giffgaff, a 'virtual' mobile operator that uses the O2 UK network, has launched today. It's encouraging its customers to promote the network by borrowing eccentric tools and creating YouTube videos. The best five videos will each receive £5000; there's also a potential reward of free mobile usage for a year.
The company is also running a 'Payback' scheme that awards points for helping other people. Each point is worth 1p; there are points for answering queries, points for submitting marketing ideas and 500 points (£5) for acquiring new users.
Calls to UK mobiles and landlines are 8p per minute and texts just 4p each. Calls between giffgaff users are free, as are 0800 numbers; data usage is also free for a few months until the company formulates a data tariff. [giffgaff blog]