Chillin' With Your Cell - Company Business and Marketing

Industry Standard, The, March 12, 2001 by Josh Newman

If Kode fails in planned launches in Los Angeles and New York in the coming months, that fireball of a truck may take on an ironic twist. But initial response at the Sacramento store is promising. Back in the Pod, one dreadlocked teen explains, "Mom can take away my computer. She can take away my car. But she can't take away my Kode phone. That's mine. It's my connection to people."

Music to a marketer's heart.

Josh Newman (newman@unstrung.com) is editor of wireless news site Unstrung.com.

                                Not So Cool
                        Selling wirless devices to
                        teens is a risky business.
PLAYERS          BACKED BY COMMENTS
Cybiko           America   Cybiko Wireless Computers give kids a
                 Online    wireless communicator, e-mail, games,
                           calculator, spell-checker, Spanish-
                           English dictionary, organizer and an
                           [MP.sub.3] player. Everything but voice
                           communication. Airtime is free, so
                           revenues come from the sale of the $129
                           devices (currently available at
                           www.cybiko.com). Prediction: Kids would
                           rather save for a PlayStation2, and
                           teens want cell phones.
Modo             Flatiron  A chic design and $20 million didn't
                 Partners  save this ill-fated wireless device last
                           year. Modo gave access to custom content
                           about bars and nightlife, but hip youths
                           in urban centers thought the unit's $100
                           price was too steep for a device that
                           could only receive, not send, messages.
                           The company closed two days before its
                           launch party.
Sonora Zed       Sonora    The national carrier of Finland has had
                           tremendous success there; it has more
                           than 700,000 users and a high percentage
                           of teens. But launching a brand from
                           scratch in the U.S. with traditional
                           media is a pricey proposition.
Virgin Mobile    Virgin    Sir Richard Branson recently announced
Virtual Operator           plans to bring his London-based Virgin
                           Mobile Virtual Operator (his brand,
                           others' networks) to the states to
                           target the youth market. While Branson's
                           name may help Virgin sign deals with
                           carriers, it may not mean much to kids.
                           When was the last time you saw a teen
                           down a Virgin cola with his burger and
                           fries?
SOURCE: COMPANIES LISTED