If you're addicted to your phone but dread your monthly phone bill, then you'll love Blyk, the UK service that offers you free text messaging and calls. They are the world's first company to offer a service like this. The catch? You have to be between 16 and 24 and be willing to receive ads from the company. You won't even need to sign a contract. Pretty sweet deal!
The service, launched today, offers 43 free minutes a month and 217 texts. No word of them spreading to North America yet, but they do plan on offering the service in Germany, France, Italy and Spain in the future.
Free Calls & Texts
Blyk Targets 16-24
Trend Themes
1. Free Mobile Services - Blyk's offering of free calls and texts is setting a trend towards mobile telecom services funded by advertising.
2. Targeted Ads - Blyk's promise of free services in exchange for targeted ads is a trend towards more precise ad targeting to specific audiences in the telecom industry.
3. Youth Market - Blyk's targeting of the 16-24 age range is highlighting a trend towards creating offerings specifically for the youth market in the mobile telecom industry.
Industry Implications
1. Telecom - Blyk's innovative model of offering free services in exchange for targeted ad exposure presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the mobile telecom industry.
2. Advertising - Blyk's use of targeted ads to fund their free mobile services is a trend that presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the advertising industry.
3. Youth Marketing - Blyk's efforts to appeal specifically to the 16-24 year old market indicates a area of opportunity for disruptive innovation and targeted marketing in the youth market industry.