Ad-funded MVNO Blyk ends services

ad-funded UK MVNO Blyk would shut its consumer operation in favor of offering managed services. The company immediately denied the allegations. “We are not closing shop,” said spokesperson Ann Sarimo. That was either a lie, or something changed between then and now to cause Blyk to do the exact thing commentators said they’d do: offer managed services. We learned earlier this week that Blyk “is no more”. It will instead sell its advertising technology to interested providers, starting with Vodafone Netherlands. So it looks like the ad-funded model just won’t work. Apparently, advertisers enjoyed it more for market research purposes, so there wasn’t much for long-term prospects. While it’s sad to see them go, I wish they hadn’t so vehemently denied what would eventually come true.]]>