Homeless People as Internet Hot Spots Backfires on a Marketer

[alp227]

Which product at this year’s South by Southwest technology conference received more attention than perhaps any other?

Homeless people as wireless transmitters.

A marketing agency touched off a wave of criticism and debate when it hired members of the local homeless population to walk around carrying mobile Wi-Fi devices, offering conferencegoers Internet access in exchange for donations.

BBH Labs, the innovation unit of the international marketing agency BBH, outfitted 13 volunteers from a homeless shelter with the devices, business cards and T-shirts bearing their names: “I’m Clarence, a 4G Hotspot.” They were told to go to the most densely packed areas of the conference, which has become a magnet for those who want to chase the latest in technology trends.

full: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/technology/homeless-as-wi-fi-transmitters-creates-a-stir-in-austin.html

[agent46]

1. Just watch

...those jobs will be replaced by robots soon too.

[mindwalker_i]

3. Bazinga!

[girl gone mad]

2. Really hate what SXSW has become.

It was more fun when it was mostly about music and film. Now it's too much of this kind of in-your-face corporate marketing.

[sudopod]

4. Bonnaroo too :( nt

[Luminous Animal]

5. It probably wouldn't have backfired if they had been paid more than $2.50 an hour.