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Amsterdam/Helsinki, 30 June 2008 – Blyk, the new mobile network for 16 to 24 year olds funded by advertising, is a step closer to launch in the Netherlands. Eric Kip (44), currently Planning Director EMEA at MediaCom, will be the Managing Director of this new company.

Blyk links young people to brands they like and gives them free minutes and text messages every month - upfront and without a contract. For brands, Blyk is an innovative media channel providing direct access to 16-24 year olds who have opted-in to the service and have provided in-depth profiles on themselves so that brands can deliver them relevant communication.

From September 2008, Eric Kip will lead this company in the Netherlands. His view on this new challenge: “Blyk is a great concept for which I have a big passion. With this new communication channel companies can perfectly reach and contact a target group that is usually hard to reach. At the same time we are offering a unique mobile communication concept to young people. I am very excited to start with Blyk and introduce the company to the Dutch youth and advertisers.”

Currently, Eric Kip is Planning Director EMEA at MediaCom, where he is responsible for revenue growth and the quality of planning output of the European network. In the past he was CEO of media agency Initiative Group Netherlands, he worked as Marketing Director at Coca-Cola and held several Marketing positions at Danone and Sara Lee.

Blyk’s co-founder Pekka Ala-Pietilä about the Dutch CEO: “Eric Kip has more than 20 years of experience in marketing. He has worked with many youth brands and has an excellent network with advertisers. We are convinced that with Eric on board, Blyk will succeed in becoming the new Dutch communication channel for young people.

Blyk was launched in September 2007 in the United Kingdom, where the milestone of 100,000 members was reached in April this year. Additional details on Blyk’s launch in the Netherlands will be announced in the coming months.

Blyk, the new mobile network for 16-24 year olds funded by advertising, announces its next wave of European expansion into Germany, Spain and Belgium in 2009, following its announcement to enter the Dutch market earlier this year. Blyk’s rapid expansion is subsequent to its UK success where members embraced the Blyk concept so quickly that its annual member targets of 100,000 were reached six months ahead of schedule, establishing it as a powerful new media for connecting advertisers with young people.

Blyk’s CEO and Co-founder, Pekka Ala-Pietilä said, “There is a great opportunity for Blyk in these markets. Our research shows that young people in Germany, Spain and Belgium are interested in the Blyk proposition because they want to interact with brands they like in exchange for free communication. Our success in the UK, illustrated by robust member adoption, has proven that Blyk is a youth media that works and we hope to replicate this success as we enter new countries. We are also working to attract local talent who share our enthusiasm and can help build Blyk into a significant youth media in other countries.”

To date, Blyk has run over 900 campaigns in the UK for brands such as Coca Cola, STA Travel, Penguin, Buena Vista, L’Oreal and music artists The Kooks and Alphabeat with an average response rate of 29 percent, an extremely high level for any media platform. For example, Penguin’s campaign to promote Nick Hornby’s new novel, saw 7 out of 10 members engage with the publisher in a dialogue.

Blyk will make further announcements related to activities in each of these countries in the near future.

In addition to Blyk’s European expansion plans, the company will continue to strengthen its services in the UK through more members and brands. By the end of the year, Blyk’s aim is to boost the number of brands using Blyk to 200 by the end of 2008. In doing this, Blyk wants to deliver on their driving idea to unite young people and advertisers to free communication.

Multimedia Content:

Co-founder
Pekka Ala-Pietilä

Co-founder
Antti Öhrling

“The Future of Advertising”
APA’s conference at BAFTA

Marko Ahtisaari
Head of Brand & Design talks about all things Blyk

Related Links:

Media Site
Blyk in the Media Mix
Case Studies
^6
Blyk Music
Blyk Team

London, England
17 June 2008

Blyk, the new mobile network for 16-24 year olds funded by advertising, today announced its sponsorship of the D&AD New Blood 2008 Awards and an 18-month relationship with the D&AD 2009 Student Award programme.

Simon Waterfall, President of D&AD said: “D&AD is proud to have Blyk as a main sponsor at this year’s New Blood event. The collaboration embodies our shared value of supporting a new generation of creatives to enhance business performance now and in the future.”

Shaun Gregory, CEO Blyk UK said: “Blyk is committed to educating the industry and ensuring that any brand communications work well when they are executed through mobile. As such, we are delighted to be sponsoring the D&AD New Blood 2008 Awards and the D&AD Student Award programmes 2009.”

If you are attending D&AD New Blood 2008 Awards, Blyk would like to invite you to join the team at the Blyk stand where they will be showcasing the Blyk experience and the unique engagement they have with their members. Visitors will get the opportunity to view Blyk’s creative campaigns, learn more about Blyk’s connection with 16-24 year olds and pick up some goodies in their “chill-out” area.

WHO: Marko Ahtisaari, Blyk Brand and Design
Tom Gutteridge, Blyk UK Head of Creative

WHEN: Monday, 23rd June 2008 from 2 p.m.

WHERE: Earls Court

Blyk’s Marko Ahtisaari will also be participating in a debate entitled “Mobile advertising – A Fad or The Future?” on Tuesday 24th June 2008 at 2 p.m.

30 May 2008
London, England

Blyk, the new mobile network for 16-24 year olds funded by advertising, today launches its new media site as a comprehensive online information domain for advertisers and agencies – constantly updated with insights and case studies.

Go to http://media.blyk.co.uk/ for an explanation of Blyk as a youth media channel that works; insight into Blyk’s 16-24 year old member base; and how to start and maintain a Blyk campaign. Also, view tried and tested campaign results from brands including Penguin, COI, L’Oreal, Boots and Brylcreem.

Briefs can also be sent directly from this site to the Blyk team and a staff member will respond by the following working day.

In line with the media site, Blyk is offering Blyk Breakfasts for advertisers and agencies from 17th June. This will offer attendees a more detailed understanding of the highly targeted campaigns Blyk can deliver and useful insights into the 16-24 year old market.

Quotes:
Shaun Gregory, UK CEO, Blyk, said: “This site tells advertisers and agencies everything they need to know about Blyk as an effective youth media channel. Within the different sections of the site, readers can find out for themselves how to use Blyk as a stand-alone channel or complementary media within the rest of their communications mix.”

About Blyk
Blyk is the new mobile network for 16 – 24s that’s funded by advertising. Blyk links young people with brands they like and gives them free texts and minutes every month. Blyk was co-founded in 2006 by Pekka Ala-Pietilä and Antti Öhrling and has offices in Helsinki, Finland and London, UK. Blyk is now operating in the UK, with other European markets to follow. For more information visit http://media.blyk.co.uk/

Multimedia Content:
Blyk in the Media Mix
Products
Delivering the Best Results
Understanding 16-24 yr olds
Engaging Members
Profiling
Book a Campaign
Case Studies

Related Links:
Blyk Blog
^6
Press
Blyk Team

Recent Coverage:
Blyk hits target as young snap up free mobiles, Telegraph
Blyk appoints Vizeum for UK media, Mad.co.uk
Blyk hires Bennett to lead commercial effort, Brand Republic

For more information or to speak directly to a Blyk spokesperson contact:
Anna Loftin or Caryn Lobley or Suzanne Ellis at GCI: Tel: +44 (0) 207 072 4050 / +44 (0) 207 072 4223 / +44 (0) 207 072 4288 or aloftin@gciuk.com / clobley@gciuk.com / sellis@gciuk.com

GCI and Contra join the extended team to support growth in the UK and abroad

Helsinki, Finland and London, England, 11 April, 2008 – Blyk, the new mobile network for 16-24 year olds funded by advertising, has appointed GCI to build its brand reputation in the UK and internationally. This follows the appointment of Contra as international brand agency after its design of the Blyk brand and support of Blyk’s successful launch in the UK.

GCI won a wide ranging brief which includes corporate reputation management, building brand advocacy in the UK and mobilising its international agency network to support Blyk’s expansion plans in Europe. Blyk is launching in the Netherlands in the second half of 2008 followed by other European markets.

Marko Ahtisaari, responsible for brand and design at Blyk said: “Blyk is a unique youth media that combines free communication for young people and cost-effective communications opportunities for brands. We wanted partners that bring the same degree of innovation, excitement and execution to PR and Brand, as we’ve applied to building the Blyk service. The Blyk team is looking forward to working with GCI and Contra in what is going to be a big year.”

GCI will work with Contra to communicate the Blyk story to key trade and youth audiences. The PR programme will support Blyk’s brand advertiser sales, member acquisition and European expansion with a mix of direct communications and digital and off-line media activities.

GCI will commence work with Blyk from April 2008 with the PR being run out of the GCI London office and then expand in to GCI’s European network as Blyk enters new markets. Contra will continue to evolve the Blyk brand expression in the Contra London studio.

Steve Parker, Director, Technology & Digital Media commented: “Blyk is an innovative new media channel that has the potential to transform the communications industry and we are excited to have a stake in its success. We will be communicating the scale of the opportunity to the ad industry and the enormous benefits to members by extending the Blyk experience online and building brand advocacy through a variety of communication channels.”

Simon Parrott, Creative Partner at Contra said: “Contra has had great fun working with Blyk over the past two years here in London, and we’re extremely pleased to continue working together with Blyk both here and internationally. What really excites me is that we’re doing something truly innovative. We’re co-creating a different kind of brand that is genuinely involving young people. And what’s more, this is just the beginning.”

-ENDS-

About GCI
GCI Group was founded in 1984 and is part of the WPP family of communications companies. Its work is focused on high value disciplines ranging from consumer and sports marketing, digital media and technology, healthcare and corporate reputation. For more information visit www.gcigroup.com and www.gciuk.com.

About Contra
Contra is the world’s only global agency that comes from Finland. Our approach to business lies in the Finnish concept of ’sisu’ which roughly translates to ’sustained determination and perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity.’ (Spend a winter’s day there and you’ll understand completely).
www.contra.net

London, United Kingdom, March 10, 2008 - Blyk, the new mobile network for 16-24s that’s funded by advertising won the Mobile Marketing Award for ‘Best New Offering from a Mobile Services Provider’ at a ceremony held in London on March 6th 2008. The 4th annual Mobile Marketing Awards recognise excellence in mobile marketing and advertising with a focus on innovation, insight and strategic integration.

In a statement about the Mobile Service Provider category, the judges said: “For mobile service providers the need to continually extend the boundaries of how mobile can be used is a must, as their vision and creativity is a vital component for the future of mobile marketing. Each time they extend the boundaries through new developments, huge opportunities (creative and otherwise) open up for brands and their agencies. This award will recognise the providers who are pushing the boundaries to everyone’s benefit.”

Shaun Gregory, UK CEO said: “Blyk is indeed pushing the boundaries by creating a new and engaging way for brands and agencies across the UK to connect with the youth audience. As a media channel, our response rates have averaged 29% and we continue to lead the market in innovation. We are delighted to see this recognised by some of the most respected figures in the industry”

Judges included Claire Valoti, Business Director - Mindshare, Andrew Walmsley, Founding Partner - i-Level and Roisin Donnelly, Marketing Director - P&G. The Chairman of the Judges was David Wheldon, Global Brand Director - Vodafone

The full list of award winners can be viewed at: http://mobilemarketinguk.com

For the short-listed nominees and case study downloads (including the Blyk case study) visit: http://uk.media.yahoo.com/2007.html

Helsinki, Finland and London, England, 30 January, 2008 – Blyk, the new mobile network for 16-24 year olds funded by advertising, today announced its expansion to the Dutch market. Blyk will use Vodafone Netherlands as its host operator, which means that Blyk members in the Netherlands will be able to use voice, text and data services across the Vodafone network.

Blyk’s CEO and Co-founder, Pekka Ala-Pietilä said, “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.”

“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.”

Anthony Hellegers, Director Strategy, Wholesale, Legal & Regulatory at Vodafone Netherlands said: “Last year we announced that we want to build a sustainable position in the Dutch MVNO market by offering a true partnership model and the best network quality. We are delighted that this has been recognized and that Blyk has chosen Vodafone Netherlands for their expansion into the Netherlands.”

Blyk will launch in the Netherlands in the second half of 2008. Other European markets are under discussions and details will be released later.

In a further statement, Blyk announced new investors Goldman Sachs and Industrial and Financial Investments Company (IFIC), who will join a roster that includes Sofinnova Partners and a number of private investors.

On the investment, Ala-Pietilä commented, “We are pleased to have two new and prominent investors. It reflects great confidence in the Blyk model.”

The world’s first advertising funded mobile network for 16-24 year olds launches in the UK

London, 24 September, 2007 - Blyk, the new mobile network for 16 to 24 year olds today announced the launch of its UK service. The announcement was made by the company founders Pekka Ala-Pietilä and Antti Öhrling at a press launch event in London this morning.

Blyk is an invitation-only mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that links young people with brands they like and gives them free texts and minutes every month.

For brands, Blyk is an innovative, new media channel, providing direct access to the 16-24 year old market; enabling them to create awareness, build relationships and drive sales to this hard to reach audience.

Since its conception early last year, Blyk has been undertaking extensive research in the UK with user group studies and live user trials. These have helped to make the offering extremely compelling for young people and advertisers alike.

Pekka Ala-Pietilä said: “We have spent the last year developing a unique, robust advertising content engine and whilst the technology we are using is incredibly advanced, the main premise of Blyk is driven by 3 basic principles – ease of use, interaction and relevance of the communications.”

Blyk understands the importance of relevancy in communication and has built its system to enable this. By means of profile questions at sign-up and ongoing SMS polling during membership Blyk Media enables brands to target messages like no other medium. Response rates have also been exceptionally high, with some testers reportedly missing the service at the end of the trial.

Further to this Öhrling said: “We found that what is 90% familiar and 10% new leads to the best user experience. So, the Blyk communications formats are based on the most dominant and most familiar pattern among 16-24s: Getting a message and responding to it. Both picture and text.”

Brands will be able to engage Blyk members in question/response type interactions. For members these interactions are free. For advertisers all responses and interactions by members are tracked, giving great accountability to the campaign.

“We found throughout our research that this simple, familiar type of interaction leads to tremendous response rates. “ says Öhrling.

Speaking at the network’s launch in London today, Pekka Ala-Pietilä said:

“Our free offer is 217 texts and 43 minutes every month and this could mean no more phone bills for up to 4.5 million young people in the UK - with no contract. We have the brands that want to speak to them too, with more than 40 already signed up for the launch. This group represents almost every industry sector there is.”

“It’s going to spread because, at the heart of it, it’s got a creative idea. A mobile phone network that’s funded by advertising; that’s something you want to tell people about. Fundamentally it’s the interaction that young people do most on their mobile phone: receiving and responding to a message.” says Antti Öhrling.

About Blyk
Blyk is the new mobile network for 16 – 24s that’s funded by advertising. Blyk links young people with brands they like and gives them free texts and minutes every month. Blyk was co-founded in 2006 by Pekka Ala-Pietilä and Antti Öhrling and has offices in Helsinki, Finland and London, UK. Blyk is now operating in the UK, with other European markets to follow.

For more information, visit about.blyk.com.

ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS

Invitations to join Blyk will be sent out over the next few weeks via channels targeted to reach 16-24 year olds.

For further information, please contact:
UK Trade media:
Karen Keany
The PRactice, telephone +44 (0) 20 7812 0662 mobile +44 (0) 7989 429 367
karen@thepractice.org.uk

UK Consumer media:
Rax Lakhani
Splendid Communications, telephone +44 (0) 20 7324 7200
rax@splendidcomms.com

International media:
Irene Nyberg-Jarventaus
Blyk, +44 (0) 7747 844 854
irene@blyk.com

Blyk, the new mobile network for 16 – 24s, is delighted in the growing interest in its progress to create a service that links young people up with brands they like and gives them free texts and minutes, every month.

Jon Fisher, Consumer Marketing Director, said: “Blyk is dedicated to giving its members the best experience possible and in order to do that, we have always planned to launch at a time that delivers the highest level of service for both our members and our advertising partners.”

He added: “We continue the rigorous testing of our technical platforms. We’re also acting on insight from consumer research conducted alongside our launch brands, to ensure we provide the best service at the best time for all. We are confident of delivering this and in light of our recent findings, we feel good about our launch strategy, and are proceeding as we have always planned.”

ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Blyk.
Blyk is a pan-European free mobile operator for young people, funded by advertising. For advertisers, Blyk is an innovative mobile media channel offering direct engagement with a young audience with real time feedback.
Blyk was co-founded in 2006 by Pekka Ala-Pietilä and Antti Öhrling and has offices in Helsinki, Finland and London, UK. Blyk is launching first in the UK market in summer 2007, with other markets to follow.
For more information, visit about.blyk.com

For further press information, contact:
Karen Keany or Adam Rutherford, The PRactice.
Tel: 020 7812 0662 or 07989 429 367

LONDON, England, April 4 2007 - Orange and Blyk today announced an MVNO deal that will see Blyk customers using the Orange network to make calls, send messages and access the mobile internet. The two companies have entered into a wholesale agreement regarding the transportation of voice and data traffic across the Orange network.

Blyk is the first pan-European ad-funded mobile network. It will offer customers free mobile phone calls and texts in return for receiving advertising on their mobile handsets. For advertisers, Blyk is a superior medium for engaging young consumers in UK. Major brands, including Buena Vista, Coca-Cola, I-play Mobile Gaming, L’Oreal Paris, StepStone and Yell.com mobile have confirmed that they will be among the first advertisers to use the Blyk network when it launches in the UK this summer.

Keith Greenfield, Director of Wholesale for Orange UK, said: “Our network is one of our greatest assets and by securing deals like this we are using its potential to the full. Working with innovative new companies like Blyk offers incremental financial rewards for the business which will in turn allow us to compete more ferociously in the UK market.”

He added: “Orange became the first operator to launch advertising on the mobile last year and feedback from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive. That makes Blyk’s approach even more exciting and we shall be watching their progress with interest.”

Pekka Ala- Pietilä, Co-founder and CEO of Blyk, said: “The partnership with Orange ensures that we will deliver the highest level of service and quality of experience that advertisers and our members expect.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Blyk
Blyk is a pan-European free mobile operator for young people, funded by advertising. For advertisers, Blyk is an innovative mobile media channel offering direct engagement with a young audience with real time feedback.

Blyk was co-founded in 2006 by Pekka Ala-Pietilä and Antti Öhrling and has offices in Helsinki, Finland and London, UK. Blyk is launching first in the UK market in mid-2007, with other markets to follow.

For more information, visit about.blyk.com

About Orange
Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with almost 160 million customers on five continents.

In June, 2006, as part of the France Telecom integrated operator strategy (NExT programme) to deliver simple, convergent products, Orange became the single brand for mobile, internet and tv offers in France, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands and in Spain, strengthening Orange’s position as the number two mobile and internet services brand in Europe. In addition, Orange Business Services, which operates in 220 countries or territories, became the new banner for business communications solutions and services.

France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris Eurolist market and on the New York Stock Exchange. At December 31, 2006, the group had 97.6 million mobile customers, 12.3 million internet customers and 48.7 million fixed line customers.

In 2006, France Telecom had consolidated sales of 51.7 billion euros.

Further information about Orange and France Telecom can be found on the Orange website at www.francetelecom.com.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited.

CANNES, France, March 26, 2007 - Major brands, including Buena Vista, Coca-Cola, I-play Mobile Gaming, L’Oreal Paris, StepStone and Yell.com mobile have confirmed that they will be among the first advertisers to use the Blyk network when it launches in the UK this summer.Blyk is the first pan-European ad-funded mobile network. The medium offers 16-24 year-olds free mobile phone calls and texts in return for receiving advertising to their mobile handsets.

Blyk will work closely with this diverse group of advertisers to pioneer usage of its creative ad formats and sophisticated profiling system. The member profiling enables brands to build a dialogue with a highly relevant group of young consumers who welcome the interaction and information. The impact of the campaigns can then be tracked in real time, allowing advertisers to view, assess and adjust their activity accordingly.

Lee Jury, Executive Director of Buena Vista International, said; “We are
delighted to be working with Blyk, to ensure we can communicate relevant releases to selected demographics through this highly targeted, unique, measurable and personal channel.”

I-play Mobile Gaming CEO, David Gosen, said; “Blyk provides visibility on who and when people are playing mobile games, information which the industry has been sorely in need of. CRM is a basic business principle to driving revenues and building loyalty and we haven’t been able to put this in place until we have access to real data on what our customers are doing. Now, thanks to Blyk’s offering, we can start to have some transparency on this issue.”

”We are extremely pleased to be working with some of the most forward-thinking brands who value the direct access and accountability that Blyk provides. The diversity of brands reflects the broad range of advertising opportunities through the Blyk network.” said Jonathan MacDonald, UK Sales Director.

About Blyk
Blyk is a pan-European free mobile operator for young people, funded by advertising. For advertisers, Blyk is an innovative mobile media channel offering direct engagement with a young audience with real time feedback. Blyk was co-founded in 2006 by Pekka Ala-Pietilä and Antti Öhrling and has offices in Helsinki, Finland and London, UK. Blyk is launching first in the UK market in mid-2007, with other markets to follow.

For more information, visit http://about.blyk.com.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Further information on Blyk can be found at http://about.blyk.com.

Red Herring has selected Blyk as on of the winners of the Red Herring 100 Europe 2007 award.

Pekka Ala-Pietilä will be giving a keynote today, March 26th at the Red Herring Venture Market Europe (VME) event in Cannes.

Blyk, the pan-European free mobile operator for young people, funded by advertising, today announced that it will launch in the UK in mid-2007.

Co-founded by university friends Pekka Ala-Pietilä, former president of Nokia Corporation, and Antti Öhrling, Chairman and CEO of Contra Group, Blyk is a mobile media that offers brands an opportunity to directly interact and engage with young people and receive real-time feedback.

Blyk has been in development since January 2006 and is backed by individual private investors and Sofinnova Partners.

Commenting on the announcement, CEO Pekka Ala-Pietilä said, “We have been talking to a number of major brands and agencies about the opportunities to reach and engage with the 16-24 year old market via Blyk. We are going public now to invite all creative marketers and advertisers to join us in shaping this exciting new channel.” Co-Founder Antti Öhrling continued, “Our Blyk business model brings a fresh approach to the entire industry. We’ve assembled an outstanding and energized team to make this innovation a reality.”