Ads for minutes & MBs: new mobile plan on the way

A new phone plan may soon become available in Europe that exchanges free data and minutes for advertisements. American telecom company FreedomPop has launched a test in Belgium, whose reception will determine whether the plan can be used in The Netherlands as well, De Telegraaf reports. FreedomPop started in America three years ago, and has since become a raging success on the market. The company has 250,000 clients in America so far. Belgium has been chosen as guinea pig to test the plan's viability in Europe. If it is successful, then other European countries, including The Netherlands, will take on the plan. In Belgium, clients can buy a sim card from KPN-daughter company BASE. The sim includes 200 minutes, 500 texts, and 500 MB data, all free. In exchange, the user will see advertisements. Removing the ads and the limits means the client will have to start paying the premium package price. In America, there are around 40 percent of clients on premium.