Finally a post that makes sense II

In an earlier post we had examined the concept of guerilla marketing campaign. I did promise you follow up, and everyone knows that the Yixman never breaks a promise.

Ok, firstly sorry for the week's absence, I actually have a very good excuse--- Procrastination.

So we've gotten that out of the way, let us get on with business. TenCube takes a lot of pride in its work, and without doubt it's because WaveSecure is an awesome product. But making a good idea great is what we're aiming for. As it stands the mobile phone security market is quite small, and public awareness is miniscule. So in this case, we're actually pioneers charting new ground here, and anything we do to increase awareness is enlarging the size of the pie we can take a bite off.

This is where our new advertising campaign comes in

Among a series of posters we have put up in NUS.

The main aim of these posters would be to warn users of the dangers of losing their phones. Our product's name is visible but not the focus of the poster. In this sequence of posters what we are doing is two things.

1. Associate WaveSecure with Phone Security
   
2. Ask the user to come to our website
   

By making it short and sweet, we hope to create an impression on the subconscious of the reader's mind. Even if the reader does not surf on to our website after reading the poster, the association is built.

However I've been thinking about this, and realize there is a flaw to this campaign.

1. It is not interactive, in the sense that the only sense being tested is visual. A good ad will utilize several of the users experiences
   
2. What can make this poster viral? What can I do to make the user talk about it to his friends, his colleagues?
   

I actually have another idea in mind that I want to implement for the next campaign. But I'm not going to tell you.

HA!

Bring on the Bears! We are ready!

It’s the end of the week once again, and time for another post. If you haven’t noticed yet, the tenCube blog is update every Friday and one additional time a week, preferably Tuesday. I do know that the blog is still rather amateurish in its layout and design (thanks for reminder folks), but I find it rather endearing. And what is more, Tito will be helping with the implementation of design in the near future. So expect nicer buttons, more kick-ass templates and even this new-fangled thing called ANIMATED GIFs! Onward to the 21^st Century! :O

Anyway, I have sent out invites to a number of people to become Champion Users of WaveSecure. If you have received it good for you, reply if you’re interested. We have got back a number of potential entries who have written nicely to us. To them, you are all up for consideration! To those not aware, Champions will be able to get their hands on the newest build of WaveSecure before it is released to the riff-raff and hoi polloi. They will also be able to write in to us with commentary on how the newest look of WaveSecure makes them feel and suggest how to improve it. In addition, the tenCube team might invite this select group for tea so that we can communicate face to face.

If anyone wishes to be part of this program, just write in to us at support@wavesecure.com with the Subject Header, “I want to be a Champion!” or an equally corny title. The email should include why you think you are able to be a fitting CHAMPION, along with some little details like phone model, general usage of phone (like do you use a lot of data, little data, have lots of contacts, have lots of SMS) and whether you consider yourself a techie. We are looking for people from a wide spectrum so no answer is right. I’ll be accepting entries until Monday morning, the 21^st January, so do hurry.

But anyway, it’s fantastic that we are getting some pretty decent coverage in the press. I’ve blogged about it. It’s also nice that we’ve got some momentum with the release of WaveSecure Lite. I’ve never spoken about WaveSecure Lite and your ears are probably piqued in interest. Let me just give a rundown on this little chili padi of a software, direct from Mobile Hotdog.

Welcome to WaveSecure Lite - a must-have security product for your phone. With WaveSecure Lite, you can: 1. Remotely LOCK your phone with an SMS 2. AUTO-LOCK your phone when SIM is changed 3. Make your phone SCREAM 4. Get notified when someone puts in a NEW SIM. Once you install WaveSecure Lite, you can set a PIN for your phone. If you lose your phone, simply use a friend's phone to SMS "Wslite lock " to your phone to lock it. (You can also make your phone scream by adding "alarm" to the lock command!) You can also preset up to 9 "Buddy" numbers. The moment someone insert [sic] a new SIM into your phone, your buddies will be notified via SMS and you can track down the thief!

And it’s downloadable from www.mobilehotdog.com or on your Nokia S60 3^rd Edition phone. It’s got rave reviews, and is the featured content of today!

But to those lucky people with WaveSecure by invitation, this of course is of little consequence in their bubble of security. To them, I remind: Always be vigilant and wary, for that is the ideal way to conduct your business.

And this is the Yixman, signing out for the week.

Finally a post that makes sense!

One of the toughest things we have to do working at a newly emerging company like tenCube is getting the word out about WaveSecure. Believe you me, I don’t think anyone doubts we have an awesome product here—I mean seriously, who doesn’t want to protect their phones? However, we need to gain visibility and all this without a multi-million dollar budget…

We’ve pondered over this question many, many times. With the limited resources we have, we realize it cannot be a dizzyingly spectacular advertising campaign printed in a dozen leading papers, sponsoring Angelina Jolie in her latest escapade in Central Africa or anything like that. Maybe a guerilla campaign could do the trick

For the benefit of those uninitiated in the ways of advertising neologism (although it was coined in the early 80’s), “guerilla advertising” is method of getting the message out to people in a non-traditional way. That means out with the “Big Man” expensive channels such as the papers or a television spot, and in with streetwise, edgy, urban messages. Not too long past gone, it was the preserve of those who had little in the way of a budget. Sometimes they were exercises in supreme creativity and presentation; oftentimes they just flat out failed. Nowadays, everyone is using it, from big friggin’ huge Internet Companies to big friggin’ huge Banking Companies. There is just no differentiation!

A good example of a “guerilla campaign” was when Burger King hired a couple of guys, dressed them up as clowns in the colors of Ronald McDonald, and had them line up in the queue. As such see below.

Now here’s the thing: With the trend of guerrilla marketing no longer the sole demesne of the underdogs, and with a bigger budget and more hands on deck, what can us as small nimble companies do?

Well, one of the solutions bandied about is what is now called viral marketing. Viral marketing is the idea that with the prevalence of social networks in our globalized and connected society, the power of the ‘word of mouth’ or buzz is many times multiplied. It’s actually quite an effective strategy if done right and done well.

In a future post we will be elaborating more on viral marketing strategies, examples and how we shall implement it.

It's good to be the king

So just the other day (9^th January) tenCube was featured in the local papers, the Straits Times. For those who don’t read the papers here it is, in all its glory……….

Click here for a better article link

Pretty impressive, eh? And to top it all off, it’s even got a picture of the team responsible for your pretty piece of software!

Actually it’s not our whole core staff; Kapil is in India (apparently, it’s too much trouble coming down. Boo…), Vyas has more important things to do than pose for a “stupid photo”.

But still, allow me to introduce you to the makers of WaveSecure (the Protector of your Phone, the patron Saint of your SMSes, the Champions of your Calls): From the Top,

1. Rishi: He's built up more muscles since he has been going to the gym and getting a personal trainer. If he's your fave developer, vote 1 in the comments. (Maybe we should pay him a visit during one of his training sessions and do a vlog)
2. Varun: He's going to India to staff the office there, our sofa will miss him. Vote 2
3. Darius: He's not tech team so you don't get to vote for him.
4. Tito: No, he doesn't have large hands. Its just a very tricky photograph. Vote 3
   

Another rumor I heard spreading around is that Tito is the only one that is real in this photograph. The rest are a part of a background poster or something. It kinda looks that way if you are observant. However that observation is false. Firstly, we aren’t so frivolous with our cash to get a poster with the mugs of those 3 on them as the poster wouldn’t sell anything except maybe tuition services. Secondly, it takes a professional photographer to get them looking this good.

For your (the readers) benefit, I have decided to do a bit of work and have come up with this:

Just storming through this little idea:

1. A welcome addition on your bedroom/bathroom/living room/dining room/storeroom wall;
2. Print it out as a postcard: Send it to a loved ones to show that you cherish them and think of them all the time. Remind them to use WaveSecure so they will not lose their phones ever again and thus will always stay in contact with you;
3. Print it on your custom made towel or blanket. Wrap yourself in sheer delight;
4. Parodize this on flickr and youtube;
5. A nice piece of plywood, a set of darts and let your imagination run wild!
   

We are always open to suggestions!

Nokia-heads, we're still your friends

Hohoho,

Welcome to the land of tenCube! It is a new year and if you are on our regular mailer, you would have received our offer to be a Champion User. If not write in to us and tell us why you think you deserve to try out our newest release before anyone else and contribute to its development.

But anyways, I found something really,really interesting while surfing the net yesterday. If you are aware, there is this quaint little mobile phone company called Nokia, which is based way north of here in Europe. So there is this really neat phone of theirs which they name Nokia 6120 Classic. They really love their numbers, and it seems both they and Sony Ericsson are in a challenge to see who can come up with the phone with the most numbers in it. Pretty soon it will be the Nokia 8518781237 against the Sony Ericsson W129134578513i. Meanwhile nice little phones like the TyTn are forced to add numbers like TyTn II to their arsenal to compete.

But anyway, on to the 6120 Classic. Here is a picture

Sleek, Sweet and Subtle in its design. I really like it. But it got my mind thinking. With a classic version, there must be an original version. So I did a search.

This is the almighty 6120

For the benefit of those whose mousewheel can't scroll upwards, compare again

Double-U Tee AFF? Not only has this rent the adage, “Apples never falls far from the tree” asunder, it has invoked the possibility that mobile phones cheat on each other. Even further confusing the matter, the 6120 (the one that is ugly as a stick that has been beaten up by other sticks) has another name.

The 6110. The original 6120 was known as the 6110 in many other parts of the world.

Oh dear, In case you don’t know, below is a picture of the Nokia 6110 Navigator

Holy crap. Has Nokia run out of numbers to use?

I feel inspired to write to Nokia.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: The Person with the Supreme Power to number Nokia Phones.

Re: The orgy of numbers

Hi!

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is the Yixman, and I’ve been a loyal user of your company’s product for my whole life (except for a short spate where I was drawn to the dark side by Philips Twist; my only defense, it was a free phone when no phone was free back then)

I notice with dismay that your current model 6120 classic bears little resemblance whether in shape or spirit to the actual 6120. I am not saying it is not a good phone. Far from it! But is it not some form of marketing shtick to believe that someone who buys the 6120 classic is actually relieving the retro era of mobile phones, where phones still had little pointy things, and big ass buttons and couldn’t SMS?

The only similarities I can see, is the fact that both of them have numbers and letters on their buttons! The 6120 also proudly proclaims that it is “digital”, differentiating itself from its analog competitors and those with the gigantic turning wheels where one sticks their fingers in.

Also interestingly enough, the 6120 is actually the North American version of the 6110. Dude! Are we not confused enough as it is? We’ve gone even further this time by naming both one of your mightiest phone and one of your most stylish after an 8 year old phone with a stubby antennae.

Might I humbly introduce you to letters? Companies like HTC and Samsung have used these to great effect. In fact in eons pass, you did use such a gimmick. Remember the Nokia Liberty; and the Liberty II? You even had a great ad campaign, although it was pretty much too communist.

I can however take comfort that you have taken a great leap of faith by choosing to use the letter E and N to the start of some of your phones. Well Done! Well done! Sony Ericsson also has done something similar with the letters, K, W and M. Both of you are surely innovators and risk-takers in your fields.

Sincerely,

The Yixman.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I should really end the post here before I get assassinated by Nokia Ninjas. and Pirates.

There is no Passion, there is only Peace

Peace of mind that is!

Hey yous,

Ok, let’s kick this off: Blog for tenCube. The spiel goes like this--- We are tenCube, we make WaveSecure. WaveSecure is the most kickass software ever. And I don’t mean it in an “it’s really fun, relaxing software that looks really good” way. I mean it in an “It can cure cancer, destroy alien invaders, prevent war” sort of way.

I may be exaggerating--- but by only a bit. With this software, basically you have insurance against phone theft, loss and misplacement. Not to mention the data inside your phone. And it’s fucking free, so don’t you forget about it.

I am a traditionalist by nature, so let me start with proper introduction to our team.

Darius ---This handsome, youthful man is erudite, compassionate, honorable, and “so brilliant it hurts” He’s our big chief. He is also immune to flattery.

Varun --- He loses his phone often, from what I hear. This is why our company was formed. He sleeps on the couch overnight all the time—we sometimes buy liquid clay and pour it on the sofa depression. And voila! A Varun Golem!

Oh did I mention he created wavesecure?

Kapil --- He works in our Indian office, and I hardly knew him when he left for India (hi, Kapil!) He just got married, and he sent over an awesome wedding invitation card. Too bad he didn't provide plane tickets. He is in charge of our Symbian projects.

Tito --- Named after the Yugoslavian dictator Josip Tito. He’s ruggedly handsome and gets all the girls. Our Tito does our web stuff and makes sure our servers can talk with your phone.

Rishi --- He’s the married guy in our company. He does techy stuff and buys lot of equipment for us. He drinks protein shakes. They don’t work.

Roy --- The story goes like this. Roy worked at Citigroup. He was struck by wanderlust. Stood outside the office for 3 days and 3 nights, Darius finally relented and made him an honorary employee (honorary meaning earning nothing a month). Now he actually has a wage, and can afford to eat (edit: too much actually, not my words). He is our products manager

Ming --- He uses his awesome guitar playing skills to deflect bullets and defeat super villains. He uses his gift of the gab to resolve world conflict and charm the ladies. He uses his massive bulk to balance the matter/anti-matter equation and store grain in case of famine. He is our business contact guy

Anitha --- Our den mother makes sure we behave and not play with matches in the office. Also she is the channel of our pay so I can’t make fun of her. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. She’s really fun and doesn’t punish us too often.

Yixue --- Please allow me to introduce myself. I am a man of wealth and taste. I have the gift of one-liners, but you’re cursed with curse of curves. Somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like your umbrella, brella brella brella brella, eh eh eh eh eh. I need to replace my batteries I seem to have broken down. Ok I am in consumer sales, and loving it.

Anyway, enough with the introductions to our persons. If you want to find out more about us, our startup is located at NUS School of Computing (ex), so drop by. Am I allowed to say that?

And now for something completely different:
It’s a terrible sin that tenCube has yet to start a blog. I am here to rectify that sin. With so many things going on at the moment in our office (like our ongoing monopoly league), it was quite a task to find someone to write up the blog. But verily, I have been overtaken by the muse and will be writing the very first post of the very first blog that is tenCube.
For those not in the know, or have stumbled upon this blog, go here to find out more. Interestingly enough that link leads to our main website in some form of weird coincidence.
Anyways, with the sacred power of words, we shall both convince readers to use WaveSecure to protect and sanctify their mobile communication devices, and to update our dear fans on our activities and goings-on. Also, I will have a regular mailbag service with user feedback, news and suggestions from all around the world (if the world=Singapore)

And so ends our dalliance with introduction, and onwards to blogdom!