Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Monday, April 28, 2014

Ad-funded MVNO Samba Mobile closes

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.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: Networks and operators, NewsNumber of views: 8743

Tags: advertising uk mvno samba mobile

1 comments on article "Ad-funded MVNO Samba Mobile closes"

3
0
Avatar image

paul

4/28/2014 10:20 PM

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.

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

Last week at The Fonecast: 4th March 2013

What happened at Mobile World Congress?

Mark Bridge writes:

We’re back from Mobile World Congress – and what a show it was. Located at a new site that saw more visitors than ever before, the show had everything… except any particularly obvious theme from hardware manufacturers. Last year was the year of the quad-core smartphone, this year there was plenty of incremental innovation but nothing truly startling.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Cell phone use increasing pedestrian danger

Faiza Elmasry of voanews.com writes:

Teenagers are often warned against texting on their cell phones while they are behind the wheel of a car, since distracted driving can lead to serious automobile accidents.

Many teens, however, are not aware that distracted walking can be just as dangerous.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile phone shopping tips from Mark Bridge on Britain's Secret Shoppers

Mark Bridge writes:

I like a challenge. I like learning. Ask me to do a spot of research and I’ll happily pore over books, trawl the internet and have lengthy conversations into the night.

So I was more than happy to help when Optomen Television, the company behind “Britain’s Secret Shoppers” on Channel 4, asked me for a few tips that would help viewers get a good deal on a mobile phone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: 5.0
What's wrong with Android?

What's wrong with Android?

and why 2.3 is still the most popular version

James Rosewell writes:

8 months ago I moved my main smartphone from Android to Windows Phone. I had entered a simpler world. There were less applications, no tethering option, voice dictation sucked and I couldn’t get a multi-SIM device. But overall I survived.

Then I started travelling more. I moved back to Android a few weeks ago... and what a disappointment.

0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Last week at The Fonecast: 18th February 2013

There's only one MWC...

Mark Bridge writes:

As the final days before this year’s Mobile World Congress approach, we discover there are two types of scheduled news announcements from the wireless telecoms industry.

There are the announcements delayed until MWC begins because the company wants to be part of the buzz at Barcelona. And there are the announcements made in the fortnight beforehand because they don’t want their story to get lost.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First2122232426282930Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 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.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

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.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

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

Podcast - 30th January 2015

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.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement