FreedomPop MVNO Offers Free Mobile Calls, Texts And Data

FreedomPop, a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has launched in the UK, offering users free call, text and data allowances each month.

Customers get 200 minutes, 200 texts and 200MB of data each month absolutely free once they pat a £5 activation charge and shipping for a SIM card.

These allowances can be topped up through third party offers, such as surveys or coupons, and by purchasing additional services like voicemail, an international virtual number or the ability to roll-over allowances to the following month.

FreedomPop UK

More bountiful tariffs offering 1GB or 2GB of data can also be bought and users can even ‘share’ allowances with other FreedomPop users. Needless to say, you FreedomPop will also charge you for any use above those basic allowances.

The company originally launched its services in the US and has plans to expand to 20 European countries by 2017. So far 250,000 people have signed up for the UK beta and FreedomPop says it will add more services and offer discounted handsets in time for Christmas.

“The UK has had many mobile providers and services enter the market, but none of them offer a completely new business model enabling free service, guaranteed for life,” said Stephen Stokols, FreedomPop CEO. “Similar to the US, FreedomPop will deliver unprecedented value to consumers with an easy-to-use, high-quality mobile service. We believe everyone should have access to mobile services, and we’re going to make that a reality in the U.K.”

Samba Mobile offered a free ad-supported 3G mobile broadband service in 2012, allowing users to earn ‘credits’ by watching commercials. However users had to pay for the dongle and the SIM card and the service closed last year.

What do you know about the UK’s mobile operators?