Quantcast
Menu
Save, make, understand money

Household Bills

Would you allow ads on your mobile for cheaper bills?

Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Paloma Kubiak
Posted:
Updated:
09/06/2016

New and existing Tesco Mobile customers will be able to download a free app which will enable them to view adverts on their handsets to get £3 off bills.

Tesco Mobile, which runs off the O2 network, has today launched a new Xtras app which will allow users to view adverts and offers from company’s such as British Airways and McDonald’s in return for £3 off the following month’s bill.

It’s only available to Android users, not iPhone or Windows phones, and you need to be a new or existing Tesco Mobile pay monthly customer. It won’t work on pay as you go.

The new service has been launched in partnership with mobile-based technology business Unlockd which already operates a similar scheme in Australia and the US.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to how it works:

  • Go to the Google Play store and download the free Tesco Mobile Xtras app
  • Once you open it, you’ll be able to set up your profile, adding your interests so adverts and offers will be tailored to you
  • You need to click through and accept the T&Cs
  • You’ll receive an additional 200MB in order to cover the data for the content. Any data not used (it expects around 100MB – 120MB) will be added to your usual allowance
  • Once it’s ready, you’ll start to receive the content on your phone which will only start running once you unlock your home screen. If it’s locked you won’t be able to see them. To get rid of the ad, you just need to swipe your screen
  • You’ll get £3 off the following month’s bill.

Tesco Mobile, which has a total of 4.6 million customers, says that as pay monthly sims start at £7.50 per month, users will be able to save 40% off the cost.

It’s a straight £3 off, so it doesn’t mean that the more content you view, the more money you’ll get off your monthly bill.

But when we asked how much content do customers have to receive, we were told that it’s based on a monthly cycle rather than quantity so you’ll need to view the ads on at least 21 days each billing month to get the discount.

Matt Berriman, CEO and co-founder of Unlockd, said: “The launch will provide real value to consumers, saving them money and giving them access to great content and offers upon unlocking their phone.

“From the success of previous partnerships in Australia and the USA, we’ve seen a great uptake on the service as customers continue to seek value.”