The website of Alex Kinch, live from London
Posts tagged mvno
New MVNA launches; student MVNO is first customer
Jul 2nd
London-based x-Mobility have just announced the launch of their new Mobile Virtual Network Aggregator (MVNA) service, and at the same time tipped everyone off about a new student Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).
So here’s the deal. x-Mobility have an agreement with 3, all the backend (BSS/OSS) systems, a customer care service, plus SIM and handset fulfilment. In theory you don’t have to do anything – apart from give them some cash and a copy of your brands logo. 120 days later and voila – have your very own MVNO. No months of negotiations with the mobile operator over radio access contracts, and no large outlay on equipment.
That’s what Uni-Tel Mobile did, and they’re now about to launch a new UK student-targetted service. Details on exactly what their offer is – when it’ll be available, etc – is a little sketchy, but their Operations Director, Mike Hall, is quoted as saying ‘We think that we have a very compelling offering to the student market and we’re extremely excited about the possibilities.’
Anyway, back to x-Mobility. The company claims they’re working with a number of brands to launch some more MVNO’s soon. But is there room in the market? Many MVNO’s have come, failed and gone. Differentiation against the traditional operators is the key – it’s not just a case of slapping on your brands logo and hoping for the best; a fact that was a little lost on Marks & Spencer a while back.
I’m currently arranging some time with both Uni-Tel and x-Mobility for a chat – if you’ve got any questions you want putting to them please drop a comment on this post.
Blyk: Bye bye Marketing Director, Hello India
Jun 10th
It’s been an interesting day for advertising-funded MVNO Bylk – with news that their Marketing Director has resigned and they are planning to expand into the Indian mobile market.
New Media Age reports that Dean Merrion has quit his job as Marketing Director after 14 months with the company – and as yet has no concrete plans for the future. The news comes just a few weeks after the premature rumours of Blyk’s exit from the UK mobile market.
“I’ve had a great time at Blyk and achieved all I set out to do,” Merrion told NMA. “I’m confident that I leave the business in great shape for the partnership strategy, with a bigger and more loyal customer base than before I joined.”
Meanwhile Indian business newspaper Live Mint says Blyk are in negotiations with carriers in the country to launch an MVNO with a potential market size of over 400 million subscribers. “Discussions are ongoing (with potential partners). So yes, we do intend to enter India but cannot comment yet on the timing,” said Blyk spokesperson Ann Sarimo.
Updated: Bye Bye Blyk – ad-supported MVNO closes doors
May 13th
UPDATE: Please read this later entry regarding Blyk
Ad-supported mobile network Blyk – launched in 2007 and aimed at the ‘youth’ market – is to axe its consumer offering, according to reports.
The Orange-partnered MVNO, which gave subscribers free text messages and voice minutes in return for receiving promotions and advertising from marketing partners, is planning to focus on operator partnerships, according to New Media Age.
Only a few weeks ago Blyk had announced they’d reached 200,000 customers in just under a year – double their original target – and served over 1,000 ads from more than 100 advertisers. At the time CEO and co-founder Pekka Ala-Pietilä said to analysts at a round table event in London ‘We have proven that it works’. And yesterday Blyk’s mobile advertising partner Velti announced the acquisition of rival Ad Infuse.
Rumours are now circulating that operators including O2, Vodafone and Orange are in talks to acquire the ad technology – and possibly the customers too, although it’s more likely that Orange, being Blyk’s MNO partner, would be in the strongest position to take over the subscriber base.
An email to Blyk’s press team asking for comment bounced with a ‘security policy’ error – but New Media Age have a quoted UK CEO Antti Öhrling as saying “There won’t be an MVNO when we launch the partnership model. The whole model of engaging is appealing to other operators.”
Lebara revenues leap 98%
May 11th
Ethnic-targetted MVNO Lebara has announced a 98% increase in revenues in it’s latest report, with chief executive Yoganathan Ratheesan saying they are “bucking the recession trend”.
The company also claims it’s passed the one million customer mark in the UK, and now has three million customers globally.
According to Mobile News, Lebara chief executive Yoganathan Ratheesan said: “The economic climate is having a major impact on many UK businesses. Lebara Mobile, on the other hand, is bucking the trend – we are a successful, fast-paced company with a business model that delivers real value to our customers and real results to the business.
“Our quality service mixed with transparent and honest pricing offers consumers a simple, easy to use and convenient prepay mobile SIM product. And our healthy financials, strong distribution network and partnerships enable us to be profitable and grow. This is a very exciting time for Lebara.”
Page Plus increases coverage, reduces roaming costs
Apr 21st
Prepaid cell phone service provider Page Plus Cellular has recently expanded its coverage area due to a merger of unrelated carriers that was announced in June 2008 and finalized in January of this year. Page Plus, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which uses the nation’s largest network to carry its service, has also eliminated roaming charges in the service areas now covered in the expanded coverage area.
The expanded coverage created by the merger has improved the cell phone service area in all parts of the country, including the Central Plains states where coverage had been lacking prior to the merger.
Dean McDowell, Chief Financial Officer of Page Plus, said, “Whenever you can have a wireless merger of this magnitude result in positive benefits for the customer, it enhances the customer experience. It reassures them that they have made a good choice in going with prepaid phone service in general, and Page Plus in particular.”
McDowell continued, “We are very fortunate to have such a good working relationship with our partner carrier, and we believe our customers will feel very good about the fact that they now have more freedom to use their Page Plus cell phone across the country.”
Page Plus Cellular is a prepaid cellular service provider with nationwide coverage on America’s largest and most reliable network. Page Plus is consistently ranked among the top prepaid service providers for low rates, flexible plans, and exceptional customer service. Page Plus cell phones and service plans are available through its large national network of dealers, and on its website at www.pagepluscellular.com.
United Mobile – is the end nigh for travel SIMs?
Apr 21st
It’s been an interesting few weeks in the world of travel SIM providers. If rumours are to be believed, United Mobile – one of the biggest (and longest established) providers of travel SIMs is in the throws of death – and already some of it’s competitors are trying to pick at the bones.
On Tuesday 7th April, Truphone-owned Sim4Travel registered unlted-mobile.com – a typo suspiciously close to the official United Mobile website of united-mobile.com. At the time of writing this entry, it was offering customers of ‘other’ travel SIM providers a free Sim4Travel SIM card: “Having problems with your travel SIM provider? You can’t make calls? You’re experiencing a poor service? Or simply, you just want peace of mind that you won’t be let down when you travel.”
Even more damning was a page found at www.sim4travel.com/um/ – which has since been taken down (but still available in Google’s cache) that went as far as to name United Mobile, by saying “Having problems with your Umited Mobile SIM? You can’t make calls? You’re experiencing a poor service? Or simply, you just want peace of mind that you won’t be let down when you travel.”
Meanwhile on Thursday 10th April Truphone issued a press release – which appears to have been swiftly withdrawn – trumpeting the same offer. A quick search of Google reveals that the largest German telecoms magazine Teltarif picked up on the story – which is translated into English via Google here.
Do Truphone know something we don’t? Perhaps. But their actions didn’t go unnoticed by United Mobile. An article in today’s print edition of Mobile News says that UM are to sue Truphone and Sim4travel for fraud. Both sides are quoted in the article. Firstly Sim4Travel’s Matt Rowntree:
“We have recently heard that global SIM provider United Mobile is having trouble supporting its customers. SIM4Travel would like to reassure all United Mobile customers that we can provide them with a continuation of service and would be happy to send them a replacement SIM card for free by first class post. Their remaining credit will be valid on our network.
“If the situation with United Mobile becomes more serious we will be more proactive in contacting their customers although we don’t want to be seen as vultures stealing their customers.”
United Mobile CEO Sven Donhuysen said: “It seems that SIM4Travel is really desperate. Otherwise I cannot explain their actions. What they are doing is fraud. We have our lawyers involved now.”
Meanwhile, United Mobile customers at various Internet forums are complaining that their SIM cards are no longer working. One poster at Flyertalk said: “I’m trying to use my United Mobile SIM card in Singapore and it isn’t working. I’ve used it in many other countries with no problems. This is the first time in several weeks though. I also notice big chunks of the United Mobile website are also down. You can’t access your account for a example. It’s a worrisome coincidence.” whilst another in a thread on Crunchbase posted: Just heard that United Mobile has gone out of business. Their assets have been frozen awaiting liquidation, there is no way the service will restart.”.
Meanwhile German-based Sunsim announced yesterday an offer for UM subscribers who can no longer use their SIM cards. The starter pack gives customers a new SIM card plus €15 of call credit for €14.95.
Both United Mobile and Sim4Travel rely on platforms hosted by and network connectivity provided by Channel Islands-based mobile operator Jersey Telecom.
The MAXroam road test day 4
Apr 20th
Note: before you read this post, make sure you’ve read the introduction plus my posts for day one, day two and day three. Of course you don’t have to – but this entry will make more sense if you have!
- – - -
So it’s day four. just to re-cap, I’m currently in Jersey, armed with a MAXroam SIM, a SIM-unlocked BlackBerry and my MacBook Pro. I’ve managed – after a few struggles – to get my SIM card activated, a GSM number from Belgium assigned to it, and can’t for the life of me figure out how to make calls (even though I’m following the instructions).
After my woes yesterday I’d dropped another email to Chris and Pat. I’m still struggling to add a local number, but the main problem is making calls – or more to the point not being able to make calls.
Got a reply – quite quickly as well. Chris said there’d been some issues during migration to the new platform, which they’d hopefully nailed. As for the number error, they were waiting for their numbering providers to upgrade their systems – and hopefully within a few days they’d be able to start offering local numbers again.
As for the USSD messages and ‘Call Failed’, it’s ‘just the phone telling you what it thought was going to be a call, was not (since a call with MAXroam you actually send a request for callback, so the phone is a little unsure as to what happens and displays that annoying message). Whilst I know that, would the average customer understand these things?
Then came the clanger.
‘Just about dialling calls, I noticed from your message you are not including the +? For calls with your new MAXroam SIM, you need to include the +, so you would dial for example +441112223333′
Oh. That’s not what the instructions (both sets – there’s two on the packaging) said. In fact, it explicitly stated:
1. Always dial the full International phone number, excluding “00″ or “+”
Hmm. So I tried to place a call to my roaming E71 from the BlackBerry, and after the stream of messages and dialogue boxes similar to those I got in the previous day’s test I waited a few seconds – and sure enough I got a call back. Success. Well, almost – as by this time I was sitting on a bus heading to the airport and didn’t really fancy having a conversation with myself in front of a bunch of pensioners who were already eyeing me up with the ‘this is a local bus for local people’ stare.
So, in summary, I’ve got it working – to an extent. It’s taken a few days of faffing, but I seemingly make a voice call. I haven’t tried data yet, nor have I managed to add a local number – so all my friends who I call think I’ve moved to the land of chocolate and Stella Artois.
This road test took place during the week before Easter 2009. How have things gone with MAXroam since I got back? I’ll tell you tomorrow..
The MAXroam road test – day three
Apr 19th
So day three of my MAXroam road test (read the introduction, day one and day two if you haven’t already), and having been up first thing to catch a ridiculously early flight from London City Airport and been rushing around for the rest of the day I was now settled into my hotel room in Jersey. Seeing as I was technically roaming (even though the Channel Islands are still within the UK numbering plan) I thought it was time to see if I could get my MAXroam SIM and account up and running.
I popped the SIM in my trusty SIM-unlocked BlackBerry Pearl. My aim? To see if I could make a voice call successfully to my other handset.
Heading back over to the MAXroam website and logging into my account, I saw that I’d been allocated a mobile number in Belgium. I assumed this was my base number, but I was more interested in the feature MAXroam offers whereby you can get a local number in quite a few cities around the world. I clicked the button, and it broke again. ‘ An error occured during communication with server!’, apparently. A little drop-box appeared but no countries were listed.
Hey ho, not the end of the world. Checking my BlackBerry, which had after what seemed like an age finally booted up, It’d successfully registered on the relatively new Cable & Wireless GSM network in Jersey. Good stuff. So, as per my day one post about following instructions, I grabbed the welcome pack and read up on making a call. There were two sets of instructions, slightly different, but on the subject of making a call it had this to say:
1. Always dial the full International phone number, excluding “00″ or “+”
OK, so I dialled my UK Three number in the format it said. No +44 or 0044, just 44 followed by the number (obviously missing the first zero).
2. Even if you are making a local call use the country code + area code + local number. Then press the send key
I get it 
3. Wait about 5-10 seconds and your phone will ring. Answer this.
I waited, then after a few seconds a message popped up: ‘Call failed, please try again’ with another message rather annoyingly over the top ‘Sim call barred’. As MAXroam is using a callback service, I’d come to expect this. However, nothing in the instructions said I might see these rather confusing messages.
Then a few (5-10) seconds later another message popped up: ‘*182*44(number I dialled)# (ok)’
That’s a USSD message. Again, I half expected to see it, but for the average user it’s a little daunting.
And then? Nothing. So I gave it a minute or so, and tried again. The same things happened, then nothing. No call back.
I gave up again for a while, and rattled off another email to the guys at MAXroam. Whilst normally I’d fiddle around and try all sorts of combinations of number formats to get this working, I was planning to test the serviceas a ‘normob’ user – and not someone who necessarily knows what he’s doing
Stay tuned for day four of the road test – and see whether I got it working.
The MAXroam road test day two
Apr 18th
Rather later than planned, here’s day two of the MAXroam road test. It’s a rather short update as I was rushing around the country that day, but with a trip to Jersey planned for first thing the next morning I wanted to at least try and get things working before I left for the airport.
If you’ve read my previous posts here and most recently here, you’ll know I’d got as far as trying to activate my MAXroam SIM. True to his word, CEO Pat Phelan got his tech team on the case, and first thing the next morning Platform Manager Chris Kennedy registered my SIM for activation. So, back to the registration process I went.
I entered the number of the SIM into the registration screen, setup my details and, well, it worked. Sort of. As you may know, MAXroam gives you a default GSM voice and SMS number (in this latest incarnation, it’s a Belgian +32 number) – and the option to add other local voice numbers in various cities around the world. However, when I first registered I just had a blank space where the Belgian number should be, and trying to add a local number threw a rather bizarre website error.
With the hours getting fewer and fewer until a rather early start to get to London City airport in the morning, I thought I’d have another try tomorrow and see if I could get things working. Stay tuned for the next update!
Blyk MVNO celebrates 200,000 customers in first year
Apr 16th
Mobile Today reports advertising-funded ‘youth’ MVNO Blyk has reached 200,000 customers in just under a year – double it’s original target.
Aimed at the 16-24 market, Blyk has served over 1,000 ads from more than 100 advertisers to it’s customers – giving them free text messages and voice minutes in exchange for viewing the ads.
Understandably CEO and co-founder Pekka Ala-Pietilä is quite pleased. Speaking to analysts at a round table event in London yesterday, he said ‘We have proven that it works’.
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