- O2 GET powered by people.io now available in Germany as an official O2 product available in the iTunes and Play stores
- Promoted by Telefónica Germany to their 44 million customers and across the market
- Transparent use of personal data in-app, following European GDPR principles, and designed as phase one of establishing a “firewall for people”
- First Wayra-backed startup globally to launch a co-branded Telefónica B2C product
people.io, the highly-regarded UK personal data startup has today begun its international rollout by announcing a ground-breaking partnership with mobile telecom giant Telefónica.
The deal will see a co-branded version of the people.io app, branded as ‘O2 Get’ launched in Germany as part of the O2 Germany app portfolio and promoted to its 24 million+ customers. It will also be available to all German consumers via the iTunes and Google Play app stores, opening up one of the most important European markets.
The app asks users to answer questions around their interests, activities or habits enabling more relevant and engaging communication with brands and advertisers. Any data provided within the app is owned by the user, and their personal data is never sold, or shared with the brands or advertisers. If a user opts to leave all their data is deleted immediately and irrevocably. Users are rewarded in real time for every information exchange in the form of credits which can redeemed for rewards such as digital gift cards or donated to charity.
Since its inception, people.io has been centred around core values of privacy, control and reward with the ultimate ambition of building a “firewall for people” and thus enabling the next evolution of technology and artificial intelligence, by giving consumers real control over the access, use and value associated to personal data.
Launched in January 2016 in East London, the app only came out of beta in February 2017 following extensive user research and feedback. Since then, more than 35,000 active users have joined the platform, generating over 4 million data insights by enabling users to earn up to £15 worth of credits in the first month. Since launch the company has also attracted a stellar investor list including Nick Robertson, founder of ASOS, Thomas Höegh, founder of Lovefilm and Founders’ Factory - the corporate accelerator founded by Brent Hoberman and backed by Guardian Media Group. In 2016 they were selected to join Wayra Germany, the seed investment fund of Telefónica Open Future, resulting in the first ever Wayra-backed startup to launch a co-branded product with Telefónica.
Nicholas Oliver, founder of people.io said: “When we started, the opportunity to create a data solution that focussed on empowering consumers, was viewed with scepticism by an industry with a desire to maintain the status quo. Finally, we are beginning to see the early stages of a cross-industry data revolution where consumers are put first, driven in part by regulation but also by the advancement of technology such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. Our launch with Telefónica Germany is a clear signal to the world that giving a person control and ownership of their data can work for consumers and big industry alike.”
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About people.io
Founded by Nicholas Oliver in 2015, people.io is European start-up who are giving people ownership of their data, by facilitating the transition of data from companies to individuals, in order to create a ‘firewall for people’. Once realised, their vision is to give a person absolute control the access, use and value of their decentralised personal data. Recognised as the 2016 Nasdaq Rising Star and Marketing Week 100 Disruptive Brands, they are backed by some of Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs, including Thomas Höegh (Arts Alliance) and Nick Robertson (ASOS) in addition to corporate backing from Founders Factory (Brent Hoberman & Henry Lane-Fox) and Wayra Deutschland (Telefónica Open Future).
