Yesterday's New York Times tipped me off to an initiative that will offer British cellphone users free calls and text messages in exchange for agreeing to receive advertising on their phones.
The company, which is called Blyk, is operating on the fact that fees from callers are flat or falling in many markets and carriers are seeking other ways to profit off of cell users, says the Times.
Blyk's website describes the company as a "new mobile network for 16 – 24s that’s funded by advertising." Blyk claims it "links young people with brands they like and gives them free texts and minutes every month."
I've become an utter TiVo freak in an effort to weed out advertisements from my TV viewing, so I can't imagine signing up to receive ads on my cell phone. What if you had to watch a minute long ad to make a 10-second call to tell your partner to pick up soymilk? Would you do it to cut costs?
Soft Grey
Giorgio Armani
Miss Sixty
i'm super cheap, so yeah. i'd totally do it.
1I would never do this. My cell phone bill isnt over the top. I cant stand waiting for the the voice on the other end of the phone to stop before I leave a voicemail, why would I want to get ads thrown at me every time I make a call? So not worth it. Pop up ads, junk e-mail, telemarketers, snail mail junk mail are enough for me. I am sick of getting bombarded with this stuff already!
2I don't think I would want ads on my phone. I hate ads in general so why would I want them to lower my phone bill which isn't expensive to begin with!?
3Maybe an ad when you turned the phone on or off, but not everytime you make a call.
4No, I am bombarded by enough advertisers.
5I will not sign up until they perfect the mobile technology. It's hard enough to view clips voluntarily via youtube...etc.
6I can't think of anything more annoying than this. I see plenty of ads everyday, and if I want or need to call someone, I don't want to wait while some ad plays on the screen
7The scary part is that they LISTEN TO YOUR CONVERSATIONS to decide which ads to send you. Can we say Big Brother? Why would anyone willingly let someone else (especially a corp.) listen in on their calls. Crazy.
8I hope I win.
9That would drive me crazy. I'm with the other girl who said she can't even stand to listen to the voice mail lady. Patience is not had by me.
10haha. I would =)
11It depends. If they were texted to me, then yes. If I had to sit through one before I could make a call, then not a chance.
12Yeah, I'm with colormesticky. I can stand texts but not on an actual phone call! Yeck!
13I'd have to see how it all works first. It might be worth it!
14No way. I think I would even pay extra to prevent spammers from getting their emails to me.
15That's just really dumb, IMO. I HATE it when random people call me, so why would I want random companies trying to sell me whatever I don't need? No thanks.
16i couldn't do it.. What happens if its an emergency and you have to watch this ad before you can make the call. Thats just scary!
17no way, this is so crazy. i would be so mad seeing more ads than i normally do.
18i'd be ok w/ txt message advertisements but not one's i would have to listen to to make a call.
19I wouldn't mind a service like BrightSpot.TV, which I currently use to help pay my monthly GameFly bill. They pay you to watch the commercials at your leisure.
Having ads sent to my cell would make me crazy! I am already getting "spam" sms.
20ohmygosh!!!!! no way would i sit through the brainwashings of a disgusting industry who only exists to produce lies about goods just to cost more.
absurd
21no way, i hate commercials already, i don't need them on my phone
22Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.