[3g-g]

The marketing society has declared Three "new brand of the year". What?! They've been around for more than 2 years! What's new about that?! And leading 3G network, I'd beg to differ.


Video mobile network 3 has been recognised as the best new brand of the year at the Marketing Society Awards for Excellence.

Inset is Hugh Burkitt, Chief Executive of the Marketing Society quoted below.

The judges identified "3's swift rise in the industry as a worthy standout" from the other entries in the category, including IPC Media's new lifestyle magazine for men, Nuts. 3's advertising campaign "Welcome to our network", created by WCRS, has built 3's brand around a playful attitude to new technology, as well as highlighting 3's value compared with the old networks.

Bob Fuller, 3's Chief Executive commented: "3's brand personality is simple; we're young, fun and a little bit cheeky. 3 is different and proud to be so, we're delighted to receive industry recognition of 3's brand value."

Hugh Burkitt, Chief Executive of the Marketing Society said "To win the best new brand title, 3 had to demonstrate that it had created superior value for customers and real commercial success. The judges were clear that 3 had done this and was a deserving winner in a very competitive category."

3 has built its reputation in the UK as the leading 3G network delivering innovative products and services from the world's first pop gig over mobile, live streaming from the Big Brother house and the UK's first TV stream to mobile from the BBC. 3 has shaken up the UK mobile market by bringing value back to the consumer and creating a brand the video mobile generation wants to buy into.

Taken from a site that loves Three a little to much IMO. (http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/June2005/1627.htm)

[Ben]

"3 has built its reputation in the UK as the leading 3G network delivering innovative products and services"

Isn't that only true if it's what the majority of consumers actually believe? No panel can decide that! Still, I'm glad the new entrant is still being given a fighting chance...

I personally think that congratulating a company that has built it's success on naming itself after a technology and then confusing consumers, to this day, into thinking everything 3G is Three should be penalised not rewarded. It's a disgrace! Here's a quote from someone I was talking to a few days ago:

"Ben...I thought you was against 3G video mobile ever since the nec model. Or have they improved since then?"

Misleading...

[miffed]

very much so

I was sat on a bus shortly after Vodafone launched their 3G offering
The two lads behind me were discussing phones and their conversation went something like

Lad # 1 - "That 3G looks good on the face of it , but everyone I know who has one says they are s*** "

Lad # 2 - "Yeah, but I heard 3G are teaming up with Vodafone now so you can have videocalling on Vodafone - and they are pretty good

Lad # 3 - " I expect Vodafone have bought 3G "


I think the H3G have scarred 3G technology & a few of us saw this coming on the "other" forum

Hutch were clever in naming their network "3" , and if they had done something worthwhile with the technology , then it would have been fairplay - but all they have succeeded in doing is frightening people away from 3G
What I would have like to have seen by means of a "counter" by the other networks , would have been for all the other networks to agree to use an alternative name for the
technology - thus protecting their interests by disassociating them with Three

[3GScottishUser]

I agree totally.

The 3G technology (which was never a priority for Hutchison) has been damaged in terms of reputation because 3 have marketed a poor quality network and flooded the market with rubbish handsets to try and steal a lead on rivals.

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, 3 lost the plot about 3G in 2004 and have abandoned the the notion of selling additional benefits in favour of cheap (and nasty) voice calls and texts to compete with incumbents - bad move. As was the pre-pay folly, with rotten NEC junk chasing monthly a top-up commitent..... who dreamt that up? .... it turned sour for most customers faster than a bottle of milk in July!

The advertising and stuff is nice and cuddly but so is the bunny for pornography for Playboy..... The jury have obviously only looked at the surface and the image and not the service that it disgusies.