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Sony-Ericsson Starts US$5M Astroturf Campaign

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the whoops-I-seem-to-have-spilled-my-drink-on-you dept.

lairdb writes "The WSJ reports today (31Jul02) that Sony Ericsson will be marketing their new T68i cellphone/camera combo unit via "shills" to create a grassroots buzz. Specific tactics will include fake tourist couples at popular attractions asking bystanders to take their picture, and "leaners": pairs of women ("actresses and female models") at bars playing interactive Battleship with each other from opposite ends of the bar. "[T]he company has gone to considerable lengths to train it's actors to avoid detection [as Ericsson spokespeople.]""

3 of 452 comments (clear)

  1. 2 women playing battleships in a bar... by jonr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    2 women (supposedly gorgeous) playing battleships in a bar... Riiight. EricSony marketoids needs to get out more.

  2. No soliciting. by fmaxwell · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If a restaurant, bar, or other private firm posts a "no soliciting" notice, the people engaged in this deceptive ploy might be hauled off for trespassing. Alternatively, the owner could take Sony/Ericsson to court and demand a fee for using his/her establishment to advertise their products.

  3. Re:Deceptive, but they won't lie by platypus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ordinarily I'd gladly take a photo of a couple, but these photos are meaningless.

    Muahaha, I see something coming.
    "Hello Mister Miller, you bought the Sony Ericsson's T68i last week, how are your first impressions?"
    "Bad, really bad. I just returned it to the shop. Everywhere I went to with the phone, people were mad at me for being a "Sony con".
    One man even threatened to knock me up, just because I wanted him to take a picture from my wife and me."