RIM admits it was behind 'Wake Up' mock protest

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
BlackBerry maker Research in Motion on Monday admitted that it orchestrated the "Wake Up" flashmob protest that took place at a Sydney Apple Store, claiming that the stunt was part of a larger Australian campaign.

Previously thought to be Samsung's doing, the protest which included a flashmob dressed in black holding signs reading "Wake Up." is now confirmed to be a product of a viral campaign for the upcoming BlackBerry 10 mobile OS, reports The Age.

"We can confirm that the Australian 'Wake Up' campaign, which involves a series of experiential activities taking place across Sydney and Melbourne, was created by RIM Australia," the company said.

The marketing blitz has seen people dressed in the same black attire holding "Wake Up." signs standing outside a local news station for the past week as well as a recent Sydney Harbour sighting of a speedboat bearing the logo.

Static advertisements include numerous billboards and even a pool-bottom graphic at a Bondi Beach sports club.

RIM has also launched a website that features a countdown timer to BlackBerry 10's release. The company says a "reveal" will take place on May 7 that will "aim to provoke conversation on what 'being in business' means to Australians".

Wake Up
The "Wake Up" countdown website is now attributed to RIM's BlackBerry 10 launch campaign.


Many thought the ads belonged to Samsung as it has a history of ribbing iPhone users, though the company issued a statement last week denying any involvement.

"As a market leader in smartphones we think Australians have already woken up to the multitude of choices available, but kudos to whoever is behind the campaign," Samsung said in a statement.

It has also come to light that blogger Nate "Blunty" Burr, who originally released "footage" of the mock protest, has worked with RIM on previous projects.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 107
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member


     


    Quote:


    The company says a "reveal" will take place on May 7 that will "aim to provoke conversation on what 'being in business' means to Australians".



     


    Ah, they're going to try to convince Australians that "going bankrupt, being quickly abandoned, and existing without purpose, drive, or vision" now 'means' "being in business".

  • Reply 2 of 107
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Is amateur hour over again?
  • Reply 3 of 107
    solsunsolsun Posts: 763member


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post





    It has also come to light that blogger Nate "Blunty" Burr, who originally released "footage" of the mock protest, has worked with RIM on previous projects.


     


    No one commented on my suspicion, but I called it.  :)


     


    Read My post #136 of #182 in the original thread:  http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/149646/samsung-reportedly-behind-mock-protest-flashmob-at-apple-store/120#post_2101799

  • Reply 4 of 107


    Of course the best way to mock the whole campaign is to ask the people who are participating what phones they have.


    How many ofy of them would be using Blackberrys.


     


    I have no sympathy for companies that fall behind. They have the same chances as any other company to innovate and make good products.


     


    You had the product, but your time is over.


     


    Does anyone actually believe Blackberrys will become a market force again.


     


    Also, why picket Apple? Isn't Samsung the world's number one phone maker now?

  • Reply 5 of 107


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post



    Is amateur hour over again?


     


    I think lame is a better description than amatuer. RIM have been/were a major player for years.

  • Reply 6 of 107
    drblankdrblank Posts: 3,385member


    Well, i think it was pretty safe to say that RIM is over and done with.  I think it is upper management at RIM that needs to WAKE UP! and concede that their platform is over and done with.  These kind of marketing tactics are just plain childish.  I guess they really are desperate.  

  • Reply 7 of 107
    drblankdrblank Posts: 3,385member


    The number they have is the number of RIM users still using their platform..  It counts down quickly as RIM users leave the platform.  hahaha.

  • Reply 8 of 107
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    joelhk wrote: »
    Also, why picket Apple? Isn't Samsung the world's number one phone maker now?

    Not even close. Nokia still makes and sells more handsets than anyone.
  • Reply 9 of 107


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post





    Not even close. Nokia still makes and sells more handsets than anyone.


     


    You sure about that? http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/10/us-samsung-idUSTRE80912J20120110

  • Reply 10 of 107
    poochpooch Posts: 768member


    marketing is very much like politics.  when you have nothing positive about yourself to offer, start slinging fud about others. 


     


    bottom of the barrel, rim.

     

  • Reply 11 of 107


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Pooch View Post


    marketing is very much like politics.  when you have nothing positive about yourself to offer, start slinging fud about others. 


     


    bottom of the barrel, rim.

     



     


    Agreed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_a_Mac

  • Reply 12 of 107


    I find the whole slogan, "Wake Up," too preachy. AND the fact that they showed up in front of an Apple store. . . it reminds me of when Carolyn Parrish stomped on George W. Bush's doll to express her infantile dislike of the man.


     


    It's like, instead of telling us why we all suck for not buying your product, prove to us that we should buy your product by demonstrating it's awesomeness.


     


    Then again, I am not a marketing expert. . .


     


     

  • Reply 13 of 107
    techprtechpr Posts: 15member
    joelhk wrote: »
    <p> Also, why picket Apple? Isn't Samsung the world's number one phone maker now?</p>

    Samsung may be number (1) but everyone follows Apple lead. Influence is more powerful than everything else.
  • Reply 14 of 107


    Maybe it could be a successful campaign if RIM is talking about themselves - that they are the one in need of waking up (from the nightmare that has been the past 5 years since the iPhone was launched).


     


    In this already thinning marketplace, where Apple and Android rule, while even MS fights to remain viable, RIM has what I suspect is an insurmountable challenge in front of it.  They'd need to have the perfect storm of great OS with no issues, big uptake by developers and a way to stem the tide of defectors, even among the [boneheaded] financial and political communities and some competitive, if not groundbreaking, new hardware.  I'm not a betting man, but the odds are really not in their favor given the misses they've had on all fronts the past few years.


     


    It's not like they've all of a sudden had that "aha" moment and now they're going to right all the wrongs they've had. Sure, they've chopped the head off the monster, but what they're left with isn't going to be great or maybe even good.  It would take years to get things not just up to speed but ahead of any competitor if they could hire some creative engineers.


     


    Just thinking through this, I should become a financial analyst because this kind of review of their business is simple stuff and will make some people a ton of money - and lose even more for shareholders of RIM.

  • Reply 15 of 107
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    fredaroony wrote: »

    It looks like Samsung may have finally topped Nokia as largest vendor (according to some recent analyst estimates).


    PS: You might want to actually grab a relevant article instead of a 5 month old article that is speculating.
  • Reply 16 of 107


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post





    PS: You might want to actually grab a relevant article instead of a 5 month old article that is speculating.


     


    Indeed, my mistake. Trying to install a backup server at the same time :)

  • Reply 17 of 107


    It may be worth waiting to see what RIM actually come up with before we start saying how crap the new OS will be. Don't forget Apple was almost dead before SJ turned everything around. This could be a new beginning for RIM... or the final nail in the coffin.

  • Reply 18 of 107
    cindercinder Posts: 381member


    What a total Microsoft move.


     


    Insult the 'idiots' who bought your competitors product - and then tell them to buy yours instead


     


    thus proving their original point?!

  • Reply 19 of 107


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post



    It has also come to light that blogger Nate "Blunty" Burr, who originally released "footage" of the mock protest, has worked with RIM on previous projects.


     


    Ha! Apple was right to kick him out of the store for filming. That lying liar. Being finally revealed as the corporate shill he was, this technically wasn't a flash mob.


    Of course, now that it's been revealed to be the work of RIM: bawhahahahaha!

  • Reply 20 of 107


    Unfortunately, it is RIM that needs to wake up before they go out of business.

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