G* continues to amaze me with its snails pace of a rollout. What's ironic is that the concept of a "rollout" was never even alluded to by BLS until a month or two prior to service initiation.
Finally, however, it seems that G*USA is starting some newspaper advertising (I know of an ad in today's Miami Herald). This should help attract some subs. Even though most, including myself, focus primarily on the U.S. rollout, the silence in prime G* markets is even more of a concern.
Is anyone aware of significant marketing efforts in Brazil, China, Mexico or Russia? Loral is a part owner in Brazil and Mexico, so there's no excuse for the slow rollout there.
Anyone care to start guestimating on 3Qs numbers? My guess: 18,000 subs and 2.2 million MOU (still not eclipsing what BLS, in December of 99, said 4Q99 revs would be). I hope I'm wrong, but I see absolutely no evidence of G* catching on in mass in any market (granted, there are excuses galore including marketing and pricing). No significant corporate deals will produce MOU in 3Q. No evidence of fixed phones in use other than scattered testing.
Please, someone inform me otherwise. |
