ZER01 unlimited usage plan hits another stumbling block
A firm offering unlimited voice and data calls for $70 has lost its main distribution deal. ZER01 will no longer have its products sold by Buzzirk, which is at the center of poor publicity.
The ZER01 service officially launched on July 1. The scheme, which will initially be exclusive to Windows Mobile devices, works by routing all calls over a data connection. It’s similar to Skype, but works with the GRPS and EDGE connections which most networks use for data traffic.
However, although the firm has negotiated deals to be carried on multiple networks, it’s not yet possible to subscribe as ZER01 isn’t selling directly to the public. Instead it’s looking for resellers to act as mobile virtual network operators, firms which don’t physically operate networks but otherwise deal with customers in the same way as companies such as AT&T. The resellers will be able to set their own price for the service.
Buzzirk was the only firm to have signed up with ZER01 and was scheduled to begin services right about now. However, ZER01 has axed that deal in a bid to distance itself from concerns over Buzzirk. PCWorld reports that Buzz Kirk’s parent company was formed by a man convicted of securities fraud and that his successors have carried out controversial multi-level marketing schemes.
As we noted at the time of the “launch”, Buzzirk was offering site visitors the chance to become distributors and receive $10 a month for each new customer they signed up for the firm. However, these distributor roles were only available in return for a $15 fee.
The Buzzirk concerns were cited by LAPTOP magazine earlier this month when it took the unprecedented step of rescinding an award it had made in April in declaring ZER01 a “best of the show” award winner at the CTIA conference. However, the magazine also said ZER01 had failed to live up to promises it made at the conference.
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August 15th, 2009
This has been a mess from the very begining. I called this right on 2 months ago. Read the blogs that I wrote at http://www.recruitmlmleads.com
August 22nd, 2009
Hey John,
We’ve done some extensive investigation into Global Verge (Buzzirk Mobile) and their previous incarnations (they were called e-Verge and BizBuzz back on ‘06 when they promised technology they never delivered). Every place we dug, we found dirt.
If I may, here’s a link to some archived podcasts with detailed commentary on this soap opera about a train wreck:
http://www.MarketWaveInc.com/radioshow.asp
Thanks for the consideration. Keep up the good work.
Len Clements
Founder & CEO
MarketWave, Inc.