Blyk blinked?

There have been reports that Blyk is closing shop, or at least is metamorphosing into a new life, but not as we know it - 200k users is not enough to make it, and its looking at white labelling its technology to operators as a New paradigm. But there are counter arguments - I picked this off Jonathan MacDonald's blog:

Recently there was some information published that was categorically incorrect.

It’s a shame that some parts of this new media industry seem obsessed with killing the industry itself rather than celebrating brave and innovative business models.

So….here below we have the ACTUAL facts as opposed to the information currently being circulated:

Below are the quotes from the PR rele...sorry, Fact Sheet, and in italics are my understanding of what this usually means in biz-speak, at least as understood through the beer-goggles by the grizzled M&A veterans at the bar in the Fox & Weasel:

Blyk is expanding, not closing shop… Blyk is looking to evolve its UK operation in line with a global strategy of partnering with operators. We already have an operator relationship in the UK with Orange and we are discussing the next stage for Blyk as an operation and the next stage for Blyk members.

(We are planning on selling the thing to Orange, it can't make it alone)

Blyk sees its members as its core asset. It is in Blyk’s interest to look out for its members. In turn, this will allow Blyk to create a global community which delivers personal value for each member.

(We hope they'll give us a decent price per user so we can pay off our backers)

This change is part and parcel of Blyk’s journey. The MVNO model acts as proof of concept – Blyk needed to build the mobile media model from the ground up with end-to-end control of the network and complete control of the customer/ user experience. This has created a unique competence within Blyk.

(We hope they'll keep some of the employees and give us some money for 'em, and more importantly buy our technology)

As hoped, Blyk’s success in the UK has driven high interest from operators. Partnering enables the Blyk media to gain faster scale globally (in audience) and this is game changing from an advertising perspective.

(We're really trying to get an auction going - anyone else out there want our user base - And doooo buy our technology, why don't you?)

I'd agree with Jonathan - give all kudos to Blyk for trying a new mobile model, it has been a fascinating experiment. But not all experiments succeed, and this is a perfectly honourable exit..... but it is an exit.