Red Bull Mobile launch confirmed
Cell C CEO Lars Reichelt today confirmed that Red Bull will launch a venture using the Red Bull branding, but that it won’t be a virtual mobile network operator (VMNO).
Virtual mobile operators offer cellular services without running their own network. Virgin Mobile is an example such a ‘network’ currently operating in South Africa.
Given the relatively poor performance of Virgin Mobile, which Cell C has a 50% stake in, industry players and analysts alike have questioned the wisdom of launching another such operator.
At an informal meeting today Reichelt said that he wished to dispel all myths surrounding the Red Bull venture, explaining that it wouldn’t be a VMNO.
According to Reichelt Cell C will be “running the show” and that Red Bull Mobile customers will be Cell C customers.
A quick whois reveals that the South African domain for Red Bull Mobile, redbullmobile.co.za, was first registered by Red Bull GmbH on 16 December 2009 and at the time of writing redirected to redbullmobile.com.
Cell C to launch VMNO platform
Cell C is however looking at launching a virtual mobile network platform.
Reichelt said that they haven’t decided on which platform to use, or which vendor. He said that he believes there’s a demand for such a platform as the mobile market matures.
Cell C wants to be in a position where they can provide such a service to anyone who has a value proposition to offer.
He said that they can’t penetrate all segments of society and that there are a lot of people out there that cater to segments of the market Cell C doesn’t necessarily.
Red Bull Mobile and Cell C << Comments and views
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