What do you think of when you think BIC? Ballpoint pens? Single-use razors? Well, if BIC’s leadership has anything to say about it, that is soon going to change.
Recently, BIC launched a mobile phone in France, seeking to extend their convenience-based brand into the telecom market. The phone, which shares the colour-scheme and appearance of the company’s razor line retails for 49€ and comes with a fully-charged battery and 60 minutes of airtime. The phone is available at grocers and retailers and is targeted at people with a short-term need for a second line such as when troubled by a battery-depleted device or selling a car/renting an apartment. (Not to mention the ability to take the prank call or movie-like “call me at this unassigned number” to a whole new level.)
At first, I questioned the value of a disposable mobile device (expensive, wasteful/environmental impact) but when considering the international roaming charges that apply on many carriers’ networks, I wonder if these phones will gain momentum, particularly among the cost-conscious business crowd. Do such roaming alternatives have the power to encourage inter-telco agreements that can allow for legitimately unlocked devices to improve the customer experience and potentially lead to everyone gaining from a rising tide?
Aside: At launch, BIC leadership made sure to point out that their mobile device [remember: sub $100, disposable] would not be competing with the iPhone in terms of function and features. In related news, Justin Timberlake can share in Apple’s sense of relief in knowing that based on a conversation spurred by the BIC phone’s merit, Denis Hancock (the artist formerly known as the Dilbert Wikinomics guru) was quick to point out that despite having picked up some new dance moves recently, he will not be competing with the JT for the adoration of tweens worldwide.
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All I want is pay-per-minute cell service with no minimum monthly fee or expiring prepaid minutes. I can get used phones on eBay cheaply, but there just doesn’t seem to be a dead simple way to get a cell phone with a fixed number that doesn’t cost $40/mo. here in the US.
Comment by Daniel J. Pritchett - August 5, 2008 1:19 pm
[...] others wonder how the phone will be disposed and whether there are any recycling facilities. A disturbing product to join the “throwaway and replace” category, although one could muse on the benefits [...]
Pingback by Spook And Muffin’s Relaxed Politics » You know you live in a throw-away society when - August 10, 2008 2:35 pm