I just posted about it in my blog and Google+ page, now forwarding it
to identi.ca (which forwards it to twitter).
http://blog.1407.org/2012/01/01/gta04-free-software-smartphone-group-buy/
https://plus.google.com/111476378907603803049/posts/5vbJyoeDSLu
http://identi.ca/notice/87924177
http://twitter.com/#!/RuiSeabra/status/153475257783689216
I think we should make more publicity about this in places where more
people may reach these lists here are preaching to the choir, some
outreach is a must!
Rui
On Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:50:40 +0100
"Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller" wrote:
> Hi all,
> that status of the GTA04 mass market group tour
>
> http://www.handheld-linux.com/wiki.php?page=GTA04%20Group%20Tour
>
> is that we have:
>
> * passed half time yesterday
> * first early bird batch is sold out
> * but still only 16% preorders (56 units)
> * we have approx. 6 weeks left to fill the remaining
>gap of 84 %
>
> So I would say that we are still far away from becoming
> successful.
>
> If I read that over 2 Million new Android units have been
> activated over the Christmas holidays [1] and 4 Million
> iOS devices just on Christmas day [2], I can't believe
> that we do not find 350 potential buyers in 60 days...
>
> Well, we don't have a real mass market device and I think
> we should not even pretend to have one, in this phase.
> Because we are then compared to the 100 EUR Huawei
> Android/UMTS units where one has to suspect that the
> workers in China are being ripped off...
>
> What do you think should we do to make this group
> tour a success?
>
> * extend the subscription timeframe until we reach
> 100%?
> * ask for/collect donations to extend the early bird rebates?
>Some sort of sponsorship by community members for
>community members who can't afford a new GTA04
>immediately?
> * have more resellers or buying groups to order batches
>of 10 units?
> * talk more about the benefits and special features one
>can only find in a GTA04 and nowhere else?
> * subsidize GTA04 boards by combining them with a
>UMTS contract?
> * offer to pay only part of the price by end of the subscription
>time frame so that we can already buy the expensive
>and difficult to source components, but postpone
>production individually until the remaining payments
>arrive? (i.e. pay 200 EUR until 10th Feb and the remainder
>until May)
>
> More ideas are welcome! But please keep in mind
> that we can't develop something completely new until
> February and components cost what they cost...
>
> The simpler the idea the better!
>
> And, there may be ideas which are too big for a single
> community member, but may become feasible if we all
> work together, contributing many small pieces.
>
> Curious about your ideas,
> Nikolaus
>
> [1]:
> http://www.giga.de/macnews/newsticker/ios-gegen-android-42-millionen-ios-26-millionen-android-aktivierungen-am-weihnachtstag-256890
> [2]:
> http://www.macrumors.com/2011/12/27/holiday-gifts-drive-new-ios-device-activations-sharply-higher/
> ___ Openmoko community
> mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org
> http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
___
Openmoko community mailing list
community@lists.openmoko.org
http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
