Blyk goes Duch on Vodafone network — MobileMonday Global: Industry News

^{Receives new money} Blyk goes Duch on Vodafone network

31 Jan 2008 at 19:42 GMT Timo Poropudas

Blyk, the advertising-funded mobile phone network operator, Wednesday is expanding into the Dutch market. The company also said that it has secured additional funding from Goldman Sachs and Kuwait's Industrial Financial Investments Company.

Blyk will be operating in the Vodafone Group mobile network in the Netherlands. It will launch the service in the second half of 2008.

Blyk has plans to enter three or four additional large European markets this year. The company has been very tight lipped about its progress in the UK market. One observer pointed out that Blyk has is yet announced it first hundred thousand customers.

Blyk was co-founded by a former president of Finland's Nokia, Pekka Ala-Pietila, and marketing veteran Antti Ohrling.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs and Kuwaiti IFIC have also taken an undisclosed stake in the company, which already has funding from Sofinnova Partners and other private investors.

“For advertisers Blyk is a pan-European youth medium and the Netherlands is among the three highest advertising spend per capita in Europe. It is also a key target market for those brands with international campaigns,” Pekka Ala-Pietilä said,

“From an advertising perspective, the Netherlands is also an incredibly creative and dynamic market. The deal with Vodafone ensures that we can offer the highest quality service in the Netherlands for both our members and our advertisers.”

Ala-Pietilä whos has been avoiding the public eye after Nokia years, will deliver a keynote speech at the MobileMonday Peer Awards on February 11 in Barcelona.