone service in the UK that is offering 16- to 24-year-olds 217 texts and 43 minutes of talk time per month, in exchange for receiving six advertisements a day. To distract from the sometimes negative connotations evoked by the word “advertisements”, Blyk tries to ensure its users that they will be linked to brands—and bands, including The Long Blondes and The Lightyears—that they like.

Interested users must prove their age with a driver’s license or passport number, as well as fill out an online survey that indicates their likes and dislikes. They are then sent a free SIM card, which is then inserted into their already existing phone; Blyk cards can be used with any UK network. No commitments are made, so if after a month a user wishes to cease using Blyk, they are free to do so. In keeping with their music angle, Blyk even teamed up with Vice to sponsor a free live music party, Unitaur, which featured bands such as Canada’s Crystal Castles, England’s These New Puritans and France’s The Teenagers.