[Marketing] Ideas / Plan

Fri Dec 30 15:45:42 CET 2011

Marketing strategies can also be planned for two different targets:

1st: developers, skilled users, hackers, geeks, etc, etc. In this phase  
marketing is mean to publish, inform and possible sale the product to  
those interested in the above activities

2nd: once the product will be stable enough and usable for an average  
iphone user, then a marketing strategy could be planned to reach the "big"  
market.

In my opinion, without the first, it would be much more difficult for our  
community to compete (ok, I know this is such a big word..) with  
mainstream products. IF the intention is really to get a phone comparable  
with other well known products, there's the need of something stable and  
usable, and this can be reached only with the mass help of developers  
testers, etc. But if they don't know about it... Mybe talking properly  
about marketing for the first phase isn't strongly right, however the  
meaning is to spread the voice, inform, publish to that target which could  
be interested at the beginning. Therefore I agree with Hassam when he  
talks about "marketing strategies". I just wanted to point out something.

imho,
urodelo

On Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:09:10 +0100, Martix <martix.cz at gmail.com> wrote:

> +1 We need to offer complete working smartphone before doing massive
> marketing to public. #1 mistake of Openmoko Inc. was unstable software
> stack, switching toolkits (GTK+, Qt, EFL) and hardware bugs. I think, we
> should provide stable and tested development platform (stable
> distribution, SDK and nice documentation), then write on various MLs and
> attract mobile developers, come up with some fancy product name (GTA04
> is just codename) and then start broader marketing on various news  
> websites.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Martix
>
> Dne 30.12.2011 14:43, Fernando napsal(a):
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a GTA02 which I am using only for NeronGPS. I need a mobile for
>> a few calls and SMS a month. Some months ago it did not receive an SMS
>> and I have no idea why. I bought a 20EUR Samsung phone, put the chip
>> in, and got the SMS.
>>
>> So, why should I be "excited" to buy a GTA04 for the price tag of a
>> full android? I don't even know if I will be able to reliably receive
>> the occasional SMS?
>>
>> Just a question, no ranting.
>>
>> BTW, I don't think it makes much sense to invest in marketing without
>> a full product. It seems a too expensive proposition for a small
>> market of GTA02 and without high confidence of still getting a
>> reliable phone.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Fernando
>>
>> On Dec 30, 2011 06:39 "Alishams Hassam" <alishams.hassam at gmail.com>
>> <mailto:alishams.hassam at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello All,
>>>
>>> Firstly note that I am not a marketing expert by any means. I only
>>> wish to throw ideas out there and implement what I have time for. If
>>> there are any marketing experts on the list (heck, if you're even
>>> just interested), please speak up! The only experience you really
>>> need is the ability to write in your native language. I'm only
>>> familiar with English sources but anything will work. Let's
>>> coordinate efforts on the wiki, I'm sure Openmoko won't mind us
>>> piggybacking off their wiki ;p
>>> http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Marketing_GTA04
>>>
>>> Things to mention:
>>>
>>> 1. The GTA04 *requires* an FR / NEO1974.
>>> This should serve as a request to get people who have these
>>> collecting dust, selling them online. Maybe this should be made more
>>> explicit?
>>>
>>> 2. The GTA04 has vastly improved on every area of the FR.
>>>
>>> 3. The GTA04 is made in a proper factory in the EU, and of quality
>>> parts, in small runs - hence the price tag.
>>> This will appeal to those of us who want things done right, not cheap.
>>>
>>> 4. Though there are non-free chunks, harm has been reduced as much as
>>> possible.
>>> Talking about how the wifi firmware has been isolated so it cannot
>>> interfere with the O/S is a great example.
>>>
>>> Areas to Attack:
>>>
>>> 1. Online and print magazines, news websites:
>>>
>>> We need to get the word out about the GTA04. I find myself agreeing
>>> with the claim that he GTA04 isn't well known about. This appeared on
>>> Slashdot early this month
>>> http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/12/01/1910213/openmokos-freerunner-rises-from-the-ashes
>>> No mention of a pre-order. There was an article in late July on the
>>> Salon blog:
>>> http://blog.slyon.de/2011/07/26/openmoko-gta04-is-getting-reality/
>>> <http://blog.slyon.de/2011/07/26/openmoko-gta04-is-getting-reality/%20>Phornix
>>> <http://www.phoronix.com/> also did an article
>>> <http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTAzNDE> on
>>> Openmoko just a few days ago, but only one line about the GTA04 :<
>>> People are not excited, so let's make some noise! There are many
>>> other tech news sites out there. Ars Technica
>>> <http://arstechnica.com/>comes to mind, Lifehacker
>>> <http://lifehacker.com/> and Make <http://makezine.com/> would get a
>>> kick out of the board switching procedure, Wired is an older popular
>>> magazine, Phoronix <http://www.phoronix.com/>  I'm sure will do one
>>> focused on the GTA04 and 2600 <http://www.2600.com/>for the geeks who
>>> like print (someone please write a cool article for those guys - I
>>> promise you they'll publish it)! Jeez, I almost forgot to mention
>>> http://lwn.net/
>>>
>>> Traditionally a press release is sent out. I've never written one
>>> before and don't particularly want to start with this. Is there
>>> anyone who has written one before?
>>>
>>> 2. Mailing lists of FOSS projects:
>>>
>>> This area cannot be done with a press release blast. Well it can, but
>>> I don't think the subscribers will appreciate spam. Ideally each of
>>> us can write a post about the GTA04 on any other FOSS lists we are
>>> on. I'll get the ball rolling with a post to the Debian user list
>>> soon.The other big relevant list to hit is the LXDE related mailing
>>> lists: lxde-list <lxde-list at lists.sourceforge.net
>>> <mailto:lxde-list at lists.sourceforge.net>>, lubuntu-desktop
>>> <lubuntu-desktop at lists.launchpad.net
>>> <mailto:lubuntu-desktop at lists.launchpad.net>> Plasma active could be
>>> another one, assuming it runs on the hardware, as with gnome-shell
>>> gnome-shell-list at gnome.org <mailto:gnome-shell-list at gnome.org>
>>>
>>> Let's get a list of mailings lists going on a wiki page.
>>>
>>> 3. Free Geeks
>>>
>>> Free Geek's are organizations dedicated to ethical recycling. They
>>> are all independently run so let's gather a list of each one's main
>>> mailing list and start a discussion. Starting points include how
>>> replacing a board is much more ecological than full new cell phone.
>>> The challenges with such an approach, and perhaps how FOSS helps to
>>> ensure old devices see much more support than their counterparts.
>>> I'll be updating the wiki with some adresses as I collect them. For
>>> now, Free Geek Vancouver: fg-general at lists.freegeekvancouver.org
>>> <mailto:fg-general at lists.freegeekvancouver.org>
>>>
>>> 4. Hack Spaces
>>>
>>> Hackers love linux and tinkering! We can organize with Hack Spaces to
>>> help less hardware oriented users like myself with
>>> supervision/teaching of the board swap. I'll also be adding them to
>>> the wiki, please help collect addresses if you're too shy to post.
>>> Vancouver Hack Space: vhs-general at lists.hackspace.ca
>>> <mailto:vhs-general at lists.hackspace.ca>
>>>
>>> 5. LUGS
>>>
>>> Linux User Groups are *not* dead. They're less active than they used
>>> to be, however at Linux Con North America, the president of the CLUG
>>> (Calgary LUG), gave a speech and is trying to reinvigorate things.
>>> This is usually full of people who have disposable income and love to
>>> have cool geeky things. The VanLUG address vanlug at robomod.net
>>> <mailto:vanlug at robomod.net>
>>>
>>> 6. Kickstarter / similar services
>>>
>>> Perhaps funding for a case for the phones can come form these?
>>>
>>> Phew, that's all I can think of for now. I'll be updating
>>> http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Marketing_GTA04 as time permits. Please
>>> reply to the thread, submit ideas, constructive criticism, or just
>>> show you're listening!
>>
>>
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>> community at lists.openmoko.org
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