Caption contest: publicity stunt generating publicity
We do hate to play into wily PR folks' attention-grabbing campaigns, but when they're quite so nutty, we can't help but admire them. UK network Three is trying to promote its hotspots (we think) by having dudes wearing full-body underwear running around with "Human Hotspot" signs and what looks like part of the Engadget logo throughout London. We don't get it, but we do love it.
Thomas: "I can look up your WEP."
Vlad: "Please note, dressing up as a Trojan won't protect you from actual trojans."
Nilay: "Touch my junk and I'll have you arrested."
Darren: "I'm probably working... even if the tube drivers aren't."
Richard Lai: "My SSID is quite well hidden, if I may say so."
Carlos: "I'm hot... or not?"
Tim: "I knew that Fantastic Four movie was a bad career move. Time for a new agent."
Ross: "Ask about where I keep my SIM card."
Myriam: "Spot the hotness."
Sam: "The Blue Man Group member that never was."
Josh T.: "Due to his drug habit and carousing, the Invisible Man had been forced into a number of demeaning jobs."
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THREE 'HUMAN HOTSPOTS' SWEEP THE UK
... as more than 60% of Brits now own a mobile gadget
Three is letting loose 'Human Hotspots' across London and several other regions to give Brits free access to mobile Wi-Fi. The 'Human Hotspots' are a response to research showing that more people are going online with their mobile gadgets and are in need of a strong and reliable 3G connection.
Research by Three has shown that one third (31 per cent) of Brits are planning to buy one of this year's hot mobile gadgets such as a tablet, Sony Playstation PSP and an Amazon Kindle, as a gift this Christmas, while 60 per cent of people already own a mobile gadget themselves.
The popularity of mobile gadgets is seeing people use them almost wherever they can – nearly half of those surveyed admit to going online on their mobile gadgets in the bedroom (48 per cent), just under a third are using them at work (29 per cent), while 14 per cent admit to using their mobile gadget on the toilet.
But it doesn't stop there as eight per cent of people admit to using their mobile gadget at their in-laws' house, and five percent even find the time to go online during their work-out at the gym.
The 'Human Hotspots' will use Three's MiFi®, which uses Three's 3G network to create a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. Those in the area who spot a Human Hotspot can connect to the internet while out and about by connecting to the Human Hotpot's MiFi.
Three's Wi-Fi dongle is small enough to fit in your pocket and can connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices at once.
According to Three's research, the top ten places where people use their mobile gadgets the most is as follows:
1. In the living room 72%
2. In the bedroom 48%
3. At work 29%
4. On public transport 24%
5. On the toilet 14%
5. Walking 14%
7. In the bathroom 12%
8. In the garden 11%
9. At a bar/club 9%
10. While shopping 8%
Matthew Halfin, the marketing manager for Three's mobile broadband propositions commented, "People are now using mobile internet as part of their everyday lifestyle, and we think it's important that we're able to support our customers by providing them with reliable and fast connectivity for wherever they want to go online.
"Three's 3G network was designed for the mobile internet, so we can give people the very best online experience with their mobile gadgets. This will be particularly important over the Christmas period as a third of people head online with their new mobile toys."
Three's Human Hotspots will be appearing in London (Friday Nov 19), Cardiff (Friday Nov 26), Bristol (Saturday Nov 27), Nottingham (Saturday Dec 4) and Newcastle (Saturday Dec 11) and will be allowing people in these regions - and near a human hotspot - to connect to the internet for free while they're out and about, as well as trial some of this Christmas' hottest mobile gadgets.
