On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 9:12 AM, Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller <h...@goldelico.com > wrote:
> > The other strategy is the one taken by Apple. They have a very low > marketing budget compared to other companies. And the media are > still happy to report every small move at no cost... > ... which is because Apple is super secretive, so even "rumors" become big news. While this is a great strategy, it becomes difficult to achieve if you are trying to have everything "open". What I think is lost in all of this is the question: Who is the intended customer? I've seen some people talk about linux geeks, etc etc. However, at least for the first rev of the GTA04, it's _hardware_ geeks, and hardcore ones at that, which is the focus. There are lots of unix-heads that would love a phone that is "free-er" then Android or Apple let you be. But having to buy a phone, then cannibalize it with another kit you buy? It's definitely outside the mainstream. Now, it's not that I don't want this project to succeed. I think it's a great cause -- I was one of the early GTA01 (neo) buyers. For me, I don't have time right now to assemble a Freerunner and a GTA04 to get a working phone "with possibilities". I want the completed package, then end result. The neo was shipped with the slogan "some assembly required", which gave you the right idea. I thought that it just needed a good software stack to make things great. (I still do). What might work is having people invest, rather then "buy" something. That's something I could wrap my head around. "Make the open phone happen -- Invest now". Don't make it complicated or expensive. "$10 in one 'block'" kind of thing. Maybe 40 blocks would allow the "investor" to see a completed phone, if one was to ever be produced. Make the risks clear -- the "open phone" might never come to market, but if we get 5000 blocks sold, we then have the muscle to negotiate with the big boys. The issue here is what is in it for the "little guy", and I'd be a bit fuzzy. 40 blocks gets a phone, but what if I buy 2? Do I get the use of a phone for a week? :P I also don't know the legal side of calling it an "investment" (rather then a donation or a purchase). But this would be simpler to "market", and would have better funding potential then selling the kit. As an aside -- if I have extra cash, I might be willing to buy a kit or two -- but they would either end up as donations to others, or as a dust collector. So it's not that I'm not willing to put money into it. But I also realize that one or two more kits won't make this happen in isolation. Thanks
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