- Monday, 16 November 2009
- INQ Mobile
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Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy - Benjamin Franklin
Fogies fail to sign up for free call service aimed at youth
A BRAZEN attempt to fox Blyk - the free mobile network aimed at 16 to 24 year olds – was thwarted by the company's screening procedures. So it isn't possible to cheat your way into free mobile calls.
After performing a swift tour of the UK's university 'Fresher' weeks in order to recruit model subscribers, Blyk has started to send out invitation codes to those who have applied via text (SMS). This involves sending the word 'Fresh' to 82595 (8BLYK). The code must be activated online within 14 days.
The INQ's hacker attempted to join the network online through the simple expedient of knocking 30 years off her real age and changing her first name.
This simply doesn't work because firstly you need to be registered for voting purposes at one specific address. After that you need to supply either a passport number or a driving licence number. In the UK your driving licence number is a dead giveaway as it has your birth year built into the digits.
After several attempts, Blyk's servers threw our hacker off with the message, "Sorry! There’s something wrong at the moment. Please try again in few moments. "
We're not quite sure how a sixteen year old with no passport, no driving licence and no student card is going to get in. Not at all, is the probable answer.
While Blyk's measures are laudable – effectively auditing its userbase so that advertisers will genuinely reach a youth market - the INQ wonders just how many people will manage to join if it is this difficult. µ
L'INQ
www.blyk.co.uk
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Why didn't she just say she was a mature student? Surely its illegal now to discriminate on age alone?
I have passed though with no problems, although I am 23. Humm no driving licence, you can get a driving licence from 16, although it cost £42 (€60, US$84)!
I'm 16 and I gave my voting address and that was all it required, no passport or driving license. Maybe only if they have doubts about your address they need to ask.
I'll come clean. I work for the company that provides Blyk with its age and identity verification solution. 

It's the same technology that is used by the major online gaming companies to screen out underage players.

Basically an organisation like Blyk sets its own pass or fail criteria. Then, if it reaches the 'pass' level using basic personal information (name, address, DoB) it doesn't need to ask for further proof of ID such as a passport or driver's licence. 

It's all about getting the maximum number of good customers through as quickly as possible - and it seems to be working!

It's really the electronic equivalent of having a bouncer on the door keeping out people who don't look like they should be "in the club". 

They can make an instant decision or, if they're not sure, they can ask for further proof of ID.