# User-Owned Internet Companies Andelsmobil's Member Surplus Plan Lets Customers Share Profit By henrik stech | Published 2009-03-18 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/own-your-cell-phone-company References: [indexaward.dk](http://www.indexaward.dk/print_nomination.asp?id=544#) & [andelsmobil.dk](http://www.andelsmobil.dk) Andelsmobil, a Danish internet telecommunication company, allows its members to make management decisions and pays its consumers a surplus from company profits once a year. It costs about $70 in U.S. funds to become a part of the [phone company](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/klarna-mobile-service). This is consumers taking back power -- and money. According to an Andelsmobil press release, the company offers members a “100 percent fair and transparent business.” Not bad in a time of financial crisis. **Implications** - Cooperative companies found a foothold during the recession after investors' stock exchange portfolios took heavy hits. These [profit-sharing cooperatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shareholder-loyalty-program) give [small-time investors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/financial-accessibility) a chance to take part in business without the volatility and unpredictability of the stock market. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.0/10 - Popularity: 3% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Cooperative Companies:** Cooperative companies allow small-time investors to take part in business without the volatility of the stock market. - **User-ownership:** User-owned internet companies enable consumers to make management decisions and share in the company's profits. - **Profit-sharing:** Profit-sharing models offer transparent and fair business opportunities for consumers during times of financial crisis. ### Who This Affects Most - **Telecommunications:** The telecommunications industry can explore user-owned models and profit-sharing strategies to engage consumers and increase transparency. - **Financial Services:** Financial services providers can adopt cooperative company structures to offer small investors a stable alternative to the stock market. - **Technology:** The technology industry can develop user-owned internet platforms that allow consumers to actively participate in decision-making and share in the profits. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Community-Supporting Business Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/linked-prosperity.md) - [Eco-Friendly Mobile Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meaningful-planet.md) - [Social Mobile Phone Plans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heimobile.md) - [Community-Centric Investment Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/communitycentric-investment-app.md) - [Building-Specific Charging Cooperatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/charging-cooperative.md) - [Data Savings Account Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/data-savings-account.md) - [Hyper-Local Gifting Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buy-nothing-project.md) - [Activism-Fostering Investment Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/investment-platforms.md) - [Co-Creating Consumer Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/members-mark-community.md)