Artiste Buju Banton triggers LIME rush Hundreds flock LIME stores for mobile TV phones

THE offer of a free high-end mobile TV phone on which owners can watch embattled reggae star Buju Banton's highly anticipated Florida concert live pulled hundreds of people to LIME stores in Kingston yesterday. The rush, which started from before the stores were opened, eventually resulted in the telecoms provider suspending the offer, which it cleverly titled the 'Buju Trade-in Special', at mid- afternoon, leaving large numbers of people disappointed.
1 /1 "It was a really successfully promotion," said LIME's Regional Special Project's Manager Stephen Price. "It was overwhelming, really. We did not expect to get to this point. We thought that we had enough phones to last, as the customers really came out in their numbers... we are now out of stock and we have to suspend the offer." Price apologised to customers who were not able to take advantage of the promotion, but explained that the trade-in offer was available while stocks lasted. The two-day trade-in promotion gave customers the opportunity to exchange mobile phones from other networks for a ZTE N290 phone along with the purchase of $2 ,000 credit. To sweeten the offer, LIME is providing exclusive live coverage of Banton's
'Before the Dawn' concert in downtown Miami tomorrow afternoon, as well as the popular Rebel Salute scheduled for tonight at Port Kaiser Sports Complex. Owners of the mobile TV phones will be able to watch both concerts, the company said. LIME had last month launched its mobile TV phone service and obviously saw the Buju Banton concert as a great plug for the product, given the overwhelming public interest in the show, his first since being arrested on drug charges in Florida in December 2009. Banton's trial last September generated worldwide attention and ended in a hung jury. The singer/deejay, who is to be retried soon, was eventually granted bail under very strict conditions, however the Court gave him permission to perform at tomorrow's concert. Yesterday, Price promised that there would be additional promotions in the coming months and said the 'Buju Trade-in Special' represented the type of impact LIME was aiming to make on the market. "The turnout we have seen so far is a massive one and we are pleased with what we have observed," said Karen Anderson, query specialist at LIME. Owen Edwards, store manager at the LIME Sovereign Centre outlet, was upbeat. "We want Jamaica to know that LIME is here to stay and that the owner for the yard is back," he said. In addition to the Sovereign store, the offer was available at Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston, Clock Tower Plaza, Portmore Pines in Portmore, St Catherine, and LIME's Carlton Store on Half-Way-Tree Road in Kingston. Even after the offer was suspended, people, apparently hoping that it would be reopened, stood outside the stores. "I am not leaving until I get one of those phones," said Matthew Smith as he waited outside the Sovereign store. "From the first time I heard about it I really wanted to get one of them." Smith said that in addition to acquiring the phone he also wanted a chance to watch the Buju concert. Yaminah McGrath, another customer at the store, shared a similar sentiment. "I have been on the road from morning. This is the third outlet that I have visited, but because of the massive crowd I still cannot get a phone," said McGrath. Albert Johnson and Owen Francis said they had a similar motive. "Is really the phone me want, and this may even make me switch network," Johnson said. The heavy crowds kept the police busy ensuring that order was maintained. "We are here monitoring all areas where the promotion is taking place and so far things have been kept under control," said Deputy Superintendent Neville Knight from the St Andrew South Police Division.

Source : The Observer