giffgaff, a new ‘people powered' mobile network, has launched today and announced details on its 'competitive and transparent' pricing structure, which is said to match the cheapest networks on the market and cheaper than the top four mobile networks.
The giffgaff pricing structure includes 8p per minute for voice calls and 4p for text to other UK mobile networks. Free data is on offer to all members for a limited period, and all members receive free calls and texts to other giffgaff members. International prices are said to be equally competitive at 8p per minute to landlines in the EU, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand and 16p to mobiles. Calling the USA and Canada is 8p for both landlines and mobiles. giffgaff is also said to be the only UK mobile operator not to charge for any 0800 freephone numbers.
Said to define a new mobile network business model, giffgaff, an online only business, is the first of its kind. It taps into existing online behaviour where people get involved by creating content, suggesting new ideas, and supporting each other with queries on forums or blogs. The more members get involved the greater the reward and they will receive payback in either cash, mobile credit, or as a donation to their preferred charity or fundraising group.
Operating as an independent company, mobile virtual network operator giffgaff will deliver its service using the O2 network. Inherent in the business model, it says, is an ethical and low carbon business which is represented by the online only, SIM only model.
giffgaff is a SIM only hybrid pre and post-pay offer with the flexibility and control of pre-pay, and the ease of post pay with ‘auto-top-up' online. Free mobile internet will be available at launch for approximately six months while the product is in Beta phase. As part of its commitment to member participation, new members can access up to 100MB of free mobile internet per day from the UK, and in exchange, giffgaff hopes to gain insight from its members, including input on the pricing policy for data in the future
giffgaff CEO Mike Fairman said: "Our price per minute structure is transparent, competitive and clear, and we look forward to feedback on our forum from our members. We're always keen to hear what people think as involving customers in a two-way dialogue is at the forefront of what we do. Our pricing structure going forward will evolve based on members input."
giffgaff is launching with a ‘people powered' campaign on 25th November asking the public to help make the network famous in return for a V.I.G (Very Important Giffgaffer) SIM that means you receive free UK mobile calls, texts and mobile internet for a whole year. The original launch campaign is based on a ‘Tool Hire' concept, whereby a series of fun and eccentric marketing tools will be available for free hire at giffgaff.com/tools. The tools are said to be designed to promote giffgaff in an amusing and capturing way and the Tool Hire videos will also be used virally to support the launch and the five best videos will each receive a cash reward for £5,000 each.
The website, www.giffgaff.com, will continue to host discussions as well as regular updates on giffgaff developments.