Prepaid Reviews Blog » kajeet

kajeet revamps service plans, adds mobile Web

Joe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:37 +0000

Over the course of this year we’ve seen not only new prepaid companies, but older companies rolling out new plans to better fit the current wireless market. The latest to update is kajeet, the cell phone service for kids — mainly those in the “tween” ages, between 8 and 12. They’ve altered their Basic, Great Deal, and Special Plans, and have added to their Bundled Plans, which include unlimited text messaging. Details of the changes after the jump.

To note the changes above, the Special plan used to include 150 voice minutes, but cost $19.99. The $29.99 plan looks unchanged, though I notice that I didn’t have anything about unlimited text messaging in the kajeet review.

The changes to kajeet’s Bundled Plans looks a bit more significant.

The $50 unlimited plan actually existed before, as we noted in July, but they hadn’t advertised it heavily. There are also add-ons for the Bundled Plans, including packages of minutes, pay-as-you-go options, and text messaging packs. You can visit kajeet’s website for more details.

Additionally, kajeet has introduced a mobile Web feature. Parents will have control over this, as they do over all kajeet services. Service costs 35 cents per .25MB — kajeet broke down charges into the quarter megabyte because it is a smaller denomination than most carriers, allowing users to more accurately pay for what they use. The total cost comes out to $1.40 per megabyte, which is a lot for heavy users, though kajeet promises to have bundles available in the future. For a quick reference, .25MB constitutes about 10 mobile Web pages, or two non-mobile Web pages.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet revamps service plans, adds mobile Web

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet revamps service plans, adds mobile Web

kajeet customers can get $10 for referring another

Joe — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:50:34 +0000

Here’s a quick way to make $10: sign up a friend for kajeet service. Carol Politi explains in this blog post. Existing customers should hand out the referral code 102962 to enter alongside their phone numbers to receive the $10 credit. That goes right towards cell service, and can even go towards the phone wallet, which parents can use at their disposal. Best part: there’s no limit. So if you have the service, there’s no reason to not hand out this code when referring.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet customers can get $10 for referring another

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet customers can get $10 for referring another

kajeet enlists moms for strategic sales force

Joe — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:30:41 +0000

Competing with the big cell phone carriers isn’t easy. Not only do they have name-brand recognition, but they also have multi-million dollar marketing budgets. How, then, does a startup MVNO even make a peep in that environment? Many have tried and failed, as we saw in 2007 when a large chunk of the MVNO market vanished. Still standing, though, is kajeet, a cell phone service which targets kids aged roughly 8 to 14. Dubbed tweens, this demographic is largely untouched by the bigger carriers, and kajeet has used this to its advantage. At Forbes.com, Elizabeth Woyke examines how kajeet has used moms to expand its reach.

Many stay at home moms keep up blogs to share their thoughts with fellow parents. Some of them have been lucky enough to find streams of income from their blogs. In this, kajeet saw an opportunity. They recruited a number of mommy bloggers to become evangelists for their products. In return for blogging and twittering about kajeet, the company rewards them with $20 for each new customer they sign up, and then a commission on services purchased thereafter.

The company won’t stop there, though. They’re expanding it to a multi-level marketing (MLM) gig, whereby moms sign up other moms and get paid for their associates’ performances. Like other MLM programs, kajeet charges an up-front fee of $49.99 to receive the demo phone package, though that will be $69.99 once the program expands.

One issue Woyke touches, but doesn’t really expand, is the trust factor. “Kajeet believes moms are the company’s best chance to increase sales, as 85% of Kajeet customers are moms and moms naturally trust other moms when it comes to safety products.” There will always be questions of whether these kajeet moms actually endorse the product, or are doing so to keep up their income. In other words, it’s just like any other sales gig. Mommy bloggers are trying to sell kajeet service just like a retail employee. The difference should not be ignored.

This is certainly an innovative measure on the part of kajeet. They’ve abandoned their physical retail presence in favor of Web only. Websites don’t sell on their own, though. They need marketing machines, just like any other retailer. Kudos to kajeet for figuring out how to adapt to the digital environment.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet enlists moms for strategic sales force

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet enlists moms for strategic sales force

HarperCollins and kajeet team up for Mackenzie Blue promo

Joe — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:02:39 +0000

MVNO kajeet has an interesting spot in the market. While other carriers are moving towards a more general audience, kajeet remains one of the few committed to a certain demographic. That might seem like a disadvantage, but strategically it’s a smart move. It allows them to stay on message — that they’re the safest cell phone company for kids — and allows them to run promotions which specifically target their chosen demographic. Their latest promotion, a partnership with HarperCollins to promote Mackenzie Blue, a new children’s book, is something that only kajeet could do. There could be many more promotions like this in the future.

The promotion is pretty basic: kajeet subscribers can access graphics featuring Mackenzie and crew. They’ll also have access to Marcus’s Money Tips, which is intended to teach kids a thing or two about fiscal responsibility. This is not new for kajeet; they often add promotions and programs which help teach kids the responsibility of owning a cell phone.

While Mackenzie Blue likely won’t win kajeet any new customers on its own, the promotion is part of a trend which shows that the company has a game plan. Give kids what they want and they’ll want your services. In other words, it’s not just Mackenzie Blue. It’s Mackenzie Blue and various other content promotions which will help kajeet move forward in this difficult MVNO environment.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

HarperCollins and kajeet team up for Mackenzie Blue promo

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

HarperCollins and kajeet team up for Mackenzie Blue promo

kajeet debuts unlimited calling plan

Joe — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:00:01 +0000

It seems like everyone is adding an unlimited talk and text option to their current repertoires. We saw this earlier today, as Straight Talk, a subsidiary of Tracfone, launched a $45 unlimited plan. Not to be outdone, kajeet is jumping on the bandwagon. Their brand of unlimited offers the best of both worlds: unlimited talk and text for kids — tweens, as we’ve come to know them — and a comprehensive set of controls for parents. Details on the plan after the jump.

Rather than competing on price, kajeet is sticking with the $50 price which seems to be the industry norm. Instead they’ll rely on their appeal to younger folks and their parents. There will apparently be no big marketing push for the plan, but that could change depending on how kajeet does during this trial period.

To sign up for the unlimited plan, you can go to kajeet’s website and find a phone that suits you or your tween. Place it in your card, and upon checkout you can select the $50 unlimited plan. Like all kajeet plans, there’s a 30-day money back guarantee. This offer lasts until September 30, with all new lines needing activation by October 21.

We’re now faced with a chicken or egg question: Are carriers rolling out unlimited plans as a response to pent up consumer demand, or by rolling out unlimited plans are they creating demand? Either way, unlimited plans seem to be working. We’ll soon get a better gauge on the situation as companies announce their second quarter adds.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet debuts unlimited calling plan

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet debuts unlimited calling plan

kajeet takes home yet another parenting award

Joe — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:30:24 +0000

For the third time in eight months, kajeet has impressed a set of parents. This time it’s the folks at iParenting Media. They’ve handed out awards and kajeet, the cell phone service which targets tweens, has won for Excellent Products in the Safety category. This is in large part due to kajeet’s parental controls, including the ability to set when a phone can be used and the ability to block certain callers. It also presumably stems from kajeet’s GPS locator, a touchy issue which we discussed with CEO Daniel Neal a year and a half ago. After the jump, some accolades for kajeet.

The judges on why they voted for kajeet:

“Kajeet does a great job of giving kids the feelings of self-confidence and respect that come with owning a cell phone,” said one iParenting Media Awards Reviewer. “It also helps parents feel safe and in control, because they can give their kids as much or as little freedom they need.”

“This product is a great way to give parents peace of mind knowing that they can access their children when necessary,” said another iParenting Media Awards Reviewer. “It also allows children to contact their parents in case of an emergency.”

“My favorite feature is the time-out blocks. They allow me to control what hours the phone can be used by my children, but still allow them access to us, their parents, in case of an emergency,” said the third iParenting Media Awards Reviewer.

Back in December kajeet took home the PTPA Media Inc. Seal of Approval for excellence in parenting products. Then in May they won an Honors award from the National Parenting Publications Awards.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet takes home yet another parenting award

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet takes home yet another parenting award

SmartyCard and kajeet make sensible alliance

Joe — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:00:23 +0000

If you’ve never heard of SmartyCard, they’re an online game service for kids. The idea is that kids play their games and can win rewards with virtual points. Now, which cell phone company might want to partner with SmartyCard? Hm. Freshness aside, kajeet, the cell phone service for tweens, has partnered with SmartyCard. Why does this partnership make so much sense? Because rather than being mindless games, SmartyCard’s suite includes educational activities.

Here’s a line from the press release which I don’t quite understand: “SmartyCard and kajeet now offer parents a new way to encourage responsibility and underscore the importance of education before giving mobile privileges to their kids.” So do kids have to unlock their minutes by playing these games? Depending on the actual educational value of the game, that might not be a terrible idea. A better notion, though, would be to make them do their homework before they can use the phone.

Among the rewards offered will be cell phones, including the Samsung m300, which is now featured in SmartyCard’s prize pool. Hopefully the rewards are a bit easier to redeem than with Green Stamps.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

SmartyCard and kajeet make sensible alliance

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

SmartyCard and kajeet make sensible alliance

kajeet, MTV in spat over content deal

Joe — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:12:40 +0000

Content deals are great for cellular subscribers, but sometimes they can go awry. We saw that recently as MTV has sued kajeet for breach of their content contract. The lawsuit centers around a $14.2 million agreement the two parties signed in 2006, $2.5 million for licensing and $11.7 million for kajeet advertisements on MTV. The lawsuit was filed on Friday in federal court in Manhattan.

The strangest part is how this lawsuit arose. According to MTV, kajeet stopped payment on their contract, which is probably reason enough for a suit. In addition, the MVNO signed a similar agreement with Cartoon Network, owned by Time Warner. The deal included licensing rights to characters like SpongeBob Squarepants and Rugrats, which are copyrights owned by Nickelodeon, an MTV affiliate.

Says the complaint:

Kajeet has breached and defaulted under the agreement by refusing to pay past due and outstanding invoices, indicating it ‘wants out’ of its agreement with MTVN while still using MTVN content past the expiration of its license.

Without a thorough knowledge of the case, I’ll reserve all comment. I did email kajeet CEO Daniel Neal for comment, but received no response.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet, MTV in spat over content deal

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

kajeet, MTV in spat over content deal

Boost, kajeet take home awards

Joe — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:14:45 +0000

Today we bring news of not one, but two prepaid companies receiving awards for their service. We start with Boost Mobile, which has won the Frost & Sullivan award for North American Prepaid Mobile Service Of The Year. This award is based on a number of factors, including service adoption and growth. This is where Boost has excelled recently. They signed up more subscribers than any other prepaid carrier in the first quarter, and their Boost Unlimited continues to provide value (though there is that whole text messaging speed bump).

Prepaid carrier kajeet took home an Honors award from the National Parenting Publications Awards competition. They are the only cell phone company to ever take home this award, which make sense because they’re one of the few who target the younger demographic.

Brent Iadarola of Frost & Sullivan on Boost:

“Boost Mobile has successfully evolved into a total communications service provider in the North American prepaid wireless market, especially with the launch of its groundbreaking Monthly Unlimited plan. The company is poised to strengthen its market leadership position by leveraging a mix of high-quality service offerings, extensive retail operations and economical and transparent pricing. The 2009 award for North American Prepaid Mobile Service of the Year is presented to Boost Mobile in recognition of its impressive performance in this segment and is an acknowledgement of its strong growth potential.”

And Carol Politi of kajeet on their award:

“We are truly honored to be recognized by NAPPA. When parents see the NAPPA seal, they know they can expect a high-quality, safe, useful and expert-approved product and service from kajeet.”

Congratulations to both Boost and kajeet on their awards.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Boost, kajeet take home awards

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Boost, kajeet take home awards

Get $70 cash back with a new kajeet phone and plan

Joe — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:30:44 +0000

We’re officially in the post-holiday season, which typically means a lull for retail sales. Consumers have spent their lot and will generally refrain from major purchases over the next few months. That doesn’t mean kajeet won’t try, though. Via Ian we find out about a neat promotion they’re running from now through the 15th of January. It essentially gives you $70 cash back, but of course there are some restrictions. Check them after the jump.

What you have to do is buy and activate a phone between now and January 15 with a $20, 150-minute monthly service plan. Then keep that account active and still on the $20 plan for three month. kajeet will then send you a $70 rebate. The advantage here is obvious, in that it covers more than the cost of the service. Ian runs down some of the permutations of the deal, but it all boils down to getting $70 in the mail after three months.

This might not be a huge promotion, but it should certainly catch the eye of any parent looking to get their kid a cell phone in the very near future.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Get $70 cash back with a new kajeet phone and plan

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Get $70 cash back with a new kajeet phone and plan