Categories
Close
Menu
Menu
Close
Search
Search

Featured Articles

News

Ad-funded MVNO Samba Mobile closes

Mark

Share:

Print

Rate article:

No rating
Rate this article:
No rating

Advertising-funded virtual network Samba Mobile has closed down in the UK… just a month after rival MVNO Ovivo Mobile ceased trading.

Samba Mobile was formed in 2010 and launched its mobile network in 2012. It’s posted a message on its website that says “Samba has had to take the difficult decision to close, primarily due to high and increasing - and therefore unsustainable - data costs.”

It says these data costs have made its current model “unsustainable”. Customers who signed up this month will receive a refund for their SIM card or dongle; any credit that’s been bought and hasn’t been used will also be refunded.

The statement goes on to say “You have taken part in a unique experiment that has been welcomed by the ad industry – we have run over 1000 campaigns for our partners and have, to a large extent, proven that people are happy to consume advertising if they are in control of the experience and if they get something meaningful in return. We will be taking this experience into subsequent ventures.”

The Samba Mobile service had used the Three UK network. Customers received a basic data allowance by watching promotional videos online.

Comments

Collapse Expand Comments (1)
paul

I'm well p****d off, I've just lost 2 lines, my numbers & cash with that ovivo, now samba where its taken me 6 month to accrue 5.3 gig of data, only to lose the lot, unbelievable, who's next, asda & or giffgaff, they're also mvno's just like ovivo & samba, beware folks, be very careful which network you use, its as if the big boy's allow these mvno's to become established, then when they feel a slight pinch of lost custom, they pull the plug and let us all sink, its time some watchdog put some provisions in place to protect the public, but not the trading standards as all they can do with their sale of goods act is talk a glass eye to sleep.

3
0
You don't have permission to post comments.

Opinion Articles

ExclusiveLocation based services - why operators hold all the cards

Donald Stuart, CEO of Brainstorm, explains why mobile operators are well placed to take advantage of the revenue streams opened up by location technologies.

The area of Location based services (LBS) has been getting a lot of attention of late, and it’s no wonder, Juniper Research has highlighted that the Mobile Context and Location Services market is expected to generate revenue of $43.4 billion by 2019, up from $12.2 billion in 2014.

ExclusiveLooking forward to Apps World 2014

Mark Bridge writes:

We’re delighted to be a media partner to Apps World 2014. This year Apps World has outgrown its previous home and is moving to ExCeL London, alongside the River Thames. There’ll be over 350 exhibitors and even more workshops than before, with a number of free conference sessions alongside premium options.

ExclusiveI'm trying to end the purple reign of my HTC One

Mark Bridge writes:

The two-year mobile phone contract has almost become a standard, despite EU efforts to make it a worst-case scenario. I went into the Brighton branch of Carphone Warehouse today and was told I couldn't upgrade to a 12-month contract. Last year I could; now they would only offer me a 24-month deal.

CAT B100 rugged mobile phone review

ExclusiveCAT B100 rugged mobile phone review

Mark Bridge writes:

There’s no doubting the CAT B100 is a tough looking phone. It’s the kind of phone that needs to be described by someone with a voice rather like James Earl Jones or Isaac Hayes. The promotional video shows a chap on a building site and another guy on a motorbike delivering emergency supplies to a hospital. Apparently that’s the target market.

RSS
124678910Last

Recent Podcasts

ExclusivePodcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

ExclusiveLooking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

ExclusiveA month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

RSS
124678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Archive Calendar

«July 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
293012345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829303112
3456789

Archive