All the Blyk bags were on the SU stalls down the side of the main (large) marquee — I did my best to explain to them what Blyk was about but the folks on the stalls were absolutely clueless.

If you any of your mates want a pretty bag and invite label, the SU (speak to Alison or Alistair in Events) still have thousands and thousands available as they only shifted a handful.

Most of the freebies weren’t worth having but I did pick up a nice led-illuminating pen from the enormous EA Games hub truck!

Soon as I hit the freshers fair I was getting txts whether I had got the pack from Blyk… low and behold I left empty handed! Didn’t even feel like grabbing the other freebies!

The problem is that i’ve found just one person here in three days who has a clue what Blyk is about. And he works for dot.mobile, an existing mvno catering for students, so is unlikely to be very helpful.

All Blyk needed to do was show a rolling video of the launch – or even just Ewan’s screen shots – and have a couple of staff to handle queries.

I haven’t got the time to chat with many students while i’m working!

ps. Vodafone’s staff couldn’t even get online to read more about Blyk and had to borrow my E65 on Three! Oh the humiliation!

I mean think about it, people talk, talk, talk…who are sceptical students going to believe more? some slimy, over-polished sales man at as stand, or their fellow students like you or me, who are the early adopters and tell people: “hey, it really works! Try it out!”

God id love to get the guys bonus who came up with that idea

Funny thing is that nobody here seems to know anything about Blyk’s pretty incredible proposition.
But given a couple of minutes of my inadequate explaination of the project, every single student, Students’ Union staff and even most of the marquee erection crew, were completely sold.

All they’d need is a bit of re-assurance that the freebie was real — rather than the ravings of an over-enthusiastic nutter…

However Blyk won’t be there to clinch the deal.

No dynamic mobile evangalists “overflowing with energy, commitment and pure excitement.”
No demonstrations of the engaging MMS adverts.
No confirmation of the free minutes and texts.

Would you believe that they’ve not even bothered to book a bloody stand?

But their ’student promotion agency’ has sent countless printed cotton bags (nope, no visible connection to Blyk) with a cardboard label (tied on with string, would you believe?) which reads:

“Blyk is the new mobile network for 16-24s.
“Blyk links you up with brands you like and gives you free texts and minutes every months.”
“Join Blyk and get your free SIM.
Text FRESH to 82595 to receive your information code.”

And that is the sum total of Blyk’s chosen method of communicating their (near-revolutionary) offer to 30,000 sceptical students at UWE.

Maybe their promotions teams are busy rushing around other, larger or more susceptible, university campuses this week.
Maybe they should sack their student promotion agency.
Maybe an advertising booker for one of the huge brands Blyk have signed up ought to investigate their marketing plans.

Maybe Blyk are relying on over-enthusiastic mobile nutters like you and me to do the job for them for nothing?

And it really would be if I could get my hands on a SIM/Account. Falling into the 16-24 age range, I am eligible to sign up but it seems to be impossible! Their “invite” system seems very restrictive – and it certainly isn’t good marketing for their product (which, by the way is fan-bloody-tastic!)

I can’t think of anyone I know that would have an invite or account before me, and I won’t be around any of these “Freshers” days. I really want to try out this damn service ! So – I’ve settled with letting Blyke know that I want an invite by “registering my interest” at every appropriate avenue. Hopefully they’ll find me eventually

And now I can only wait……..

By the way isn’t this age discrimination?!

I agree that the excusivity, while slightly unnerving for us, is great for marketing.

Looks like they really know how to throw a stylish launch gathering and they certainly do have some strong branding!!… it’s always good to see someone with a lot of energy trying to shake up the market and I really want them to succeed but for some reason I just can’t quite see it.

Maybe it’s because I’m too old