Smartphone companies are using all sorts of strange marketing ploys to gain market share. Today, we saw some promotions made us go hugh? We went from Apples simplistic showing its iPhone apps to gimmicks that include balloons, rainbow ice cream scoopers, word games, reality shows, changes and signatures... Videos of the ads follow at the end.
BlackBerry Scoops Up 4 Robert Rodriguez: Made by BlackBerry & You.
While BlackBerry is trying to find a buyer or a way out, a film project supported by BlackBerry seems to defy marketing logic.
Two rainbow wigged sexy Latinas work on an ice cream truck, get an assignment on a BlackBerry PlayBook to find a creature that captured their father and other missing people. Film maker Robert Rodriguez directed the film, 'Two Scoops' as part of the Keep Moving Projects with BlackBerry 10.
The eleven minute movie shows the girls go from rainbow ice cream scoopers to black clad warrior princesses fighting a strange space creature with a foam dice shooting device. How the movie promotes the QWETRY-keyed smartphone maker we can't figure out.
The company also hired Alicia Keys, her name has keys in it, maybe she was supposed show the keys to better keyboard typing. No, no, her music showed of the BlackBerry Z10 with a touchscreen keyboard. From cult funky monster movie to the top pop artist how does it relate to BlackBerry?
HTC One for the Money Two for the Big Show?
We received an email from HTC today with notice "Change is Coming" stating "We're excited to confirm the rumors you heard. We're working with a real change to bring HTC to Life. And this is just the beginning."
The email links to a weird word game that makes words of the letter HTC. "Now enjoy your reward. A little sneak peek of some big thinking." After you watch the video there are links to other videos in the YouTube box and a link a Moto X video. The Samsung Galaxy S III-4 are the next big thing. There are phones with bigger screens. What then is big thinking?
Another new video "The Arrival. #HTC Change" shows Robert Downey Jr. in a conference room, he picks up a piece of paper and says "Humongous Tin Foil Catamaran."
The word is out that this Happy Transition Change is part of a one billion dollar campaign starring Robert Downey Jr. The ads to be released in three phases show the unique HTC One features and how the features empower change is lives in movies, online and digital media. This beats the $500 to be spent on the Motorola X.
The Motorola X, we reported previously, made a sexy "she said" reference that was removed after complaints.
BB Balloons Shot in Dark for LG G2?
In Korea, LG launched balloons with coupons in them to get free LG G2 smartphones. The challenge backfired when those who wanted to win the LG G2 shot the balloons with BB guns, injuring twenty people. LG will cover medical costs for the injured.
SOS Deserted Island Shoot-Out?
While HTC supports change and ease, Samsung will be making it hard for contestants to with vigorous challenges using Samsung products on deserted island, "SOS Island".
Viewers will vote for a winner from the comfort of their PCs and smartphones. The last remaining contestant wins the grand prize: his or her own island. Contestants are left to their own resources and a Samsung Galaxy S 4 zoom smartphone. We're wondering where the Samsung Galaxy Zoom cameras will be charged and how they are going post their escapades to Facebook without Wi-Fi or 4G LTE. What would you do if you were stranded on a tropical island with only a smartphone?
I would call for help and get out of there. You can't eat a smartphone... You could take photos of yourself starving....
One Bad Apple Don't Spoil the Whole Bunch of iPhones...
In June, Ad Age proclaimed that Apple's ad campaign had the lowest score of the Apple TV ads in the past year by Ace Metrix 489. scoring lower than the average 600 score of Samsung ads.
The TV commercial called "Our Signature."
"This is it. This is what matters. The experience of a product. How it makes someone feel. Will it make life better? Does it deserve to exist? We spend a lot of time on few great things, until every idea we touch it enhances every life it touches. Although you may rarely look at it, but you'll always feel it. This it our signature and it means everything."
Apple went back to software features with its latest TV Ad for FaceTime. Ad Age noted that Apple by exchanging any brand charger for its own is brilliant PR move after the accidental death of an iPhone user in China from a shock from a charger.
Let us know your favorite silly promo, that you've seen recently in the comments below.