T-Mobile will unveil “the largest product launch advertising campaign in T-Mobile history” for the Android myTouch tomorrow with a television, online, cinema, print and search advertising campaign. The stars? Whoopi Goldberg, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson and TV personality/motorcycle maven Jessie James.
Shocked? Me too. I can’t believe they didn’t ask me to participate. I mean, I’m actually using the phone. And like Phil Jackson, I’m a huge Lakers fan. Ridiculous. I’m firing my agent.
You can see the TV commercial below, which I’ve uploaded to YouTube without any permission whatsoever. I like the Cat Stevens song. More celebritastic endorsements on the official myTouch site.
Wow, conceptual video. Lame.
i like it.
i dont.
That guy is HUGE, SQUARE! He looks like a gray Tom Selleck facially. I like Whoopie, and Jesse looks like a cute kid!
Good commercial!
Awesome Commercial
anyone else think he looks a bit like a big younger Sir Ian McKellen?
anyone else think he looks a bit like a bigger younger Sir Ian McKellen?
I still reckon he looks like a bigger younger Sir Ian McKellan. If Gandalf was that big he wouldn’t need his magic stick
drag to share….nice.
Isn’t it a bit late? The phone has been out for about a month now. Bad timing, Tmobile.
Yeah. IPhone 3GS has been out for more than a month and Apple has stopped advertising. Oh wait what’s on TV? “There’s an app for that…” an IPhone ad!
It’s not late.
95% of the market hasn’t heard of the device.
It’s easy to forget that not all the world keeps up with their technology blogs.
Reminds me of Harold and Maude.
Be interested to see how this thing works and more importantly- what Apps are available.
err. wow. we need to do a better job educating our audience about android.
we need to stop tree huggin
Seriously need to do a better job of marketing Android
Yes T-mobile is the older woman I want my young iPhone to sleep with.
Maybe, but that young-un, unlike the wiser, old lady, cannot do more than one thing at a time.
Not an attractive trait in a lover.
That looks like an amazing commercial. It’s never too late. Sure, the wasted a month but the commercial will do just as good now as it would if it were released at the same time as the phone. Plus, now people know a little bit about the phone.
i’m not sure there was much in the way of features shown in the commercial.
i am yawning…
android is big flop… they r smoking big time by confusing people with android and chrome os…
that’s…just a terrible comment.
Lame. Android is well positioned for long term success. The challenge is whether Google can stay focused with the product.
“confusing people with android and chrome os?”
This ad doesnt mention neither android nor chrome.
It just show non-hipsters mature celebs with a good looking phone with a screen you can touch, a video player and funny pictures.
A lot of people out there don’t care about fancy apps, they just want something simple.
If Samsung embraces Android – it will be no flop.
Bad commercial. They need to take a page out of apple’s book and show why it’s a great phone.
You mean LIE about the performance and such like Apple did?
As much as I despise what’s going on with my AT&T service (well AT&T in general) and my growing distaste for Apples iPhone strategy I’m still swaying towards iPhone and this does nothing to convince me otherwise.
I mean this phone and it’s apps (or available ones anyway) are just amazing. Why would I switch? Give me a reason! Especially to TMobile no less, Verizon seems like the better bet but where is their killer smartphone? Why do crap networks get the good phones?
think of it this way. having an iphone competitor will ultimately force apple to do better things for you. so fake it if you have to, and pretend to be willing to consider an alternative…
It’s really AT&T I’d like to do better things for me like not deliver my voice mails 2 days later.
I am dreaming of the day I can use an iPhone with Google as my service provider. The city of Hollywood (Florida not the cool one) just put up a city wide wireless network. We are getting closer every day.
Between the two Hollywoods, you ARE in the cool one.
why fake it?
Honestly I am not tied to anything, if Daewoo came out with a better product and service tomorrow I would switch in a heartbeat. I value whatever works best.
I’d really like more demos and explanations as to what an Android phone can do and why it’s so special. Unfortunately I am not sure how much better TMobiles service is than AT&T’s.
I have been disenchanted with the cellphone industry since my Cellular One Nokia with the battery that lasted for an ungodly week. I remember hearing a few years back about how much better European networks were, they were playing this game much like the spy game that popped up on twitter a few months ago. What is wrong with our carriers that they can’t deliver decent phone service?
Finally someone (@arrington) who agrees with me. Wrote about this months ago on my blog. Assasisnssoftware on blogspot.
Tried MyTouch 3G at the T-mobile store, close but still too small, I’ll hold out for one of the Motorola Android phones
that commercial was terrible. i don’t feel like it taught me anything about the device or the OS.
I basically got from it:
- it’s 3G
- I can watch nature videos
- I can look at pictures
- it changes colors when i hand it to someone else
- It has google
That sounds like the perfect ad to me.
The vast majority of people out there are afraid of tech, you know.
Cat Stevens and Whoopi Goldberg are both backing this phone?? That seriously makes me want to buy one all the more, instead of trying to find an HTC Hero. If there’s ever a product that a Cat Stevens song in the commercial of wouldn’t seem like a totally tragic sell-out, a smartphone with a wide open OS might be it. I’m not even kidding.
i agree with Mike. The more competition the better chance that Apple will improve the iphone.
Although I am curious whether Android will do better (market share) than Linux on the desktop.
I like Android, but what the hell did I just watch? Apple commercials try to hook you with contact bumps, picture shares, or other features I might like. This commercial focuses on celebrities that I don’t really trust to my purchases.
Not only that, the celebrities they choose are all has beens no currect celeb…
Phil Jackson is a has-been?
I didn’t even know who the heck Phil Jackson was till i saw this post. His image on the phone made me think he was a geologist or travel agent or something.. Would have made more sense if that was Robin Leach (maybe). or perhaps they should have had a team jersey or something on it.
Please add to that Jesse James is not a ‘has been’ yet. Tho, with his Show “Jesse James is a Dead man” he might well be soon enough. If only because he does stunts that he knows could kill him for others entertainment.
Also Whoopie Goldberg might not be on TV as much anymore.. But she is still important to the entertainment industry. I’d love to see you tell her She’s a “has been” to her face, and try to get a job doing anything in entertainment.
While I myself am not rushing out to buy this product. It was a refreshing change from some of the crappy commercials being put out there, that have almost no real sense to them.. I just wish the middle guy was a little more obvious about his relation to a sport (and which one).
Well the back of his “phone” did have a basketball pattern on it
general comment about techcrunch:
Why Are All The Titles Of Blog Entries Capitalized??
I Can’t Tell Where The Company/Website Name Is And Where The Random Jargon Is…
PS commercial is OK, nothing spectacular
I want one! I think that t-mob people are going to be all over this!
Really well done commercial. Love the “with google” tagline.
Wait, this is not the Hero, right? But it’s older / cheaper cousin basically (aka Magic)?
A bit confused here.. because Magic has been around forever – but I guess phones come to the USA quite late..
Can anyone confirm?
its neither. i have a list on my site
About time they start marketing this thing more aggressively- it’s a great product. It’s not that I just love the phone (which I do) I even more love the Android platform. I know that if there’s something i don’t like (like the keyboard),I can find an easy solution without nullifying my warranty (installed the HTC Hero keyboard). No one tells me what I can and can’t do with something that I own. My phone will also grow with the official and unofficial improvements to the OS. Plus, I actually like T-mobile. Coverage is acceptable, and their customer service is awesome.
Rest in Peace, Ted Kennedy, the Liberal Lion and Champion of Democracy!
Take a moment of silence in his honor…!
His Wrisen’s Profile at http://ping.fm/6rdGK
It should have showed more about the phones features…
And they did not ask you to be in the ad, well because you don’t have a face for tv… stick to blogging.
If the Crunchpad was not in the works, would MA be pro Android and now Anti-Apple? Hmmm……
yeah, because the issues with apple, the app aproval process, or only being able to use the phone on one crappy carriers network are all fake issues?
You are a tool if you think that CrunchPad has anything todo with Mike calling out apple.
i would be worried in using this phone… since i do not know how much data would goog read and tarck where i am etc… ?
in the middle of the call… i would get an ad and after listening the commercial/ad… i would be able to talk on phone…
they would read my sms and email and place the ads…
they would read my information and usage of my cellphone to place their ads…
no man… i am happy with non-goog products…
Hey let me know when they start doing that so I can start advertising with them. LMK!
Are you a Yahoo employee? So sad to BAD!!! GOOGLE WILL RULE THE WORLD MAN WHETHER YOU LIKE OR NOT!!!!
lock yourself up, bro…ur fascination with being paranoid is truly amusing…
WOW, I love the commercial! Where was the commercials for the G1!!!! I really wished they had a big of a push as they do with the My Touch!
Good Job T-Mobile keep it coming.
Its not all about the iPhone people!!! Its about the people and not about a corporation or logo!
cool!
Why do all phone ads looks like iphone ads?
Why am I looking at this post via my android mytouch and I can’t see the embedded youtube (googletube) video?
Oh good, they’re still emphasizing making your own shell and forgetting to show off what Android phones are good at. Whee…
Jesse James, not Jessie.
check out blog http://www.sizl...e.blogspot.com/
So, what’s the point for copying all the articles from TechCrunch in their entirety on your blog?
Why not just write excerpts and then create links to the articles on TechCrunch?
LOOK MA, I can copy and paste, and go far beyond “Fair Use” while doing it.
Then come to the blog I am stealing from and announce it, as if that won’t cause problems for me…
You F**cking retard.
sigh.
does this happen allot, people ripping the entire site?
This was a very interesting “first exposure” commercial for me. At some point T-Mobile & Google will have to establish that they “have an app for that” too. Their selling points will need to be “cheaper and more options.” They are going to need more than 30 seconds to bring that to the table so I find most of the replies knocking the concept irrelevant.
The hardest point is a carrier switch. My AT&T contract is up in a couple of months. But I am a Blackberry user. Do I go the iPhone route or the myTouch route? Perhaps I re-up with a nicer BB.
As a consumer about to make a pivotal choice that will lead to a $2000+ phone contract and a $200+ phone purchase, I will need more selling points that I will not be dissatisfied trying a new market. The performance of applications on my old Blackberry are all extremely poor with limited choices.
If I got an Android phone, which Apps are selling points?
What are the advantages to switching to myTouch?
Are there any other compelling reasons to be an early adopter?
Mike,
Since you’re so active on this post, where’s Crunch Pad?
astana21 > This ad doesnt mention neither android nor chrome.
indeed; most people will see it and immediately think it’s an iPhone and end up in the Apple …
…and ask for a google phone with TMobile
No one in that commercial makes me want the phone. ESPECIALLY no one in that commercial.
Amazingly bad on so many levels. But the two biggest are…
Whoopi talks endlessly on her tv show how she doesn’t use a cell phone. Hates them. Doesn’t want to be available all the time She responds when the others talk of their tech skills.
so 1 – T-Mobile opens their ad with a self confessed cell phone hater. Amazing
and 2 – Cat Stevens? They mean Yusuf Islam. Amazing.
This is just two. Let’s not even discuss the really bad simulated pictures on the phone itself. Or two 60ish people opening the ad? Whoopi and Jackson. YEah that appeals to the young people who adopt new tech stuff easily.
What is T-Mobile thinking? Zero. This phone will fail worse than the first one.
This ad was complete garbage.
They should have either:
1. Used each celebrity in 1 ad – showing how the phone integrates into their life (basically what HP is doing with their laptop ads w/ celebrities (I think one of the williams sisters, Fergie and tony hawk did them). I think they lose all value of using celebrities the way they did this.
2. Either show the phone in action or don’t. But don’t show some pathetic slide the screen to see a picture and think you are wowing or educating or showing off your hardware.
I don’t understand why phone companies can’t make a decent (not even great but decent) phone commercial. I’m thinking of those ridiculous Palm Pre Ads.
They asked me about you, Mike. I said you’d be happy to endorse the product. They even had a nice monetary package going..until they asked if you’d be happy to shake hands on that deal.
Drag to Share is sweeeeeet.
Doesn’t work in Safari (apparently).
Wow, Jessi James? No way dude. That commercial ROCKS!
RT
http://www.onli...e-privacy.es.tc
Great commercial. That Cat Stevens song is one of my favorites. Funny — the only music I have on my phone so far is from Harold and Maude — this one included. Just made it my ringtone.
I like the commercial, but I wish they’d touch on “why” it’s cool… like, that it’s actually part of an awesome alliance for openness.
The commercial kind of makes it looks like T-Mobile is trying to make a IPhone, and doesn’t touch of the background of it all. Good idea showing the Google logo though
that commercial rocks http://www.sizl...e.blogspot.com/
I know not every commercial is about the details of a phone, but doesn’t it seem like they missed a big opportunity to show at least one compelling feature? If I were a new customer, I don’t think that commercial gives me a strong reason to go get one.
Incidentally, I do have one and can’t type worth squat on it. Has anyone gotten fast with the on screen keyboard?
If this is the first in a series of commercials(that will ideally run together during one tv show/film’s ad breaks) then it has potential.
If though this is a one-off ad, I don’t think it does the job.
i agree mike, you should have been in it.
you’re starting to sway me away from iphone. keep chipping.
Cat Who? and Whoopi Who?
Need to ask granddad who they are.
Abt the ad..it is pretty cool..i like all the cast of Xters. Now to a more serious issue. Tmo Usa and Google should do their utmost to make sure that owners of the mytouch 3G (mt3g) are able to upgrade and add the htc sense ui when it becomes available some time in october. From what i am reading now,it says mt3g owners may not be able to upgrade due to it being a Google branded phone..i say thats a bunch of u know what. Adding this slick Sense ui will make the mt3g even more sweeter and make other smart phone owners droole and wish they had that on their mobile device. This will definately attract and bring more customers to our side. I am prepared to spend more for an unlocked htc magic so i can add the sense ui to it, if tmo usa fail to make it available on the mt3g. Also tmo usa..y does the mt3g has less RAM than the Htc Magic..it is the same phone. Can those missing 96 RAMs be recovered if need be? The bottom line is all Tmo Usa mt3g owners n future owners should demand this from tmobile. Remember sprint n at&t may be getting the Htc Hero with this same slick sense ui..so Y Shud we be left out..Tmo Usa..Make it happen..love u Magenta
Nothing about the ad made me go “WOW”. Looking forward to the see the new HTC before making any changes.
I can’t believe they used a Cat Stevens song – wasn’t Cat all “happy” after the 9/11 tragedy? What does the “T” stand for in T-Mobile anyway?
Little fact checking – no, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam was one of the first to come out against the people responsible for perpetrating 9/11.
The T-in T-Mobile is from “Deutsche Telekom”. In germany, they provide they provide services under the following brands: T-Com (landline phones), T-Online (Online Services) T-Services (consulting) and T-Mobil (rebranded T-Mobile in different territories).
The commercial seems to be aimed at an older target demographic than the iphone. It is not really all that catchy or memorable.
The phone seems to be a different issue. I stopped by a T-Mobil store and spent about an hour playing with the apps and the interface, and was quite pleased. Pleased enough to concider dumping Sprint and moving to T-Mobil when my contract is up.
I just wish that there was a way to try one for a month or so to see if it is just the cool factor, or if it is really worth getting.
I like the new ad. It show that T Mobile realizes that cosumers in their late 40’s 50’s and 60’s use the new technology too and it’s important to market to them. You go T Mobile.
I liked the commerical. I’m just glad an Android handset is getting any exposure at all. I’m up here in Canada and have had the Magic for 3 months after dumping my iPhone (Selling it rather…) and I absolutely love it. The UI is endlessly customizable. There are 3rd party Desktop mangement systems that give you access to functions hidden on the OEM version of Android. I’m running aHome. I compare it to how Linux has many different Desktop environments. Gnome, KDE, XFE etc..
With BeyondPod I can update my podcasts over wifi with one button, unlike my iPhone which required me to search for then press update (If I was unplugged from iTunes that is..)
Next point. No ITunes! No giant library to load and connect to via USB. I can either connect my Magic via that USB or do a wireless file transfer via OnAir (Android only…) via the WebDav protocol built into Nautilus. I’m on Linux. No more booting a VM to load iTunes. With Android, I just drag and drop.
The notification bar is reason enough to switch. That makes it more inline with my corp BB. It’s true push. I don’t have to load an app and exit it to access data. You press the home button for 2 seconds and it pops up a app switcher so you can toggles between open apps (Then cut and paste your giant s3 id password into whatever app you have open)
As for the Ad. Phil “I got more Rings than fingers” Jackson. End of Story. I bet there’s a Triangle offence app in the works for Lakers rookies to look over.
Look out for the Motorola Sholes. That and the Sony Xperia 3 with a 1ghz prc and 8mpx cam.
I shoulkd be in the commercial!
love the ad…not knowing who the people were made me get on net and find out…bet if i had one of those phones i could have used it to find the info too….live just isn’t that complicated…old and still curious