Samsung UK giving Galaxy S phones to angry iPhone users

Posted by | 07/23/2010 | 5 Comments

Whereas Apple, Google and soon Microsoft have gone the “dog food” approach to seeding their smartphones, Samsung UK is getting their Galaxy S into the market by giving them away to frustrated iPhone users they find on Twitter. Completely brilliant.

A giveaway is always a great way to drum up interest and get your new product into people’s hands. Not only does it break the ice between would-be customers and unknown products, but in the vicious smartphone market, it’s pretty much necessary to get their products seeded and in circulation. But Samsung UK is taking it to a level above that.

By seeking out “seeders” on Twitter, Samsung builds a following on this social network. By specifically reaching out to Twitterers who are expressing frustration with their iPhones, they punch their top competitor right in the baby maker and encourage others to complain about their iPhones without directly inciting such complaints. It’s tacky to tell people to bad mouth the competition, but Samsung UK isn’t telling anyone to do that. They’re just letting people make that inference.

Genius marketing work by Samsung UK, and in a turnabout that should please some people, it appears this giveaway is UK-only, i.e., not for us here in the States. Boo!

From Gizmodo | Android Central | Wired UK

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Category: Mobile

About the Author (Author Profile)

My name is Mark Sumimoto; I am Sumocat. I dabble in all areas of mobile computing, but my focus is Windows-based Tablet PCs and pen input. They’ve been part of my arsenal since 2004, and I’m proud to have pioneered the field of ink blogging, earning a spot as a Microsoft MVP for Touch and Tablets in the process. My current tools include a Fujitsu Lifebook T900, TEGA v2, and iPhone 4. Email me: sumocat [at] notebooks.com
  • tal

    Brilliant is an understatement! Pure genius.

    Also great since Americans always feel on the top of the world and when getting a US only offer – the rest of the world can justifiably in their eyes wait a couple of months. Finally some other country stepping up in front ;)
    lol – I think I am becoming a true Canadian lately.

    • http://sumocat.blogspot.com Sumocat

      But I called it… and then you… and that’s a perfect synonym of… so that means… *sigh* never mind.

  • GoodThings2Life

    Best promotion ever! :)

  • TateJ

    Well Played ,Samsung. Well Played.

    BTW, Not all of us Americans feel on top of the world when a cool gadget is released here first or a US only offer happens. Some of us feel lucky.

  • http://www.datecover.com Pamela

    I think this says it best “A phone for clunker program and you get to keep your clunker”. Sounds like a win win.

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