With GigaOm’s Mobilize09 completely sold out (thanks to Motorola’s CLIQ and MOTOBLUR unveiling), the Mission Bay Conference Center was packed with mobile geeks the likes of, well, us. What better place is there to promote your vague telecom business opportunity? Buzzirk and Global Verge, of Zer01 fame, were thinking the same thing. They (or at least one of their “associates”) went flier-crazy in the parking structure, leaving the “windshield spam” you see above in their wake.
For those of you not familiar with the shady trio, Zer01 Mobile, Buzzirk and Global Verge were at one time all connected in a seeming web of pyramid schemes. Early this year, Zer01 Mobile promised unlimited voice and data to US customers. Zer01 claims it has carrier partnerships in place that will allow Zer01 to route all wireless communications over its proprietary VoIP system. Zer01 Mobile supposedly launched months ago, but has yet to show anything for it. Buzzirk re-sells (or at least claims as much) Zer01’s wireless service through its network of sales “associates.” In exchange for a commission on signing up a new subscriber, sales associates have to pay Buzzirk $70 up front and $40 a month for “back office support.” Global Verge owns Buzzirk. Global Verge’s CEO Mark Petschel is on probation for securities fraud. To date, none of these companies has shown anything to validate their claims.
The point? We’re happy to see Buzzirk and Global Verge still doing their thing. We’re glad to see they’re no longer affiliated with Zer01 Mobile. But, it’s hard not to feel sorry for the poor sap that paid to print up all these fliers and took the time to put one under every car’s windshield wipers – in hopes that he’ll someday see a check from Buzzirk.