Buzzirk Mobile

I received a call today from a Buzzirk E-Associate who was interested in knowing what the plans for this website were. I explained to him that I was not an E-Associate, and would be waiting and watching to see of Global Verge was the “next big thing” or not.

I’m more interested in building a long-term value for my readers by staying independent and looking at things without a financial stake in the program at this point. I think there’s still plenty of time for people to jump in and sign up with Global Verge. I see several of the “rogue E-Associate” sites have come down, which is great for this site.

Apparently any site which uses a trademarked Buzzirk term in the domain will be shut down. This site with the generic “get buzz phone” domain should be fine.

I continue to encourage everyone to do lots of research before jumping into the Buzzirk opportunity. Take your time, read Google News and keep an eye out for Buzzirk in the news, and be prepared to jump in when the timing is right for you.

After a lot of thought and deliberation, I’ve decided to list this website for sale. If you’re interested in learning more, please go here and read this page. Questions? Send me an email below.

A lot of the Buzirk Distributors (also known as Buzzirk E-Asssociates) are proclaiming that the Zer01 phones will ONLY be available through Buzzirk. However, if you search some of the news stories, you’ll see several references to Zer01 seeking out relationships with big-box retailers. I would imagine companies like Wal-Mart and Best Buy being in Zer01′s sights.

Here’s a quote from one article from Twice.com.

Besides targeting affinity groups, CEO Ben Piilani is also targeting big-box retailers, master agents who sell to wireless stores, and master agents who sell to business, all of whom would market the service under their own brand.

If this is true, is this good news or bad news for Buzzirk E-Associates? This is yet another reason why everyone needs to take things they learn on websites operated by E-associates with a very large grain of salt. If Buzzirk can negotiate a special rate, this may be enough of a reason for Buzzirk to gain the critical mass of customers that it needs right away.

Keep watching and waiting, and see if they begin delivering phones in August as promised.

Here’s some good information for anyone wanting the “inside scoop” on Buzzirk Wireless. I think it’s really important to watch the video on this site, and then listen to the call.

The video on this site echoes a lot of the things I’ve been discussing here.

1.) Don’t be overly impressed by hype from a e-associate in the field

2.) Make sure you do your homework and investigate the heck out of these opportunities.

Here’s the information about the call:

CEO Mark Petchel, and his partners, Mark Ryder, ted Robbins and Kevin Harold, share things that the average distributor would not know about, let alone the outside world about Zer01, Buzzirk Wireless, and the strategies they are using to “re-launch” (my words) Global Verge.

http://www.mlmhelpdesk.com/2009/06/29/global-verge-founders-inside-secret-call-about-buzzirk-wireless/

All of those sites run by E-Associates in Google will probably soon be going away. That would be great for this website, as I’m an independent resource and don’t have to abide by their rules for E-Associates.

Here’s what I’ve heard through the grapevine:

Mark- at this time we have a company generated website and all “rouge” websites are being asked to be taken down due to overzealous and unscupulous marketers who have been putting up some in accurate information.

This is a common practice for MLM companies. It makes it easier for them to represent themselves in the SERPs without a lot of affiliates fighting with the corporate site for high rankings. Other companies (especially ones around before the birth of the Internet) just define what their associates can and can’t do online.

A read of their rules for E-Associates does indicate the following when it comes to third-party websites:

A GLOBALVERGE e-associate may use Web banner ads created by GLOBALVERGE, that link a third party Web site to an e-associate’s Web site.

I would be willing to sell some advertising space on this site to Global Verge e-associates to help finance the operation of this site. People can decide for themselves if they want to sign up, and then enroll under someone other than me.

References:

GlobalVerge_Policies_and_Procedures

This was sent to me this week by a E-Associate. Thought it was worth replaying here, in it’s entirety. Interestingly, this press release does not mention Global Verge, or does it mention Buzzirk by name.

“(Las Vegas, Nevada) – Zer01 Mobile announced today the formal launch of its new nationwide truly unlimited voice, data and Web mobile wireless service that will allow users to make as many phone calls, surf the Web, view movies and videos, text messages, download music and use their smartphones for a variety of other applications all for one, low monthly fee. Offering the new mobile wireless service as a mobile virtual network enabler, Zer01 Mobile has created its own grouping of mobile virtual network operators and strategic business alliances including a new partnership with Netmovies.com, an online entertainment network.

“Many years of research and testing have culminated in the public launch this week of the new, truly unlimited voice, data and Web mobile wireless service from Zer01 Mobile. Thanks to the ingenuity of the Zer01 Mobile engineering team, our new Veritable Mobile Convergence technology allows each smartphone user to make voice calls or transmit data through a VoIP system,” explained Ben Piilani, CEO, Zer01 Mobile. “Because Zer01 Mobile is the only carrier in the United States offering truly unlimited mobile Web access, a number of important strategic partnerships with Zer01 Mobile have been finalized including the recent agreement with Netmovies.com, the Boston-based online entertainment network.”

In April 2009, Zer01 Mobile first premiered its new truly unlimited voice, data and Web mobile wireless service at the CTIA Wireless Conference in Las Vegas, NV. Receiving positive reviews while showcasing its service at the global wireless industry event, Zer01 Mobile was presented with the “Best Overall Product” Award by Laptop Magazine. “That’s the appeal of Zer01, which uses highly efficient VoIP technology to let users make phone calls over existing cellular networks. This new breed of carrier will sell a variety of Windows Mobile devices starting in July that can tap into its service, but it will also enable users to bring their unlocked BlackBerrys, Android phones and other handsets. An extra $10 per month will allow subscribers to add international calling to 40 destinations. Zer01 Mobile promises that it will take as little as five minutes for the company to update your phone’s SIM card to make it compatible with its network,” stated the Laptop Magazine Web site.

“With movies, music, games and television available anywhere on a mobile device, our agreement with Zer01 Mobile is a natural fit with our company’s business model and overall plan for the coming decade. The technology behind Zer01 Mobile’s service will assure a top rated viewing and listening experience for the end-user,” explained John Fanning, chairman & CTO, Netmovies.com and founding chairman & CEO, Napster, Inc.

Creating interconnect agreements throughout North America and the globe, Zer01 Mobile is the first mobile service to offer a truly unlimited voice, data and Internet plan that is priced affordably with taxes and fees included. Zer01 Mobile’s international plan also reaches out to the most popular calling countries around the world and is also economically priced. The company has licensed patent pending proprietary Veritable Mobile Convergence technology that allows each smart phone user to make voice calls or transmit data by sending voice communications through a VoIP system.

Established in 2001 and 34% owned by Blockbuster, Inc., NetMovies is an online entertainment network providing producers and owners of video content a secure, highly functional and efficient digital distribution outlet. NetMovies’ proprietary downstreaming network builds on the technology model pioneered at Napster which was created using a regulated peering system offering high-speed downloads and secure and flexible digital rights management. NetMovies’ video content is licensed from studios or created by independent artists and introduced into a centrally managed and protected network then distributed to and among paying subscribers.

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Zer01 Communications is owned and operated by the Unified Technologies Group, Inc., a global technology services and consulting company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. Zer01 Communications recently premiered the new Zer01 Mobile service at the CTIA Wireless 2009 Conference. Laptop Magazine awarded Zer01 Mobile the “Best Overall Product” Award at the conclusion of the industry conference. For more information about Zer01 Communications, visit www.Zer01mobile.com.”

I’ve learned that the correct terminology for a Buzirk Distributor is acutally an “E-Associate”. I first learned about Buzzirk through an email that came in to me from someone I hardly know. I’m sure she means well, and she probably sent the same email to everyone in her address book. Here’s what it said:

Mark
Steve and I are very excited bout this and you would do great at it
please check it out, Listen to both recordings and call us
We jumped at the chance and are very very excited!!
>>>>>
If there was a new company that invented a way to revolutionize the way we all communicate, and you could make BIG money with it, would you want to know about it?

It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited. This is Simple business with the most lucrative compensation plan I’ve ever studied. Rarely does a  ground floor opportunity like this come along.
Just 7000 distributors today and anticipating 1 million a year from now. I’m truly pumped!!!

Call me if you want to learn more.

This is the real deal!

I was fascinated by the spike in search term popularity that Buzzirk has encountered, and that’s the reason I’ve built this website. I also think it’s important that there be at least one voice of sanity out there in a sea of affiliate-pumped up websites.  Again, there’s no reason anyone should have to sign up today. If Buzzirk is truly going to be a global company, it doesn’t matter if you sign up today or 2 months from now. Wait and see what happens – if and when they start actually delivering phones.

I started asking some questions about Buzzirk and was put in touch with this person’s brother-in-law who is apparently an experienced network marker. You can tell by his email to me:

Mark,

Hi – Nice to meet you.. I agree that this does have some great potential for some great keywords. At the present it is vital that you go ahead and get your position with the company (Translation: sign up now).  Go to Steves website and register for the Basic package  unless you think you can bring in over 25 people the first month then register for the Advanced package.

When you do be sure you do not skip autoship in the registration process. (Translation: That way I get my cut every month. You’ll be too preoccupied with other things in your life to cancel this thing for months.)

Phones are being delivered in a controlled rollout and are starting to ship this week. You can bet you will be getting some information when I do about how excited some of the people ( Tripple Diamonds first then onward until all e-associates have the opportunity to purchase one this month). (Question: How can someone be a “triple diamond” e-associate before the product is even available? By signing up other E-Associates!)

Glad you are “getting ” this Mark .. The upside potential is great. (Stroking my ego. See how I “get this”? I’d be a moron not to sign up today. )

Is there any other questions you have that would prevent you from moving forward with this? (Closing the sale; assuming I will move forward. Just sign here..)

Again, I don’t have any problem with network marketing, or with sales in general. I do it everyday through my own websites. However, you’ve got to make sure you understand what you’re getting into up front. All network marketing programs take WORK. Caveat emptor.

I saw another mention of Exel Communications on a website promoting Buzirk Wireless.  The quote went something like this:

projected to be larger than the Excel Communications boom of the late 90′s…

It’s actually a great comparison, and hopefully Gobal Verge will learn a lesson or two from the final phase of Excel Communications. (And avoid it’s untimely demise).

I was a college student in the early 90′s, and one of my former roommates was signed up for Excel Communications by his girlfriend’s father. Our of respect for my friend, we went to a meeting room at the local Holiday Inn (this was pre-Internet, you see) and sat through the discussion of how Excel Communications would revolutionize the long-distance telephone industry. I suggest you take some time and read through the Wikipedia article on Excel Communications, as it’s a good read, and to be honest, I didn’t know what happened with Excel.  The part that is worth noting is this:

Excel Communications was founded in 1988 by Dallas entrepreneur Kenny Troutt as a long distance reseller in the US telecom sector at the birth of telecom deregulation.

In the beginning, as the 432nd-largest long distance company in the United States, it began selling franchises through the business model of network marketing or multi-level marketing (MLM). In seven years, it became the fourth-largest long distance carrier in America and the youngest billion-dollar-annual company in history (8 years as compared to the second fastest growing, Microsoft, which took 15 years).

On May 10, 1996, Excel became the youngest company ever to join the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) trading under the symbol (ECI).

You see, Excel went from #432 to #4 in just a few years. That was astounding, and a great example of now Network Marketing is the original “viral marketing” method. Internet marketers talk a lot about how you need to make your marketing viral and use “social networking”. Excel did this largely without the benefit of the Internet. Truly amazing.

Back to my story – I didn’t enroll in Excel. I realized then (as I do now), that I’m not a natural salesman. The Internet changed that for me, because it allows me to market a product from behind a keyboard, rather than in front of my friends and neighbors

The lesson that Buzkirk needs to learn is to make sure that the growth is followed by years of nice, stable returns (Herbalife and Amway are both decades old). This will mean reaching out, pushing the envelope and staying ahead of the telecommunications curve.

ZER01 is the company that provides the technology to Global Verge for their Buzzirk program. I’ve seen several “rah rah” Affiliate sites claim that Clark Howard is endorsing this product. If you’ve read my posts, you will realize that I’m not going to just “rah rah” this program and make wild claims unless I can validate my information.

However, this one is true – to an extent. Clark Howard has mentioned the Zer01 Wireless carrier on his program… it was on CNN and you can watch the video right here:

You’ll notice that he’s not endorsing Buzzirk, however, since the only place you can get Zer01 is through a Buzzirk Reseller, this is definitely encouraging news for everyone involved.

I’ve been doing search engine marketing for about 10 years now, and absolutely LOVE to see a “new term” pop-up and become popular. These opportunities come along and are generally missed until it’s too late. For example, if you search Google Trends for the following keywords, drill down to the last 30 days, you’ll see an IDEAL emergence pattern:

Terms: buzzirk,  buzzirk mobile, buzzirk wireless, ZER01

Google Search Volume

The various colored lines indicate the different search terms that people are using when searching for Buzirk Mobile related terms. What I find fascinating is that in early June, there were essentially ZERO searches for these terms, but they’re now becoming increasingly popular. This tell you that there is definitely a “buzz” being generated about the new Buzz Phone.

This graph begins to dip shortly before the July 4th Holiday, which corresponds with a lower amount of traffic on the Internet during a Holiday weekend. I would imagine that the trend will begin to accelerate upwards rapidly over the next few weeks going in to the official public launch of Global Verge’s Buzzirk Wireless product on August 1. More to come…