AppleInsider Staff
In a short commercial posted Friday, South Korean electronics giant Samsung subjected its water-resistant Galaxy S5 smartphone to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which the handset's S-Voice personal digital assistant called "freezing" before nominating Apple's iPhone 5s and other competitors to do the same.
The short, 15-second spot is voiced entirely by the Galaxy's British S-Voice variant. "I am the Samsung Galaxy S5, this is my ice bucket challenge," it intones. "Gosh that's freezing."
Samsung has repeatedly touted the handset's waterproof housing when comparing it against Apple's iPhone. Apple has repeatedly been rumored to have a new waterproof option in the works, but it has yet to materialize in a shipping device.
As is the custom for the ice bucket challenge, Samsung will also make a donation to the British Motor Neurone Disease Association charity. One executive at Samsung UK's advertising agency, Cheil UK, told AdAge that it was the "perfect opportunity for the brand to do something that was meaningful but also unexpected."
The ice bucket challenge has swept Silicon Valley recently, with a number of Apple executives taking part. Marketing czar Phil Schiller was first to take the dousing, challenging — among others — CEO Tim Cook.
Cook was drenched in the amphitheatre at the center of Apple headquarters in Cupertino. He nominated recent Apple addition Dr. Dre, who was soaked last week.
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163 Comments
It'll be interesting to find out the outcome. I thought we're in a drought in CA. I guess not. Water/Ice all around...
Maybe Samsung should waterproof their washing machines first, I hear they flooding homes and doing nothing about it.
That's cute.
[quote name="sog35" url="/t/181948/samsung-ad-challenges-apples-iphone-5s-to-take-ice-bucket-challenge#post_2583290"]When was the last time Samsung donated to charity? This is really low class. If they want to donate to a good cause do it. Dont use it as a vehicle to bash competitors. Shows how little Samsung understands PR [/quote] My thoughts exactly! The sad fact is the ad is just another publicity stunt instead of a true donation to the cause. The funny thing is not many people are going to buy a Samsung galaxy S5 due to this commercial since they are waiting for the release of the upcoming iPhone. ????
The whole thing just leaves me cold.