Hello All, <br><br>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 <a href="http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Marketing_GTA04">http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Marketing_GTA04</a> <br>
<br>Things to mention:<br><br>1. The GTA04 *requires* an FR / NEO1974.<br>This should serve as a request to get people who have these collecting dust, selling them online. Maybe this should be made more explicit?<br><br>
2. The GTA04 has vastly improved on every area of the FR.<br>
<br>3. The GTA04 is made in a proper factory in the EU, and of quality parts, in small runs - hence the price tag.<br>This will appeal to those of us who want things done right, not cheap. <br><br>4. Though there are non-free chunks, harm has been reduced as much as possible.<br>
Talking about how the wifi firmware has been isolated so it cannot interfere with the O/S is a great example. <br><br>Areas to Attack:<br><br>1. Online and print magazines, news websites:<br><br>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 <a href="http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/12/01/1910213/openmokos-freerunner-rises-from-the-ashes" target="_blank">http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/12/01/1910213/openmokos-freerunner-rises-from-the-ashes</a> No mention of a pre-order. There was an article in late July on the Salon blog: <a href="http://blog.slyon.de/2011/07/26/openmoko-gta04-is-getting-reality/%20" target="_blank">http://blog.slyon.de/2011/07/26/openmoko-gta04-is-getting-reality/ </a><a href="http://www.phoronix.com/" target="_blank">Phornix</a> also did an <a href="http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTAzNDE" target="_blank">article</a> 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. <a href="http://arstechnica.com/" target="_blank">Ars Technica </a>comes to mind, <a href="http://lifehacker.com/" target="_blank">Lifehacker</a> and <a href="http://makezine.com/" target="_blank">Make</a> would get a kick out of the board switching procedure, Wired is an older popular magazine, <a href="http://www.phoronix.com/" target="_blank">Phoronix</a> I'm sure will do one focused on the GTA04 and <a href="http://www.2600.com/" target="_blank">2600 </a>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 <a href="http://lwn.net/">http://lwn.net/</a><br>
<br>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?<br><br>2. Mailing lists of FOSS projects:<br>
<br>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: <span>lxde-list <<a href="mailto:lxde-list@lists.sourceforge.net" target="_blank">lxde-list@lists.sourceforge.net</a>>, lubuntu-desktop <<a href="mailto:lubuntu-desktop@lists.launchpad.net" target="_blank">lubuntu-desktop@lists.launchpad.net</a>></span> Plasma active could be another one, assuming it runs on the hardware, as with gnome-shell <span class="gI"><a href="mailto:gnome-shell-list@gnome.org">gnome-shell-list@gnome.org</a></span> <br>
<br>Let's get a list of mailings lists going on a wiki page.<br><br>3. Free Geeks<br><br>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: <a href="mailto:fg-general@lists.freegeekvancouver.org">fg-general@lists.freegeekvancouver.org</a><br>
<br>4. Hack Spaces<br><br>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: <span class="gI"><a href="mailto:vhs-general@lists.hackspace.ca">vhs-general@lists.hackspace.ca</a></span><br>
<br>5. LUGS<br><br>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 <span class="gI"><a href="mailto:vanlug@robomod.net">vanlug@robomod.net</a><br>
<br>6. Kickstarter / similar services<br><br>Perhaps funding for a case for the phones can come form these? <br><br>Phew, that's all I can think of for now. I'll be updating </span><a href="http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Marketing_GTA04">http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Marketing_GTA04</a> as time permits. Please reply to the thread, submit ideas, constructive criticism, or just show you're listening!<br>
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