Helio Closes In On 100,000 Subscribers

By Ed Oswald | Published February 6, 2007, 11:34 AM

The joint mobile venture between EarthLink and SK Telecom finished 2006 with 70,000 subscribers, and expects to hit the milestone in April. Additionally, it is making money at a rate that would allow it to surpass $100 million in revenue per year.

Helio's disclosure of its user base came as part of a larger announcement where it announced its own music store. The company also said it was encouraged by the rate of subscriber growth, which is increasing month after month.

Unlike its traditional counterparts, who only manage to generate about $50 of revenue per subscriber, Helio has managed to keep its average revenue per user at about $100 per month. This is helped along by its higher-priced calling plans.

Base calling plans start at $65 per month. From there, a multitude of services including MySpace Mobile, multimedia downloads, and gaming helps to push monthly bills to that $100 per month level.

While the numbers aren't overly impressive, it is in line with one of its chief competitors, Amp'd Mobile. That MVNO said at the end of 2006 that it had surpassed the 100,000-subscriber mark and had average revenue per user of "well over $100 per month."

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

The info here about Helio calling plans is not entirely accurate. Calling plans start at $40 per month for "A La Carte" plans which include talk time and charge for extras. The All-In plans start at $65 per month and include a lot of unlimited stuff (text, picture, video messaging, mobile myspace, web browsing, file transfer, Buddy Beacon, GPS-enabled Google maps...). I have a Helio Drift and like it quite a lot, but I don't do a whole lot of music, game, or other pay service downloads and doubt I'll go over $100 in a month.

Score: 0

|

Maybe now they will hire better customer support.

Score: 0

|

Breakthrough: AMD and Intel settle antitrust dispute, reach new cross-license agreement

UPDATED Only exclusionary business practices, not some rebates, may be covered by a new agreement on Intel's future business conduct.

Windows Marketplace for Mobile now available in browser, iTunes' App Store still not

You can now check out what Windows Marketplace for Mobile has to offer without a Windows Phone.

Microsoft damage control after marketer claims Win7 inspired by Mac

Have you ever said anything you wish you could take back? Ever? No? Not even once? Well then, you won't sympathize with a mid-level Microsoft manager today.

Facebook for iPhone developer goes from Apple supporter to 'I quit!' in 3 months

Fed up with Apple's App Store policies, the developer of Facebook for iPhone has bailed on the iPhone.

Google acquires Gizmo5, builds IP telephony portfolio

Google Voice today confirmed rumors that it would acquire IP telephony company Gizmo5

'A pivot from war to peace:' The AMD + Intel armistice, in their own words

An extraordinary day in technology history is recognized by two long-time rivals that mutually decided it's futile to fight anyplace else except the marketplace.

PS3, Xbox to soon get Twitter, Facebook integration

Both Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 will integrate with Facebook in the near future.

The iTunes App Store at 100,000: Can we stop counting, already?

Carmi Levy | Wide Angle Zoom: Is a six-digit number truly reflective of a healthy applications ecosystem? Or is it another type of bloat?

Analysis: The end of business-by-litigation?

The AMD v. Intel case ended neither with a bang nor a whimper, but almost with a song. Is it catchy enough for the rest of the PC world to sing in perfect harmony?

The agreement: Intel and AMD 'wipe the slate clean'

As the Securities and Exchange Commission document shows, AMD did indeed make some compromises in favor of Intel, especially with regard to conduct.

EC still holds Intel accountable even after AMD settlement

Though the future of relations between AMD and Intel may be peaceful now, the EC believes Intel may still owe restitution for its past conduct.