The Inquirer reports that ROK Entertainment — a U.K. company that provides mobile television programs (see left) — has begun talking to Xero Mobile, a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) based in Los Angeles.
Xero Mobile’s business strategy is to offer free cellular service to college students who agree to view advertising on their phones. The Inquirer speculates that since ROK offers a mobile video/mobile TV platform and Xero Mobile subscribers must receive advertisements in exchange for service, those advertisements could be videos.
Xero Mobile isn’t being offered commercially in the United States (at least neither the Inquirer nor I have heard about it), but a similar MVNO, Blyk, in the U.K. is offering advertiser-supported cellular service, the article notes. Blyk’s late September press release (pdf file — boo!) says the service has just begun to launch, but by invitation only.
Blyk is targeting subscribers who are 16 years old to 24 years old who may use 217 SMS messages and 43 minutes of voice for free every month if they receive ads on their phones.
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