Westerman Easy Money (2018)
In the 2010s, the marketing department at telecommunications provider Telefonica thought it had pulled off a coup. The company launched prepaid SIM cards with a so-called “easy money” function. Anyone who used such a prepaid card received 2 cents for every incoming call.
When these cards were first introduced, network flat rates didn't exist. Telefonica (and any other telecommunications company) profited from calls made across different networks due to termination fees. By paying 2 cents for every incoming call, Telefonica passed on only a fraction of the profit they made from these fees to users.
However, the program had its flaws. In one instance, Telefonica's German subsidiary, O2, had to pay a customer 225,000 euros (approx. $250,000 in 2019) in rewards. The man had purchased 508 prepaid cards with the “easy money” feature and used redial apps to continuously call himself.
Upon uncovering the customer's systematic approach, O2 terminated all 508 prepaid card contracts and declined reward payouts. Undeterred, the customer pursued legal action, prevailing in two court proceedings. Despite this “detour,” in the end this hacker made easy money in the truest sense of the word.
Today’s song is also about easy money in some way. At least that's what the song is called. But its author, the London-based electronic folk artist Westerman, rather wants the piece to be understood as a love song. Give it a listen to find out why.
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