With the introduction of Unique, the fixed-mobile convergence thingy from Orange, Sneak wonders why the carrier has not opted to extend the animal metaphor it has previously used to stuff its customers into different pigeonholes. People tend to warm to animals, and so don’t object when called a Panther, whereas labelling them Type D, say, might suggest they belong in the corner wearing a conical hat. However, Sneak is baffled by the logic behind the labels, assuming there is any. Panthers apparently like “all the extras”, whereas in real life Panthers are somewhat single-minded, picky eaters who prefer plain dead meat. Similarly, Dolphin is for “people who love to text”, whereas real Dolphins don’t have any fingers. Anyway, why is Unique a good name for a product that’s not unique and is in fact a hybrid? Why not be honest and call it Mongrel?

05 Oct 2006