I know I have been depriving you lately (the day-job demanding more of my nightly attention than I would like) but this is remarkable: Blyk, the ad-funded MVNO, which I have covered previously (here and here), raised – financial crisis or not – a rather substantial amount from its existing investors, namely €40m (which apparently translates into $50.4m). Now, do they not read my blog? Or do I not get it (as Blyk’s UK MD would probably suggest).
Blyk has by now collected 200,000 subscribers and wants to roll out internationally, namely in Germany (as if the cut-throat market there, including Aldi and Tschibo’s money-scraper MVNOs, wouldn’t be enough), Spain and Belgium, which would constitute decent growth. My concerns over the financial viability still stand though (cf. here): I cannot see them making money from this longer term (unless you mean the really, really long term; then it might work). And perhaps, just perhaps, the words of Blyk’s CEO, Ala-Pietala, who noted (which MoCoNews somewhat fittingly called “ominous”) that Blyk also felt the impact of the world’s financial situation, point that way, too. Is that to say that they might have got money but they don’t make any (or not enough)? Do I get it after all?