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Samsung UK is giving out free Galaxy S smartphones to people who have publicly expressed their frustration with the new iPhone 4 on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
“Yes, we’re giving away Galaxy S’. We’re proud of it so wanted to get it into some people’s hands to spread the word. Only a few left!” is one of the latest twitter updates from @samsungukmobile.
Samsung, like Nokia, has been mercilessly attacking Apple over its antennagate issues, with this the latest salvo in what could become an all-out war.
Earlier this week the firm also unveiled a rather cheeky advert, with a clear message: “Hello, our phones have bars.”
It’s still unclear whether punters have to turn in their iPhones to get their hands on Samsung’s Galaxy, or how Samsung chooses which iPhone complainers to reward, but one thing’s for certain, the PR battle is being fought and won by the Korean firm.
“If Apple won’t Fix Their F’ing Fone (FTFF), Samsung will!” wrote one commenter on Samsung Hub.
RCR Unplugged contacted Samsung’s US office (Samsung Telecommunications America) to ask whether disgruntled American punters might be able to trade in their iPhone 4’s for the Galaxy S, but was told “at this time, Samsung Mobile in the U.S. is not planning a Galaxy S giveaway campaign.”
Admittedly, it’s a rather ingenious PR coup, even if Samsung is only giving away 100 or so free phones. After all, since when did doling out a few shiny new handsets ever hurt company revenues? Just ask Microsoft, who earlier this week announced it was giving away 90,000 WP7 devices to its employees.
And to think Apple only offered a rubber band as a fix. Sheesh! Cupertino better be careful or it might quickly lose its mojo.
