BT considering mobile internet service?

The Guardian says BT is considering setting up a mobile phone or mobile data service in partnership with T-Mobile and 3. It currently offers some mobile services as an optional extension of its broadband package.

Blyk changes its tariff structure

Ad-funded MVNO Blyk has said it's changing its tariff structure next month. Gone is the free bundle of 217 texts and 43 minutes per month; instead the company will be giving its customers £15 of credit every month to spend on calls at 24p a minute or texts at 8p each. It means that customers can now send picture messages and use data as part of their allowance. [Source: Blyk.com; there's also in-depth commentary at MobileIndustryReview.com]

New UK CEO for Blyk

Antti Ohrling has been appointed as as UK CEO of virtual network Blyk following Shaun Gregory's resignation for personal reasons. Mr Ohrling is one of Blyk's co-founders and is currently an executive director of the company. He's also the chairman and founder of Contra Group, an advertising agency. Last year Blyk announced that it had doubled its first-year target by attracting 200,000 members to its network. [Source: Press release]

Blyk raises money and cuts costs

Ad-funded virtual mobile network Blyk raises says it's raised an additional €40 million to support its operations, although it's also cutting costs and is streamlining the organisation. Blyk launched in the UK in September 2007, attracting over 200,000 members in its first year. It's currently working with 180 brands and plans to have and 200 brands using the service by the end of 2008. [Press release]

Blyk reaches 200,000 customers

A year after it launched, ad-funded virtual network Blyk says it has over 200,000 customers. That's twice as many as the company originally forecast. Word of mouth is a major factor in thi growth, with 6 out of 10 customers joining because of a friend’s recommendation. [Blyk blog]

New UK MVNO offers foreign-language customer care

A new UK virtual mobile network called GlobalCell has launched in partnership with Orange. It's a SIM-only prepaid service aimed at Eastern Europeans in the UK, with all customer interaction conducted in the customers’ native language. Choices include Polish, Russian, Lithuanian, Slovak and English. International calls cost from 10p per minute. [Press release]

Ikea launches mobile network

Ikea, best known for its self-assembly home furnishings, is launching Family Mobile - a virtual mobile network in the UK. The network will be sold as SIM-only and connects to the T-Mobile network. It'll be part of the Ikea Family loyalty programme, which gives it 1.4 million prospective customers. Ikea says the network will offer the UK’s lowest priced pay-as-you-go service, with calls at 9p per minute and texts costing 6p each. [Press release]

MVNO market is doing okay

A report from Informa Telecoms & Media predicts there'll be 150 million customers using mobile virtual networks by 2013, with 42% coming from Western Europe. That's 3% of the anticipated total number of mobile customers worldwide. The report says targeting specific customer groups has helped MVNOs survive, with discount and community-focussed offerings expected to account for around 55% of MVNO users by 2013. [Source: Telecoms.com]

Blyk reaches 100,000 customers ahead of target

Virtual advertising-funded mobile network Blyk has hit its target of 100,000 users ahead of schedule. It had planned to reach the figure within a year of its September 2007 launch but met the target five months early. At its current growth rate it could reach 250,000 users by Christmas. [Source: Telegraph.co.uk]

Vodafone rescues Dot Mobile customers

Vodafone has paid around £1 million to take on the 18,000 customers of student Virtual Network Dot Mobile, which went into administration last month. It's moving the customers onto its own tariffs and is paying the company's creditors. Dot Mobile had been targeting university students since its launch in 2005, offering customers up to £80 for referring a new user. [Source: Mobile News]

Tesco MVNO adds 250,000 customers in a year

Tesco says its Virtual Mobile Network, which operates on the O2 network in the UK, is acquiring 250,000 customers a year. [Source: BWCS.com]

Hiccup for Virgin's mobile plans in India

The Virgin Group's new mobile phone partnership with Tata Indicom (announced last week) could be illegal, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India. Tata has just launched a mobile phone service using the Virgin brand. Mobile Virtual Networks - buying mobile services from a network and then reselling them - are not permitted in India, although Virgin insists it is running a franchise, not a MVNO. The Indian Department of Telecommunication is apparently investigating the complaint. [Sources: TimesOnline.co.uk; original PDF press release]

China Mobile plans UK network?

The Inquirer reports on speculation that China Mobile, which is setting up a London-based regional office, could launch a mobile virtual network in the UK and other European countries.

Blyk expands into Europe

Advertising-funded mobile phone network Blyk, which is currently available to 16-24 year olds in the UK, has announced that it's expanding into the Dutch market in partnership with Vodafone Netherlands. It's also said Goldman Sachs and IFIC will be new investors in the company. [Press release]

Disney ready for Japanese MVNO launch

Walt Disney, which closed its American virtual mobile network and decided not to enter the UK market, says it is launching Disney Mobile in Japan on 1st March in partnership with Softbank. Three Sharp mobile phones, each with a silhouette of Mickey Mouse, will be available. The service is expected to target young adults, not children. [Sources: CNNMoney.com, DVICE.com, AFP/Google, WSJ.com]

3 signs UK MVNO deal

The UK's first virtual network using 3 has been agreed between Hutchison 3G and telecomms distributor Gamma Telecom. Gamma Telecom is going to offer its own-branded service for small to medium-sized businesses via the company's independent resellers. Gamma currently offers fixed-line services to over 500,000 UK customers. [Source: Cellular-News.com]

Tiscali to launch mobile service

Broadband company Tiscali is planning to introduce a SIM-only mobile phone service at the end of the year, according to the Daily Telegraph. The service will be based on ToucanMobile, which Tiscali acquired in 2007.

Vodafone buys Irish fixed-line and broadband company

Vodafone has bought Irish fixed-line and broadband company Perlico, which has 62,500 customers. Perlico will continue to operate as a separate brand, with a Perlico virtual network expected in early 2008. [Source: Mobile News]