3Skicka Surf
We created a brand new service that let Tre’s customers share mobile data with each other. It was the first of its kind in the market. Delivered as a playful, easy to use app on iOS and Android, 3Skicka Surf turned a utility into something fun and gratifying.
First of its kind
At the time, no other telecom offered true peer to peer data sharing. The closest alternatives were subscription bundles with shared allowances across accounts. By breaking that mould, Tre gained a service that stood out in a crowded market.
External developers
The build was handled by an external agency, which limited iteration and added cost pressure. That meant our design had to be simple, focused, and realistic to implement, without sacrificing delight.
Understand
From a simple idea to a clear story
It started with the simple question: what if customers could send surf to each other? To ground that idea, we explored who would use it, and in what context.
One key scenario stood out. Swedish families spending weeks at their summer houses. Long drives, patchy Wi Fi, and kids streaming games or videos meant heavy data needs. This shaped our design lens, keeping family sharing at the heart of the service.
Explore
Design directions and choices
We looked at various ways to input numbers, such as number pads, wheels and dials. Each of these has pros and cons from both a usability and UX perspective.
We identified the core features needed for the service and looked at how other apps handled similar flows. One big challenge was how to let users choose a surf amount. Options ranged from 100MB to 10GB, and inputs could be buttons, wheels, or dials, each with different usability trade offs.
Exploring design directions
Through sketching, prototyping, and iteration, we tested these ideas against three checkpoints. Does it meet business goals. Is it technically feasible. Is it still usable and enjoyable. The dial interaction emerged as the strongest choice.
Detailed design
With the dial selected, we refined the details. That included handling unhappy scenarios gracefully, such as when a user had no data left to send, tried to send to a non Tre customer, or hit their monthly send limit. By the end, the app spanned 75 screens and 18 use cases.
Outcomes
Positive user feedback
In a survey of 295 users, the service earned strong ratings:
- Easy to use: 4/5
- Likely to return in the future: 4/5
Lower scores were mostly linked to subscription restrictions, such as unsupported plans, rather than the app itself.
A unique selling point for Tre
3Skicka Surf became such a strong differentiator that it featured in Tre Sweden’s national TV advertising, cementing its role as a USP in their offering.
