Pat Phelan: Telecomms DisruptorSubverting telecomms from the edge of industry

Its the end of a fantastic year but a chat with a few friends over the past few days have got me thinking.
I think we are being played, I didn’t mind it so much before but its become so bad lately that its gone beyond a joke.
This is not about brands its about people that are so transparent in their motives that they will wipe this out for the well intentioned.
So a couple of points
1. There is no social media
2. There is no social media
3. There is no social media

Drawing “borrowed” from Hugh
One of the experts in the field that shall now be known as “the oldest industry in the world” is buddy and real good guy Chris Brogan, Chris tells us about 8 marketing bloggers to watch in 2009, now my first rule is normally to check rankings, Alexa tells me that this blog (started in April) ranks almost the same as Chris one and beats the ass off nearly all of the folks on this list of “watchers” in 2009.
So this guy who hasn’t a clue whats he is doing (me) and blogs about telecoms, alcoholism, new stuff and god knows what else beats the “marketeers”.
Well that’s not very cool my marketeer friends, how could I possibly take advice from people who rank less than me but tell me how to get more hits, traffic, brand awareness.

I think 2009 will be the year where people will not spend $30,000 a month to end up with less online traffic than they begun the year with (email me if you want to know who), $20,000 a month to be advised how to open a Facebook fan page (its here if you need to know) $10,000 a month to get your bread brand on Bebo and $5000 a month to run your twitter app.

2009 will be there year of value, where people go back to selling stuff not dreams, its a new concept, you make stuff and you sell, it works I guarantee it.
Forget all your advisers, ask for advice, its free, lets try go back to that, its why I started blogging.
More

I leave you with another Beauty from Darren, “feeling overwhelmed by social media” no Darren, exactly the opposite

Well that’s it
They have all been dispatched, I hope you like them
The winner of the Nokia Arte was Keith Bohanna
This really was a joy to run and on a personal level I loved giving stuff away, thanks to everyone who took part and especially everyone who donated, we raised €1222.00 for the Cancer ward at the Childrens Hospital Crumlin.
Enjoy Christmas, try get a break and a very Happy New Year.
Normal grumpy service will resume tomorrow.

Whilst Skype generally isn’t my cup of tea, its reach is huge, I was looking at a few rankings this morning and thinking huge congrats must be due to my friends at Jajah.

Then I happened to take out Truphone and add Skype to the inquiry, results below kind of bought me back to reality.

This is the motherload
I am so thrilled to be able to give this away, Its an amazing titanium and carbon fiber Nokia Atre, These retail around $1500, myself and Chris Kennedy had a play around with it below.
Since this is such a valuable phone, I would ask that you donate €5 to The Crumlins Children Hospital to support its childrens cancer ward, its completely up to you, you can enter without donating but all donations are gratefully accepted, just click the button below.
The winner of the Nokia Arte was Keith Bohanna Thanks everyone for contributing a grand total of €1222.00

So usual rules apply, none leave a comment and you can win the phone, I will ship by DHL on Tuesday and will announce the winner Monday night.
This phone was donated by Irish Nokia distributor BPI Telecom, I met these guys a few weeks ago at an event, seriously I have never met a more genuine bunch of lads, their enthusiasm for the mobile space is incredible. They work very closely supporting The Jack and Jill foundation and Crumlins Childrens Hospital. If you want anything in the mobile space from a plug to an Arte these are the go to guys.

This is the second last draw and this one is stunning.
Its a 20 inchSharp LCD TV/monitor

As usual, just leave a comment and you are in
Please note this prize is only for European readers as the screen is 220 volts, as always please help out Jack and Jill below.
So what do I want?
Nothing, Nada, just leave a comment and I will have an independent friend run all comments through a randomizer, one the commentators will get the prize.
The winner is John McAWilliams
Congrats to him
Please though if you have a bunch of phones hanging around why not donate them to the Jack & Jill foundation, they do amazing work and everyone has a bunch of old phones somewhere.

3 have kindly donated these 3 prizes
These are available to Irish commentators only
You will get a free 3 mobile broadband dongle and you just need to sign up for service.
Fair play to 3, the only Irish carrier to return my emails.

As usual, just leave a comment and you are in
Please note this prize is only for Irish readers, as always please help out Jack and Jill below.
The winners are Dave Rooney, John Keyes and Justin Mason
So what do I want?
Nothing, Nada, just leave a comment and I will have an independent friend run all comments through a randomizer, one the commentators will get the prize.
Please though if you have a bunch of phones hanging around why not donate them to the Jack & Jill foundation, they do amazing work and everyone has a bunch of old phones somewhere.

This is a special one
The winner will not find out what it is until its is delivered.

I can guarantee this is a nice prize, just leave a comment and your in.
So what do I want?

Sinead Cochrane won this won and its now closed

Nothing, Nada, just leave a comment and I will have an independent friend run all comments through a randomizer, one the commentators will get the prize.
Please though if you have a bunch of phones hanging around why not donate them to the Jack & Jill foundation, they do amazing work and everyone has a bunch of old phones somewhere.

Its funny, Morten is an investor in a competitors company but I couldn’t admire the guy anymore if I tried.
This was the highlight of Le Web for me, a real man stood on stage and just spoke.
Incredible, just incredible.

To celebrate Christmas this year I have sent out the begging bowl to a numbers of friends in the industry and have come up with a bunch of goodies, I am going to give stuff away most days.
Today its the fantastic Nokia E63

There are lots of reviews around but I love it, this phone is not even released everywhere yet and is valued around €400, its completely unlocked and will work on any network.
So what do I want?
Nothing, Nada, just leave a comment and I will have an independent friend run all comments through a randomizer, one the commentors will get the phone.
The winner is Niall Harbison of ifoods.tv
Comments are now closed. enjoy Niall
Please though if you have a bunch of phones hanging around why not donate them to the Jack & Jill foundation, they do amazing work and everyone has a bunch of old phones somewhere.

What can I say
Le Web this year was about love and I loved it.
Problems with wifi. who gives a damn I was thrilled to be out of touch for at least 8 hours a day, actually being out of touch meant I enjoyed the event even more.
Cold? I bought a thing called a jacket, was fine and snug
Many thanks to Loic and Geraldine for putting on a fantastic show
Oh and finally got to meet the amazing Mrs Feldman who lived up to her billing 100%
Random pics below.