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Verizon’s BlackBerry Storm launch was something of a success for the carrier: after all, they managed to sell out of the touchscreen RIM smartphone. One thing I don’t remember seeing in the official coverage, however, was Peek’s tongue-in-cheek demonstration outside one Manhattan Verizon Wireless store: people dressed in prisoners’ uniforms, chained to giant Storms, protesting against two-year contracts.
Video of the Peek protest after the cut
On the back of the uniforms was a “Parole Date” suggesting that Storm buyers wouldn’t be released until November 21st, 2010. While the people in the street appear entertained, Verizon were less enthusiastic. They called the police, who politely but firmly asked the Peek people to leave.
In case you haven’t heard, Peek’s eponymous device is a basic, email-only alternative to a whizz-bang smartphone. Costing under $100 (in fact a recent sale saw it at just $50) with a $20 all-you-can-eat monthly service charge, it recently won Time Magazine’s Gadget of the Year 2008 award.
I was there!!! The Peek folks were awesome and hilarious! I saw some people who got convinced by Peek reps too
Why didn’t they do this during the iPhone launch? It has the same contract restrictions, doesn’t it?
Hmmm… Suspicious.
Easy: the Peek wasn’t out when the iPhone (or the 3G for that matter) was launched :-)