Startups; Data MVNOs coming up?
Many years ago I was among the first to capitalize on the Virtual Mobile Operators (MVNOs). It was a great business in the early 2000. Later the margins went to low and instead I introduced outsourcing for mobile operators&brands that searched for lower costs (today big biz for Ericsson). Recently it has come to my attention that there might be some business opportunities in a data driven MVNO Model.
Just look at the roaming charges within EU. Still most users have to pay as much as 70 eurocent per mb. With recent increase in usage you easily end up with substantial charges. The models for discounts offered by operators are not transparent enough.
One interesting concept that just received venture funding is Fogg Mobile. Their approach is to market a "one world" concept fully transparent to the user. The concepts operates on the following pilars
-Roaming agreements across Europe. Initially with the operator 3
-Funding from Russia. Maybe some stakes from 3?
-Entrepreneurs from the Tele2 group
-Standard SIM with some intelligence in the app and on the server side (secret sauce)
-Client recruitment through different networks and hardware vendors.
The concept might work, especially if roaming charges within and outside EU stays high.
Edit; Autumn 2013-After this was written the company received additional funding and launched, however EU has declared that roaming will be eliminated 2016 which puts a cap on the value of data MVNOs.
Just look at the roaming charges within EU. Still most users have to pay as much as 70 eurocent per mb. With recent increase in usage you easily end up with substantial charges. The models for discounts offered by operators are not transparent enough.
One interesting concept that just received venture funding is Fogg Mobile. Their approach is to market a "one world" concept fully transparent to the user. The concepts operates on the following pilars
-Roaming agreements across Europe. Initially with the operator 3
-Funding from Russia. Maybe some stakes from 3?
-Entrepreneurs from the Tele2 group
-Standard SIM with some intelligence in the app and on the server side (secret sauce)
-Client recruitment through different networks and hardware vendors.
The concept might work, especially if roaming charges within and outside EU stays high.
Edit; Autumn 2013-After this was written the company received additional funding and launched, however EU has declared that roaming will be eliminated 2016 which puts a cap on the value of data MVNOs.
