Nokia strikes back.... or do they?

As I was browsing the internet, searching for the latest technology invention or rather upgrade, came across the Nokia Lumia 800 that was launched 6 months ago.

6 MONTHS AGO! One can only imagine my surprise, what happened to advertising or plain old marketing? why I know about this? I then felt obliged to ask my classmates if they've heard about such an upgrade, and as I had presumed they had no idea. I was not the only one with her head buried in the sand. I had to take a moment to digest this sudden in take of information, I decided to had straight to the I.T nerds of U.J and find out if they knew anything bout this. I did not even finish my sentence before they started correcting me and giving me more detailed information about this software. I was gobsmacked. Is it a thing of if you are not a I.T geek then you don't know about this? what is going on with nokia's communication strategy?

To educate those of you who like me have no clue what the Nokia Lumia 800 is. "It is a windows powered smart-phone, it uses microsoft mobile operating system" www.coolest-gadgets.com. It also brings along improvements on battery performance and power mnagement. With the amount of social networking people do nowadays, I guess thats a vital feature. "It also has an 8 megapixel camera and internet explorer 9, wich makes internet browsing faster" www.nokia.com.

I couldn't possibly leave it at that, I was itching for more information, so I went to our dear old wikipedia, "the Lumia 800 comes with 4 Nokia exclusive applications, Nokia drive, turn-by-turn navigation system, Nokia maps and app highlights. it also won editors choice award of 2011 what mobile magazine"

I sure do hope that next time Nokia advertises their inventions to the general public not just the geeks.

Xoxo techno-munchies

The competitors attack

It is that time of the month where all malls are decorated with different bright coloured stands, where one hears a powerful scream from the far side of the mall by a kid wanting to get her way. Where one walks hitting peoples shoulder just to make way for the next person. Yes ladies and gentlemen I am talking about month end.

I visited the local mall the other day and I realised that the best way to advertise something or rather promote something is during month end.  It is the only time when you can be that little devil in their ears tempting them to bend their budget here and there...  So as I was walking with my sister hoping that she might pity and old soul and get me something, BAM in the middle of the mall I see this huge marque by Sony Ericsson. and as I was admiring this spectacular display of phones, I turn to my right and Samsung is also promoting their latest gadget the galaxy tab. I felt like a kid in a candy store, I just didn't know which way to look. I was bombarded by gadgets and blinded by the shinning lights. Everything around me was screaming by me or simply touch me, I couldn't go to the samsung stand without feeling like I am betraying Sony Ericsson, I just stood in the middle like a lost puppy, trying to decide which one had the better deal.

 

The Samsung stand bright in blue and white colors and lights had a variety of tablets at display, they had:

• Galaxy Tab P6200
• Galaxy Tab P7300
• Galaxy Tab P7500
• Galaxy Tab P1000

The Sony Ericsson on the other hand hand their promoters dressed in green and grey and their marque just the same, they were promoting their range of Xperia phones.

• Xperia neo V
• Xperia active (which is water resistant and dustproof)
• Xperia mini

You can just imagine my predicament, but i finally decided to rather spend 25 minutes on each marque, therefore i don't end up feeling too bad about it. I must commend both companies though, their ability to attract customers and sustain relationships was definitely on point.




Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000









 Sony Ericsson Xperia  neo V

xoxo techno- munchies

PR tackles technology

when we say technology, the first thing that pops to ones mind is the latest inventions. we completely forget about whats been around for decades . OK granted its not as exciting but it is part of technology at the end of the day.

 Ever thought about the relationship between public relations and technology? from the simplest factor of all (emails) to that, that's a little more complex setting up websites. we have never really evaluated the impact technology has in our Field, we merely take it for granted because its been around for so long. i mean how would we be able to send press releases without emails? we literally depend on such technology to build the image of our organisations. According to http://www.howstuffworks.com/ "One of the biggest PR challenges posed by technology is the explosion of social media". Its all about the who can get their press releases out faster and reach as many people as possible, social media was made possible by web 2.0 five years ago. I must admit it is growing rapidly and makes everything non electronic seem to belong in the stone ages.

Public relations within technology, one has to agree that without the websites, social media, emails (yes they have an impact too) and blogs public relations wouldn't be anywhere. this just shows that public relations is not just about liaising with the public, we too have a foot in the technology aspect of the world.

xoxo tecno- munchies

its all in a click generation

We live in a generation driven and pulled by the ever evolving world of technology. Where  we can't step foot outside the door without our lifelines (cellphones), where every bit of interaction needs to be broadcast on cyberspace.

Gone are the days where communication was merely a printed words on a newspaper, or an unknown voice on the radio. communication now involves twitter facebook, my space, mxit and so forth. it is at a point in the century where one click of a button would reach millions instantly.

Iphone just recently launched a new application called iphone celsius mailto:info@thermometerapp.com. "

Temperature sensor and iOS app that dramatically extends the capabilities of your iPad / iPhone / iPod touch.

• Connects and powered through your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch dock connector

• Intuitive real-time temperature measurements

• Generate stunning graphs, share with Twitter, or on Facebook

• Trigger alerts when alarm thresholds are crossed" http://www.icelsius.com/. granted its of great convenience but have we not lost the essence of communication? are we not too focused on beating our competitors that we have lost the originality of it all?

We as public relations practitioners will be the first people to plan campaigns and hold press conferences making sure that our latest invention gets enough publicity. But do we ever ask ourselves if its really necessary to have a cellphone with a thermometer? But then again we are paid to build acompany's image and to liaise with the public, we have no influence in what the company invents or creates. so let the public relations practitioners for istore start their publicity strategy for its going to be an interesting one.

xoxo tchno- munchies