Location is so 1995

So how often do you pick up a call on your mobile and the first question the other person asks is 'where are you?'?

Why do messages sent from a Blackberry always have that line at the bottom 'This was sent from a Blackberry'?

Location, location, location. It's all about location. But it isn't anymore sometimes. After ranting at a friend of mine on the topic on how stupid AND brilliant it is that every Blackberry message has that ‘sent from a BB’ tacked at the end is, he said ‘well, it indicates that I’m on the move, but still replying to email’. That got me thinking. Does it matter to me, sender of said message, that he, receiver of message, is on the move, or firmly wedged at his desk at work? Nope. Not in the slightest. Either you’re available and pick up and reply to your messages, or you’re not. And really, it doesn’t matter where you are. Location is so 1995!*

*except for when you’re buying a house obviously. That set of houses on the photo are on Hampstead Heath.

Comments

[Grant]

I've been told the "sent from BB" message is meant to help justify poor sentence structure and spelling, given the thumb-cramping keyboard and terrible UI. This is fact-delivery only, not a justification, but I found the observation enlightening.

Meanwhile, my own BB (which I use with massive reluctance) omits such a message. So perhaps I do indeed agree.

[makis]

In my view, this is a more than excellent marketing tactic. It leads to an IdeaVirus(as Seth Godin, the marketing guru) might have said.

"Y has a Blackberry. He sents/receives email no matter his location. This is professional. I should do it myself."

"Wouldn't I look much more professional to X if I sent him a mail from a Blackberry?"

Indeed, a Blackberry has become a status symbol, more than a means for communication.

[Amelia]

Are you buying one of these houses?