telecom

Verizon Readies N.Y. BlackBerry Storm Promo

  • by November 7, 2008
Verizon/BlackberryWhile Verizon Wireless has not yet announced when its iPhone competitor--Research in Motion's touchscreen BlackBerry Storm--will actually go on sale, the company has definitely stepped up promotional activities in the Big Apple--amidst some blog reports that the smartphone could be in consumers' hands as early as Friday.

Storm trackers seeking a head start could play Verizon Wireless' "Storm Hunt," which began last Thursday and runs through Nov. 15. The scavenger-type promotion, via Chicago-based mobile marketing agency Vibes Media, directs consumers to gather keywords from kiosks at 45 Manhattan locations and then text them in for a chance to win daily BlackBerry Storms and $50 activation gift cards.

On Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., a 4-foot-by-4-foot-by-12-foot BlackBerry Storm will appear in Times Square. Those who enter will be surrounded by a flurry of tickets blowing around. They will then have 30 seconds to grab as many tickets as they can for a chance to win one of 100 Storms, each with a $50 activation gift card. Bluetooth headsets will go to another 100 winners. Verizon Wireless expects about 400 participants--meaning that about half of those who play the game will be winners. The promotion agency is Momentum Worldwide.

advertisement

advertisement

The Boy Genius Report reported that this promotion already paid a visit to downtown San Francisco last Monday.

According to the blogger, the phone booth-sized display allowed one person to enter at a time, and the 100 phones were given away to participants who succeeded in catching seven business card-sized tickets. 

Also last week, Verizon Wireless announced pricing for the BlackBerry Storm's GlobalEmail plans--$69.99 monthly stand-alone, and $64.99 when added to a voice plan. The plans include POP3 email, Web browsing, picture messaging and visual voice mail.

Next story loading loading..