Buzzirk and ZER01 – Exclusive Relationship or Not?
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.