Are We Going MVNO Crazy?

Thomas Husson | October 10, 2005, 04:29 AM

This was the title of an interesting US article 3 months ago. Let's imagine a surrealist discussion...

What’s your network operator?

Apple?? You mean Orange. No Apple, the Mac and i-pod manufacturer. Oh really? Mine is Blu (a former Italian company)

NRJ? The radio station. Yes. I did not how they were a mobile operator. Mine is M6, a TV channel. Cool. And your’s Easymobile. I thought they were selling airplane tickets. No they also do mobiles.

I hesitate between Extremob (you know those really cool guys that have a TV sport channel and that sell energy drinks), Tesco and Sainsbury.

Personally, I have not yet chosen between Disney, ESPN, Universal Mobile, Aldi, Lidl, UPC, Tele2, Chess, RTL, Saunalahti, Debitel….

RCSC. ??????? What does that stand for? Royal Sporting Club of Charleroi! Cool, I thought it was a football club.

Mine is FT. The newspaper.

I personally subscribe to an oil station, Shell.

??????????????

Is this is the focus group of the future? I do not think so, even so some of the above mentioned companies have launched or have been rumoured to launch an MVNO.

MVNOs are a risky business and not everyone will replicate Virgin Mobile success. However, it will definitely help mobile operators to segment the market and to target some untapped niches.

Clients, you can find more info in our latest report here.