Normally I stand by my work, publishing consumer information as a news source. However in this case, I begrudgingly complied and removed all information rather than have Samsung "aggressively pursue all means necessary, and weigh all available remedies at its disposal" against me.
Mobiledia has developed a large following of over 2 million monthly visitors which I thank you (our readers) for. But unfortunately I am a small website nowhere financially capable of funding a legal battle with a large multi-national corporation such as Samsung.
Some accusations were falsely stated in the letter. Samsung claimed to have "very strong reasons to believe that the Information was illegally obtained," and request that I "provide them with the names of the third parties that (supposedly) provided us with the Information that we published on the Site."
These allegations are absolutely and completely false.
I follow a strict code of ethics and being accused of such tactics is not only unfounded, but insulting. There were no third parties involved in a "leak," because there was no leak; information was all obtained legally through the public domain. Since these false claims tarnish my name, I feel it necessary to explain my methods and clear my reputation.
Pieces of information are routinely published in the public domain, including the FCC (i.e. https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm?calledFromFrame=N), Bluetooth Forum, and various other government and organizational websites. Cell phones are required to pass certain tests, such as radiation levels, before they are allowed to be sold in the U.S., for obvious safety reasons. And as such, preliminary data can be gleamed in most cases months before the actual release date of the device.
Additionally, manufacturers rarely reinvent the wheel, and parts from old cell phones routinely show up in new models. Thus users with detailed knowledge of past components, such as my experience from covering mobile devices over the past five years, can infer a great deal of information from just basic testing specs.
In the case of the Samsung M800 specifically, it is no secret it is eerily similar to the Samsung F490, the international variant that had a press release a week earlier where Geesung Choi, President of Samsung's Telecom Business was "proud to introduce this new innovative multimedia handset to global consumers." The press release goes into the "fast HSDPA networks," "Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0," "3.2-inch, 16:9 wide full-touch screen and intuitive user interface," and "embedded Google Search and optimized full browser for Web pages in both vertical and horizontal views."
In fact, most of the M800's specs posted were left unfilled, because I couldn't verify what was stripped out of the cheaper M800 that was reportedly on the F490 from the press release.
The high-resolution images were obtained from Samsung directly, and rightfully, through a press account granted to me on Tue 10/24/2006 4:08 PM EST. I used my Mobiledia email to apply, and was granted a login/password and full access to high-resolution photos of upcoming, current and past mobile devices. I still have my New User Request confirmation email to prove the validity. I did not use "fraudulent means" because I did not misrepresent myself when applying. My access was terminated as of yesterday.
Samsung snapped press photos of the M800, Samsung granted me access to the pictures, and when I posted them and received press coverage, Samsung sent me a Cease and Desist Letter threatening a lawsuit; blaming me for "disrupting marketing buzz and other promotions" and "irreparable harm."
The iPhone generated $400 million in free publicity. Apple knew how to do it best. Photos, specs and information were known well in advance and people were lining up with excitement; counting down the days left until it would finally be launched.
Nothing I published was private information. I merely took specs from various public sources, pieced it together, made some inferences and put it in one convenient place.
Other major manufacturers such as Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Nokia have similar press accounts that grant me access to high-resolution photos of unreleased devices and specs, and certain carriers such as T-Mobile even have their PR reps take the effort to email me information and photos of new devices. And for that, I thank them all for their desire to embrace a cooperative attitude with channels that can generate interest in their devices prior to launch.
In the end, I sincerely regret letting our readers down. Yes, I caved into the legal pressure. I did nothing wrong, yet I decided to remove the information willingly. I hope the loyal visitors of Mobiledia can understand my difficult position. I hope I haven't disappointed you. And I hope you will continue to look to us for your consumer information needs.
My next phone was going to be a Samsung, but since they feel it is okay to bully people around, I'm not sure I want one of their products. I think I'll just get my Motorola to limp along for another year and then look at something else.
2. Posted by gerio
Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:28 am
Thank you for for sharing the onformation about being approached by InSaneSung with the "cease and desist" letter, as well as your position on how the information was obtained. I have and will continue to have faith in Mobiledia's position in the matter as well as its side of the story as opposed to the obviously paranoid and somewhat narcisistic (SP?) position Sam-I-am-Sung has taken.
I can't be the only participant here that couldn't be any less interested in the goings-on of Samsung and their so-called innovations.
Geri O
3. Posted by McGirk
Sat Jan 19, 2008 4:35 pm
Well as I mentioned in a previous post here, my next phone was going to be a Samsung, now I'm not sure, in the meantime, since I sell cell phones, I may have to go back to selling Motorola and LG instead of my recent trend of selling Samsung. I suppose they might not miss the business, but it only takes a few of us to add up.
4. Posted by booboy
Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:15 am
thats crazy! i always come here to research upcoming phones. it lets me see what to buy when my contract expires. too bad i wont be able to see what samsung has coming up o the horizon. then again i dont really care much anymore.
samsung isnt making any friends by doing this. i dont think you should have taken the info down. you didnt do anything wrong. but corporate lawyers are awfully scarely.
5. Posted by stargrl357
Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:25 am
Those bullies!
I was gonna go with a cute Samsung U550 but now I change my mind. Im gonna get an LG Shine! Dont they know their customers read this site?
6. Posted by PunkRock
Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:45 am
not to add fuel to the fire, but i doubt samsung cares what you people think. theres so many other people buying their phones.
but i guess if enough people cause a fuss or boycott they'll take notice. at the very least, this is bad PR for their image.
from a business standpoint, sending a cease and desist letter to sites that influences your customers just doesnt seem like a smart thing to do. not only is it annoy everyone, since other phone companies not have a problem with sharing info. but it makes them look like a bully.
no doubt this will affect peoples perception of samsung. it does sound like the beginnings of a samsung boycott. count me in!
7. Posted by Cadd
Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:54 am
I'll join the boycott! I'll tell all my friends too. Nokia for me now.
8. Posted by GSMDude
Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:31 am
Uh. what the hell, Samsung? Do you really hate us that much? I wouldn't be surprised if they sent a cease and desist for this post to try to shut us up. We need to be vocal guys! Let Samsung know how mad we are!
9. Posted by Pogo
Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:52 am
i sell phones too and this is preety funny to me becuase i print out mobiledia phone specs to show my customers. its helped convert sales because they believe its unbiased info more than coming from just my mouth. i just say, "this is what one of the top cell phones sites say about this phone. just take a look yourself."
i guss i won't have any more samsung specs to show them now. a shame indeed. really shot yourselfs in the foot samsung.
10. Posted by Bushy Turtle
Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:03 am
The iPhone generated $400 million in free publicity. Apple knew how to do it best. Photos, specs and information were known well in advance and people were lining up with excitement; counting down the days left until it would finally be launched.
If there handn't been so much media coverage, there wouldn't have been so much hype.
Samsung doesn't know how to promote their products. Aside from Mobiledia, I've never seen any information released until the day of the launch. By then I've already bought my new phone.
11. Posted by jlm
Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:09 pm
Yeah, I always thought Samsung had ugly phones anyways.
I say everyone should root for Motorola =)
12. Posted by SlimJim
Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:04 pm
It’s was an enticing preview, and I enjoyed Mobiledia’s high-resolution images and specs, similar devices, and previews. Too bad that Samsung has taken such a negative position. This should have been good publicity for Samsung. It won’t have detracted from sales or general interest. And it’s useful information for people like me getting ready to make the leap to Samsung, but that won’t be happening now.
13. Posted by sexycustard
Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:23 pm
u should have gone down fighting. u did nothing wrong. this is just another reason for samsung to go pushing people around.
im boycotting samsung phones as well.
14. Posted by tntitan0504
Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:55 pm
I also work in wireless sales, and I have to say that I haven't been too impressed with their recent lineups anyway. The OS's seem to be getting slower and slower with each new phone and with the recent cease and desist they sent, I will also join the boycott and quit selling them too!
Any company that has the nerve to suggest that people who are going to spend hundreds of dollars on their products don't deserve to know about the products before buying them and before they come out don't deserve the revenue that comes with them.
I personally work in a store that sells over 2,000 phones a month and since people always come to me for advice on phones, I will be certain to tell our 16 employees to just revert to suggesting Nokia's. They are the best anyway. I personally own and iPhone, which I bought because of all the hype before it came out. I wanted to have what everyone else wanted to have. How dumb are their executives?!?
We can definitely make a difference if we band together.
15. Posted by nitehawk
Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:12 pm
I agree with those of us who believe Samsung has failed in knowing how to publicize their new phone.
Mobiledia has been a most helpful website to those who want to know what they are actually buying.
Now we are only left with these such great statistics Samsung has provided: the "F490 is not only a powerful multimedia device but also a stylish fashion item with sleek and charming design."
How charming.
16. Posted by nitehawk
Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:20 pm
ah yes, and i will also join in boycotting samsung phones.
17. Posted by krypton
Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:50 pm
Thanks for letting us know why the new phones were taken down.
After seeing this, I went straight to my T-Mobile store and exchanged my new Samsung Beat for a Nokia 5300. It's not as pretty, but I don't care.
Don't they know how many people read Mobiledia? Count me in the boycott too! I'm telling all my friends to avoid Samsung phones from now on.
18. Posted by DiscoStu
Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:46 pm
i'll join the boycott too. i take this as a personal attack since i read about new phones on mobiledia regularly. let them know that theyre attacking the very people buying their phones.
19. Posted by DJMoo
Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:10 pm
Good thing I saw this thread. I was minutes away from ordering 2 A737 phones from AT&T and saw this. Absurd. Samsung should realize that they should get their act together otherwise they won't last very long. This is no way to handle a situation.
20. Posted by mabitz
Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:34 pm
I must say I applaud this move by the Samsung. It absolutly sickens me to know that people are educating themselves.
Samsung can't prove that they are experiencing "irreparable harm" but they can say it. I don't think you should have taken it down. Nothing was illegal or wrong. Sending a C&D letter is cheap and usually scares those that cannot afford legal representation. Samsung is acting as like the politburo of the old soviet days in Russia, only this time it's ordinary people in America!
21. Posted by SuperFOB
Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:00 am
This just in.
Permission required to talk about your favorite upcoming Samsung phone.
This is BS. Samsung can't possibly be anymore insane.
In any other industry this is free exposure. This is the best bloody thing you can ask for!
What complete idiotic fools.
22. Posted by dugoram
Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:28 pm
Ok, well I will not be looking to Samsung for phones or any other electronic device if this is how they work. I alway come here first and have sent many co-workers and friend for anything cellular! Thanks for your work and keeping your members informed! The Fat Lady named Sam has Sung and made her bed.now she can lay in it!
23. Posted by BigRUSS
Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:06 pm
we should coppy and paste this on any and all cell phone forums we visit , get the word out
24. Posted by toolnut43
Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:29 pm
Well I for one am ditching mine as soon as my contract is up ! They suck I always miss calls because I can never hear it ring I can't hear the person I'm talking to ! It's back to Moto or I will try Nokia!
25. Posted by singabo
Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:47 pm
Add me to the list as well! I also sell phones and look up new phone specs to help me keep on top of what's getting released within the next few months.
I think it's about time for a serious, coordinated web-wide SILENCE SAMSUNG campaign - a good old strike - no Samsung phone buying in any model until these idiots start to reflect on their stupidity. My penny's worth.
26. Posted by booboy
Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:51 pm
not to play naysayer, but i doubt samsung cares what goes on. its a few people. they sell to the world. it's not even going to affect them.
27. Posted by DJMoo
Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:57 pm
not to play naysayer, but i doubt samsung cares what goes on. its a few people. they sell to the world. it's not even going to affect them.
Yeah they may not care. But they're not making any loyal customers by doing this. The point is to let Samsung know our displeasure.
28. Posted by hamba98
Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:14 pm
you should open the posting up to non-registered users too. im sure people would want to comment who arent memebers
29. Posted by hamba98
Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:15 pm
i think samsung will listen. theyre not stupid. they know nothing good can come from this. the question is how to they handle it? with more legal force? or an apology and trying to fix it.
30. Posted by beersome
Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:19 pm
What about all those YouTube videos from CES? C&D them too. In fact, seeing new phones on YouTube frequently moves me to purchase them in stores.
31. Posted by PunkRock
Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:51 am
we should coppy and paste this on any and all cell phone forums we visit , get the word out
We all know how fast things can spread on the Internet.
32. Posted by McGirk
Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:34 am
Trust me, you don't want the site open to unregistered users, in a few hours this site would be full of porn or drug advertising. This is the harm samsung has done to themselves with just this dealer. My location always sold Motorola or LG, but last month, I thought to give Samsung a shot because I haven't been that impressed with Motorola lately. During that month my Samsung sales went from a usual 0-10% of my sales to 90% of my sales, and if I'd had more stock it would have went higher. This month watch it drop again. Doesn't sound like a lot, but figure the difference between 0% and 90% of 2000 phones a month. Multiply that by 12. And I'm not the only upset dealer here am I?
33. Posted by BigRUSS
Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:09 pm
McGirk where you located ?
34. Posted by phoneboy
Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:04 pm
Hell if I was a lawyer trying to sue people for this crap. I would feel useless and pathetic every second of my wasted life
35. Posted by phoneboy
Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:07 pm
not to play naysayer, but i doubt samsung cares what goes on. its a few people. they sell to the world. it's not even going to affect them.
Yeah they may not care. But they're not making any loyal customers by doing this. The point is to let Samsung know our displeasure.
They'll care if news stories pick up on how Samsung is suing a kid for posting phone specs he found online. I say let them sue. There's no such thing as bad press.
36. Posted by phoneboy
Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:08 pm
Oh. add me to the no Samsung list too.
37. Posted by GreySoul
Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:25 pm
me too, but i have to use my sync until december D:
38. Posted by jeebus
Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:45 pm
unbelievable. im in too.
39. Posted by Bushy Turtle
Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:35 pm
We all know how fast things can spread on the Internet.
I'vestarted seeing it floatign around the web too. If Samsung doesn't act soon, who knows how big this could get.
40. Posted by tntitan0504
Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:31 pm
I have already posted saying I am a dealer that will no longer sell Samsungs, and I have heard others reply saying they are dealers too. We will see how much it affects Samsung. If it catches on, it could cause them to lose their second place position back to Moto.
I also sent the link to Samsungs PR email address. We will see what they think when they read the responses.
41. Posted by Pogo
Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:38 pm
can you post the email? i would like to send an email to samsung's pr as well.
42. Posted by tntitan0504
Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:55 pm
well actually I just went to samsung's website clicked on contact us and then select PR and then type whatever you want.
43. Posted by Pogo
Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:01 pm
ok thanks. for anyone else that wants to just fill out this form:
I ran across this lawsuit from textually.org, which said "It's always a scary thing to get such a letter. Hopefully Samsung will see the light and realize that scare tactics targeted at bloggers who actually promote their products is not good PR."
I was never a big fan of Samsung, but now I'm going to tell everyone I know not to buy their phones too.
I read Mobiledia regularly too. Samsung couldn't have picked a worse way to handle it. It seems all the blogs are picking up the story too. It's growing.
46. Posted by McGirk
Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:11 am
BigRUSS, I'm in the Midwest.
Of course it's growing, the internet has given people easy access to a voice that can be heard around the world, and this site has moderators from around the globe. They don't even have to spend much time on the site, they can then take the news to all those in their countries who maybe don't visit this site, it'll balloon quick.
What's even funnier about it all is, Mobiledia is one of the only sites that can be visited by a large percentage of the call centers. Now you could be getting CSR's recommending that you don't get Samsung phones. This could get ugly over something so simple.
47. Posted by mgoblue
Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:14 am
Funny you should say that. I work at a call center. You're right McGirk, this could have been settled very easily. But it was blown out of proportion. Sending a lawsuit is going overboard.
I submitted an email to Samsung public relations as well. I know I won't be too quick to recommend a Samsung phone now anymore.
48. Posted by McGirk
Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:02 pm
Michigan fan huh? Where do you live at?
49. Posted by booboy
Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:19 pm
Here's another news story that surfaced on the web:
"The dance between consumer tech companies and bloggers is fraught with grand entrances, missteps and even broken toes, but the story Allen Tsai is telling over at Mobiledia essentially involves the company beating the crap out of the blogger in response to a company mistake."
"Is Samsung just going after the little guy? For the record, Tsai says he has never had a C&D letter sent to him before. Perhaps it should be regarded as a rite of passage in the blogging world. Or maybe Samsung is just trying to develop the same love/hate relationship with bloggers that has worked so well for Apple."
50. Posted by McGirk
Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:59 am
And it continues to snowball. The more websites that know about this, the more people will know about it, the less phones Samsung will sell.
51. Posted by dsjim
Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:52 am
I've been a Samsung phone person for years. As we speak I am ditching my SLM and going with LG. Mobiledia is one of my favorite websites and I always use this site to make decisions when upgrading my phones.
As another poster mentioned, I am not impressed with the new Samsungs and I agree that the menus are more confusing and the OS is a lot slower. Add me to the Samsung boycott list
52. Posted by qbdre21
Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:42 am
o0 this is just wrong. I come to Mobiledia to get information about new technology out there, and now "Samsung" comes up with this crap . This is just stupid from them, they do NOT see that this is more publicity for them, and can help customer's decision for upcoming purchases.o0 definitely add me to the list.
53. Posted by McGirk
Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:11 pm
Well you saw what they said, they don't want publicity because it could negatively impact sales. Well whether or not they want it, they are getting it, but instead of just specs and such, now the publicity is negative.
54. Posted by Shalalala
Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:58 pm
I personally LOVE Samsung phones, however what they have done to this beloved site is just wrong - but to be realistic, this is not going to affect their sales - but I will send them my two cents on this issue.
55. Posted by tuolumne
Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:04 pm
STA, give me a break. I've supported you for a long time, but please, this is just laughable. You send a cease and desist letter to mobiledia for unveiling the m800?
hmmmmmmmmmmmm
tekweb
56. Posted by McGirk
Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:12 am
Manator, do you think no one on this site has the resolve to follow through on any boycott of Samsung?
57. Posted by gerio
Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:44 pm
I'm not Manator, but I don't see the point of organizing an official boycott. Besides, it appears that an un-official boycott is all but underway, based on what is happening at several phone forums. And from my vantage point, the folks around here are plenty busy as it is.
Really, it's just about mobile phones, not about a cure for cancer or saving starving children. Plenty of folks, myself included have let their feelings be known (made possible by and thanx to the Mobiledia folks right here), so it will wash itself out one way or the other.
Geri O
58. Posted by McGirk
Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:27 am
I never meant for anything 'organized' to happen, not my style, nor do I mean for anyone to hurt themselves any course of action. But to say that we have no power to affect change is more then defeatist, it's permissive. The very fact that in realm of all things, this is unimportant only lends to us the strength to ignore certain companies, in favor of the many excellent choices available to us.
59. Posted by tyrone8323
Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:20 pm
hey man.i've always come to your website to check on upcoming phones because you have great amounts of information, such as BGR. samsung will regret doing what they did because your site was practically providing them free marketing but they screwed that up. you keep doing what you're doing and i registered right now, after 7 years of reading your website - since you started, just so i can post this comment so you know that regardless of what these large corporations send your way, you have my support. keep up the great work man! peace.
Ty
60. Posted by browneyes
Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:21 pm
I dont think it was only you they scared away, I think there were others, because there are a couple of sights I frequently visit, and when I tried to show off the phone today. to promote it go figure right. I had to google it because I could not find it on any of the sites I frequent. Kinda makes it seem like they have decided to change there mind on releasing it. =(
Well thanks for your honesty. To bad they dont like it!
61. Posted by McGirk
Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:54 am
Well I've already firmly decided which model I will replace my Motorola e815 with, and it is not now a Samsung as I had originally thought. Looks like I'll be going with LG.
62. Posted by Shalalala
Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:33 pm
I was never implying on boycotting Samsung. I LOVE Samsung phones and I will support the phones themselves. You guys can do what you want, but I have sent several emails to different people in the company letting them know of my frustration of this. Really though, to boycott Samsung devices because of THIS is idiotic. Plus, Mobiledia, AS GREAT AS IT IS, is only a small, small, small, small, very small way of reaching out to consumers. So, this will have no impact on the sales.
63. Posted by Austiniter
Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:23 am
Well don't mention Samsung cellular phones any more, in fact boycott them - they're junk any how and don't rate as good as the better phones on the market place. Don't sweat it.
64. Posted by McGirk
Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:02 pm
To boycott a phone manufacturer for bullying a small small small small website is not idiotic. But hey while Samsung are not junk as the previous post mentioned, they are not the best or only choice. I don't love or hate them any more then any other company, at least until now. They gave me a reason to choose other companies. And it will not just be cell phones, Samsung sells a LOT of consumer electronics, and appliance too. I will not be buying ANY thing with Samsungs name on it. In fact, Samsung manufactures products for other companies such as Toshiba, so I'll stop buying their products as well. I suppose I can do even more research into what Samsung manufactures for whom, but I guess that would be idiotic. In this day and age with so many choices, I don't have go with a company who makes decisions I don't agree with, and there is nothing idiotic about it. Samsung has decided to differentiate themselves from their competitors by sending out Cease and Desist letters to small news sites. That is a violation of Mobiledia's first amendment right, and our right to receive news from an independent source. The only reason they're getting away with it, is because Mobiledia can't afford to pay for as many lawyers as Samsung can. I've got nothing at all against corporations, but this is an example of a larger kid knocking down a smaller one on the school yard for no better reason then the smaller kid was wearing a shirt with a team on it the bigger kid didn't like. If a customer asks for a Samsung, I will recommend something else, if they still want it, I'll sell it, but Samsung will become my LAST choice as an item to sell, period.
65. Posted by Shalalala
Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:53 pm
Why?
That is really dumb. Seriously. No offense to you seriously, as you're one of the level headed people on these forums, but making a decision to boycott (which they don't care if you do, or I do, or anyone here that does, as it won't affect their sales) a company because one little letter (which I think MoblieDia should stand up, but I understand why they won't) they sent to one little website makes no sense. Yes, they're being bullies, but they really do make OK phones - heck, I wouldn't have gotten nothing but Samsungs for the past 4+ years if I didn't think they were a bad company.
66. Posted by rclark8
Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:52 pm
I see all of these cellular resellers supporting you and saying that they are now going to boycott Samsung. Why is Samsung doing this? Don't they see that it's not just several hundred customers that are boycotting them it's several hundred resellers, whom have great influence over what a customer will buy, and they will subsequently have several thousand customers boycotting them. Rule number one of sales, in my book, is that news of good customer service will be told to three people at a time, but gets you loyal customers, while bad news travels ten times faster and you will never see those customers again. Although I work for a reseller and have no choice over what products they bring in to be sold, I will no longer offer Samsung to my customers until they withdraw the ceast and desist and publicly apologize for trying to deface your website. I too use your website actively as a sales tool because my customers sometimes don't take my word for a review. I will be speaking with my Samsung rep to see if he has any response to me not selling his products anymore!
P.S. Who ever heard of a major manufacturer, no matter the industry, not taking full advantage of FREE, and fair, publicity of their products!
67. Posted by yamahaguy
Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:47 pm
I have had three Samsungs and curently have the Blackjack 2, but I will not have anymore. That letter shows the "rotten" side of Samsung. I dont want to support that kind of company. If enough of us stop buying their products, they might learn that the little guy has some power to! GOOD LUCK.
68. Posted by McGirk
Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:10 am
Very satisfied with my first LG phone. My first phone was an audiovox, and since all the phones that I have purchased has been either Nokia or Motorola. This time since Alltel didn't provide any Nokia devices I was searching for a new company, because I have seen a lot of less then stellar MotoProducts coming out. Initially I looked at LG, but Samsung started to grow in favor with me. So much so that I had intended to buy it myself, and began selling it nearly exclusively, now they can go back to being a last resort. I never said that Samsung products were bad, but they aren't any better then many other fine choices, and when it comes to making a choice myself, or helping others make a choice, it won't be Samsung any more. News of Motorolas struggles have likely reached Samsung, so they aren't exactly afraid of them anymore. The fact that they don't care about me or my influence, or Mobiledia and its influence, doesn't change the fact that I care about Mobiledia, and the customers that I service. They may not notice much of a difference between losing a few resellers, but every customer that I tell about it will have conversations about phone models. Other people will ask friends about the luck they have had with various models, and every person, customer or not, will have heard from me that Samsung is not the best choice. Nothing today, but lose a region, and that is just with me. Maybe everyone doesn't have the will to fight with a large company . . . but I do. It costs me little to nothing to recommend other companies. It costs them more then the 'harm' that Mobiledia could've caused by speculative reporting. It's a business thing, send a C&D letter to a news site at your own peril.
69. Posted by AggieGirl
Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:57 pm
Wow. That's just awful! I need a new phone and was wanting to go with the new Samsung for Sprint when it comes out (I only learned about it from sites like this!) But now. Now I'm considering the Palm Centro instead.
What terrible PR. People were getting excited about the new phone. What is Samsung thinking?
70. Posted by McGirk
Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:07 am
They were thinking they didn't want unreleased details about a new phone not yet released in the US to surface, and the folks here at Mobiledia with their experience in phones and information from the FCC were able to put those details up. Samsung got pissy and called in the lawyers. As I said above, I don't know what harm they actually would have got from the details revealed, but I know what harm they're actually getting from the C&D letter. I don't expect them to apologize, but I would like to see them take it back. I company with the nuts to back down when they're wrong is a company worth buying from. A company that bullies small news sources is not. Not with all the other choices. Oh and the Palm Centro has been getting rave reviews.
71. Posted by Shalalala
Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:02 pm
I think it's a bit hasty to make a decision based on this little indicdent. It's not like Samsung went into your house and kicked you in the crotch. It's more like them sending you an artists rendition of what it would look like if they did.
72. Posted by McGirk
Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:41 pm
While that is a lot friendlier (and quite funny) it's still assault. If all the other choices we had did lousy things too, then I wouldn't think anything of it, but I have so many choices, why choose one that acts against me and mine.
73. Posted by McGirk
Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:03 am
I see a high resolution Samsung photo on the website. Are they pretending that nothing happened, and allowing you access again, or do you think they'll send another C&D with a request for the person that 'leaked' the information?
74. Posted by azur20
Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:03 am
Hey everyone. Its sad that Allen had to recieve such a aggressive letter. Plus, the letter looks pretty much like a template. and as mentioned before in this thread, more than one site probably had recieved it too.
However, I find it a little surprising that everyone all the sudden wants to boycott this company. Is it due to the strong loyalty to Mobiledia?
There could be a number of reasons why they had to resort to such action. I'm not sure why the M800 is so special, but perhaps Samsung believes it'll really help them get market share from iPhone. Perhaps a few people in in M800 development team see there was a leak of their secret project, and the legal division cannot find the culprit, thus they shoot of a letter to sites that contain the pics. But apparently not all sites got the C&D?
Kun-Hee Lee (CEO of the Samsung Group) does emphasis on strong community relationships. When you come down to the micro level, its a shame that the PR/Legal division of Samsung Telecommunications America does not adhere fully to the same ethical principles as the whole Group. It can be seen by their inconsistency of issuing C&D to all major sites that blog/post about the leak. It somehow seems as theres confusion within the divisions about what is the right thing to do.
In that view, boycotting their phones as well as spreading that message everywhere would hurt those in the mobile division, even those who sympathize or support the consumer (eg the engineers). Would this really have any positive impact?
The best approach has already been highlighted earlier, that is, to keep on mailing and give them a holla. Indeed, that darn C&D was a mistake, but I doubt all the guys of Samsung are the ones to be flammed or blamed for. Its more likely a low-level decision.
Lets just wait and see their response eh? Peace out.
75. Posted by McGirk
Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:24 am
Well it's been close to a month, I've not heard of any kind of softening of their stance. No one here is trying to bankrupt Samsung, just cost them a little market share for such a boneheaded decision. I doubt anyone here harbors delusions of granduer, but why tolerate abuse just because some of the people working for Samsung are nice people. There are good and bad working for every manufacturer, as there are working everywhere, but most of the rest of the cell phone manufacturing companies have not chose to attack news sources. So if given a choice, I'll choose another company to give my dollar too. I say again, I don't want to see Samsung bankrupted, what did they learn then. A dead man can't learn from his mistakes any more then a dead company, but I do want them to learn that the course of action that they chose is wrong, and until they realize that, I won't support them with my dollar. They have a choice, I have a choice, they made their's and I am making mine.
76. Posted by speleman
Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:08 pm
"Dear Sirs / Madames,
I regretfully have to let you know that I will no longer be purchasing Samsung products as Samsung is in violation of Libertarian values. This is not an economic issue of any kind but rather a philosophical stance taken against companies such as Apple for example. and now Samsung.
Please back off, apologize and hope your possible future consumers do not hear about this."
Note to mobilemedia readers: I have but do not own any Samsung devices any longer. I'm in the market for a new mobile communication device and, as of today, no longer taking Samsung into consideration.
77. Posted by McGirk
Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:18 pm
Well I can tell you that I am extremely happy with the LG that I recently purchased, then again I do have Alltel, and the phones that they have are different from the ones sold to other providers.
78. Posted by germie
Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:21 pm
A simple google search reveals plenty of other sites that reveal information about the phones in question.
Any why are you being persued for the information you provided? I used to like samshaft phones, but now, after seeing that letter, no so much. It takes a big pvssy to come up with a letter like that, and for what! They aren't protecting anything. The interweb is a powerful tool, some people know how to use it, others don't. You obviously do because you have a sucessful website. They should be thanking you for promoting THEIR product. It's websites like this that sell the phones, not the stores.
(Disclaimer, I cannot be held liable of the spelling or grammer errors contained in this post as the interweb has warped my mind and it cannot be reversed)
Keep up the good work (if you need a coorporate spy, I can help you out!)
79. Posted by tdb
Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:32 pm
I'm officially boycotting all Samsung products.
They suck.
80. Posted by McGirk
Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:18 am
I wouldn't go so far as to say that Samsung products suck. Samsung themselves seem to though.
I can tell you that as a Sprint rep, the Samsung phones have not held up as good or given the users as few a problems as the Sanyo phones that I have sold. On the Alltel side I don't get a lot of complaints from any of the phones, asides from some of the older Audiovox. However I have gotten rave reviews from the LG. In either case, I have a different manufacturer to go with.
Thank you all for the support you are showing for Mobiledia. And you are right, the information seen on the websites sell more phones then the sales representatives. Between the specs and massive amount of user reviews available, a sales reps job is a lot easier. Mobiledia, keep up the good work, Samsung, get your act together, your competition is not as soft as you think it is.
81. Posted by McGirk
Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:03 am
As a further alternative for Samsung, Alltel now carries the LG Scoop, a message-centric bar phone with 1.3 megapixel camera, bluetooth, mp3 player, and a full qwerty keyboard in a sideways slider. The colors are pretty original, but if you don't like them there are cover/clip accessories available.
82. Posted by zulubob
Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:52 am
I have been extremely happy with my Samsung A-707 (Cingular). Three of my kids have Samsung cell phones as well (all Cingular). My job requires me to carry a work cell phone (Verizon), which they supply to me (I currently have a Motorola E815, which has worked well for me for two years). So I carry two cell phones on a daily basis that someone, either my employer or myself, pays for.
It has come time today to choose a new cell phone for work, and later this week for my personal cell phone. Because I have been happy with the Samsung, I have only been looking at Samsung phones to replace both my work phone and my personal phone.
Until I read this article.
This web site has been a valuable tool in shopping for cell phones, comparing and staying up to speed on new technology. To see Samsung rob us of an unbiased presentation of what they are planning for the future is, at best, frustrating.
So, if Samsung doesn't want us to see the future, Samsung will not be in mine.
LG, here I come!
83. Posted by JackG058
Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:49 pm
And I sent them an email giving my opinion. Whether they are concerned about community relations or not remains to be seen, as an earlier poster indicated they are.
84. Posted by IOWA
Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:54 am
For The Record, Those Of You Looking For A Solid Phone, Sanyo Has Won JD Power And Associates Awards For 8 Years In A Row? And Their Phones Have The Highest Quality And Reception, Period. I Am Now Boycotting Both Samsung And Apple Products. If You Want A Replacement For Your Samsung, Get A Sanyo.
85. Posted by McGirk
Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:38 am
Sanyo is certainly a good choice if you're with Sprint. LG is a good choice with Verizon. Nokia is a good choice for TMobile or At&t, and LG or Motorola would be a good choice for Alltel.
86. Posted by McGirk
Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:14 am
bump
87. Posted by IOWA
Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:49 am
It Seems The LG Scoop Is Very Similiar To The LG Rumor. Research Time!
88. Posted by McGirk
Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:16 am
Identical, except for colors, I carry them both. Sprint is carrying Blue/Black, and White/Gray along with a promotional Green/Gray. Alltel is carrying Orange, Turquoise and Slate which is a dark Gray or Black, all them with Gray insides.
89. Posted by hith
Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:52 am
wow. i will never buy a samsung phone again. thank you mobilemedia for all your hard work you do. i look to this site b4 purchasing a phone every time.
90. Posted by McGirk
Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:21 am
Allen, has there been any kind of effort on their part to change their stance? Or do they feel that they don't need the customers they are losing? It's funny that they would send a C&D letter to prevent future sales loss, and in the end they have caused more loss of sales then any speculative reporting may have possibly caused. Hard to believe they made it up to #2 in the world with that kind of strategic thinking in place. However, they are both #2 in the world of sales, but also #2 in many of our opinions of them.
91. Posted by aaronr11
Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:16 pm
Wow. Maybe Samsung is not wanting publicity about a unreleased item, as they could not release it or edit the design of it and the public would be surprised, since they expected whatever they first said and the HD pics of a product that they spread out.
92. Posted by McGirk
Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:28 am
I really don't think prospective customers are really that anal about this stuff. We would kind of like to know what is coming down the pike though.
93. Posted by aaronr11
Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:22 pm
Yes, very true. At least the iPhone was very quick about telling the public and releasing it.
94. Posted by McGirk
Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:52 am
That and Apple didn't seem to mind if anyone wrote articles about it, which is in stark contrast to the Samsung's reaction.
95. Posted by Allen
Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:13 pm
There hasn't been any effort on Samsung's part to change their stance.
96. Posted by cullex
Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:25 pm
If you like this look, you might want to check out the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone. I just got it and it feels expensive. Unless you like your phone shrouded in artificial mystery to make it seem special when in reality I think it's just another plain candybar-type.
97. Posted by McGirk
Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:04 am
You know what, candy bar phones generally get a better signal, and have less repair issues, if I could get a fully featured one from Alltel, I'd be all over it. And the Samsung Wafer does not count, that thing had issues from day one that were never resolved.
Thanks for the update Allen, Samsung has made their bed, now they get to sleep in it.
98. Posted by sora0256
Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:59 am
Omg. Samsung brand phones are one of the worst. I have never experienced such cheap cell phone devices.
I have had the Samsung a-560 for Sprint, the Blast for T-Mobile, the Sync for AT&T, and the Gleam for Verizon.
Samsung needs to stop being pricks to websites. As far as I am concerned, the website has not hurt Samsung, it has pormoted their phones. After this incident, though, I'm inspired to not recommend Samsung.
99. Posted by McGirk
Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:30 am
Yeah, I've posted pics and specs for the upcoming Sprint QChat phones in the Sprint Nextel Talk section, I have left off the Samsung models because they don't seem to like having their pics and specs displayed on news websites. I'd hate to piss them off and get Mobiledia in trouble again.
100. Posted by sora0256
Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:11 pm
Yeah, I've posted pics and specs for the upcoming Sprint QChat phones in the Sprint Nextel Talk section, I have left off the Samsung models because they don't seem to like having their pics and specs displayed on news websites. I'd hate to piss them off and get Mobiledia in trouble again.
Exactly. i know what you mean.
101. Posted by McGirk
Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:59 am
If you haven't checked them out yet, give them a visit, I promise the Motorola is there, but the picture is so large that it may not be easy to see. If you save the picture to your computer, it will be easier to view that way.
102. Posted by Watched
Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:20 am
ya know, i was recently trying to decide between the samsung sch-i760, blackberry 8130, and lg voyager. reading what i have above, and seeing how samsung would rather act like micro$oft about their products than taking apple's wide open information policy. that certainly rules out samsung as my next phone purchase. granted 350 bucks for a 760 won't hurt samsung. as a single person, however working in a retail store. i can imagine the damage will add up after 50 or so customers.
103. Posted by McGirk
Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:26 am
I can tell you that at one point Samsung phones made up about 90% of my phone sales, and now it has dipped to around 30%.
104. Posted by sora0256
Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:05 am
Mine has dipped down way down below. Like 10% low.
105. Posted by McGirk
Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:50 am
Going to dip even further, this month I haven't sold a single Samsung.
106. Posted by sora0256
Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:18 pm
Niiice.
107. Posted by IOWA
Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:29 am
I Think the samsung instinct will change all that, it's a very nice handset.
108. Posted by McGirk
Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:48 am
It's the Samsung Instinct that started this whole mess. Not only that, but Verizon will have one soon, very similar to the European version with the slide out qwerty keyboard.
109. Posted by McGirk
Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:54 am
OH SHOOT, I shouldn't have said that, at least I didn't post any pictures, maybe they won't say anything about it.
110. Posted by McGirk
Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:16 am
The M800 is creating such a buzz, that many people are not planning on getting just because they think everyone will have one.
111. Posted by IOWA
Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:26 am
Since when has overpopularity been a bad thing.
112. Posted by McGirk
Fri May 02, 2008 9:15 am
Overpopularity will get it ignored by people who want who want to be viewed as an individual. I wouldn't want a phone that everyone has.
On a side note, because of the Cease and Desist letter I will not be getting a Samsung TV or BluRay player, and it was high in the running too. Not certain what I will get, but it won't be Samsung.
113. Posted by McGirk
Tue May 27, 2008 9:37 am
I guess Samsung is going to use Infineon chips now instead of Qualcomm. Still wouldn't be interested in selling Samsung though.
114. Posted by dthpsc
Thu May 29, 2008 11:21 pm
Damn corporations, always so oppressive of the consumers. Reminds me a lot of Sony and their vendetta against PSP hackers.
115. Posted by McGirk
Fri May 30, 2008 9:53 am
But you see, they are just protecting themselves there. Samsung gave Mobiledia the pictures, then asked them who leaked them and got their lawyers involved.
116. Posted by sora0256
Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:49 pm
All I can say is that Samsung is being stupid.
If they were smart, think FREE PUBLICITY!
Omg.
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Peace out. 
