Phoney Queues Used to Spur Polish iPhone Launch
WARSAW (AFP)--Poland's biggest telecoms operator, Telekomunikacja Polska, said Friday it had paid young, hip-looking film extras to stand in queues for the national launch of Apple's iPhone.
"It was a marketing move. We thought it was a pretty interesting strategy," TP spokesman Wojciech Jabczynski told AFP.
TP is controlled by France Telecom, which owns the Orange mobile telephone brand.
The latest version of the iPhone, which had its initial launch in the U.S. in July, went on sale at Orange's Polish stores Friday at the stroke of midnight (2200 GMT Thursday).
In other parts of the world, Apple fans have stood in line for hours - and sometimes days - to buy the new iPhone.
Apparent queues began forming Thursday evening outside Orange's stores across Poland, with some in the line offering to sell their slot to passers-by for 100-300 zlotys ($44.87-$134.60).
"The aim was to attract attention. The people in the queues told passers-by about the iPhone," said Jabczynski.
Jabczynski said TP was pleased with the results of the launch but declined to reveal any figures.
"We couldn't have expected the same kind of fever as in the U.S. given that Apple's products aren't that well known in Poland and in central Europe," he said.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
Posted to the site on 22nd August 2008
