 "Samsung India promotes Galaxy Note 4 on Twitter India, as Apple tops trends")
We always knew that the launch of Apple’s new devices, the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and the Apple Watch would be yet another reason to escalate hostilities between the tech company and it’s fiercest rival, Samsung. Even as the tech world scrambles to get in an opinion on the new offerings from Apple, Samsung, which in true form unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 a few days before the flagship Apple device, has tried to get some of the social media attention away from Apple, at least on Twitter India. The company has taken out a sponsored hashtag: #GALAXYNote4, therefore making sure that it stays firmly on top of the trending hashtag list, never mind that it comes with a line that says ‘sponsored by Samsung India’. Interestingly the top 2 hashtags are #AppleLive and #iPhone6, but thanks to the Samsung move, they remain below the Galaxy Note 4 tag. The Note 4 has been deliberately set up as a competitor to the Apple iPhone 6 Plus, which is the company’s first large screen phone, and is being seen as an attempt to grab a share of the phablet and large screen phone market. The company has also used the opportunity to promote the fast charging capability of the device, taking another dig at Apple’s charging speeds. In July this year, the company released a TV commercial taking a dig at the iPhone’s poor charging capabilities. The advertisement showed people glued to their wall chargers.
#GALAXYNote4 goes from 0% to 50% battery in around 30 minutes with Fast Charging. #DoYouNote pic.twitter.com/JiIO9iNmmo
— Samsung India (@SamsungIndia) September 9, 2014
A lot of people however found the move to be utterly blatant, and not a very smart marketing strategy. Given that Apple prides itself on being classy, they may not be too far off the mark. As a result, the company has been getting quite a lot of Twitter ridicule in 140 characters or less:
I cant believe Samsung promoted #galaxynote4. Smacks of utter desperation in light of #iphone 6 launch
— Vikram (@vikramv1) September 10, 2014
#GALAXYNote4 promoted trend is an attempt to get the pole position on the #Twitter trends leaving #iPhone6 behind? #Marketing #strategy
— abhishek (@Tweeter_kar) September 10, 2014
Yesterday night - #Apple iPhone 6 launch.
— Neha Agarwal (@neha_likes) September 10, 2014
Today morning - #Samsung is sponsoring promoted tweets. Ufff #BadMarketingStrategy #GALAXYNote4
@iMagesh Now Samsung trying hard to promote #galaxynote4 with Twitter trend ads :D
— Suresh Kumar Gondi (@thesureshg) September 10, 2014
Some however thought it was a bold move that deserved praise:
Hahahaha! @SamsungMobile trolled Apple by having #GalaxyNote4 as top trend ahead of #AppleLive & #iPhone6 ! :D --> pic.twitter.com/747rHjd8L1
— Ek Bilang Chota 🇮🇳 (@EkBilangChota) September 10, 2014
So Samsung has fired the opening salvo in hours on social media. Will Apple choose to respond in kind, or just ignore the Korean company? Watch this space.
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