Virgin Mobile USA is introducing a new way for punters to get talk time: adverts on their phone.
Virgin Mobile, seemingly popular among the strapped-for-cash young'uns, is offering people free calls if they view and respond to adverts sent to their mobile phone. According to Reuters, users "can get up to 75 minutes of free calls per month if they spend an equal amount of time looking at ads and replying to these ads via text messages."
This isn't the first time advertising on mobiles has been tried. We've seen text message ads for a long time, and other vectors have been tried, like bluetooth enabled billboards. This seems to be the first time advertising has been tied directly to obtaining free calls, however.
The scheme does have a striking resemblance to online free SMS services which require that you bend over backwards clicking adverts x, y and z before being able to send a message. In fact, some question whether people will bother with the ads, instead opting to pay for their calls. We say don't underestimate the tight wallets of youngsters; if they can do it for free, they'll do it.
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More on this, from Reuters.
