In short: OnePlus recently announced a brand new ambassador program via its user community forums that will give an unspecified number of its fans in the US a chance to help represent the brand and determine its future direction. The OnePlus ‘Brand Ambassador Program’ will see participants joining with the OnePlus team ‘on the ground,’ introducing its devices and brand to new prospective users, taking part in new exclusive product sessions, and gaining exclusive insight into those devices. Those who take part will also be able to give feedback on where those should go moving forward as well as how the community itself will evolve in the US.
Background: The idea to launch the program was taken from two members of OnePlus’s community, under the handles @keithnyc and @wissou050987. Although this isn’t at all the first time a mobile manufacturer will be calling on representatives to spread the word about its brand, this may be the first time those ambassadors are ordinary fans instead of celebrities. Moreover, this may be among the first efforts outside of Sony’s Xperia-centric program where a brand actively takes fan-feedback with regard to the direction a manufacturer and its devices should take. It effectively builds on a long-running user-focused approach by OnePlus which has spawned several early access or Open Beta and customer service improvement programs. However, the OEM won’t just be allowing everybody to sign up and take part. Presumably, participants need to be in the US for the ‘on the ground’ activities and interested parties will need to fill out a personal information questionnaire, in addition to sending in a video application. Those need to be completed by September 26 while ambassadors will be selected on October 1.
Impact: The implication is that long-time fans of OnePlus or even newer members of the community will have the opportunity to have a lasting impact on the company itself. There aren’t too many details for the time being with regard to exactly what will be involved in that but it appears as though the primary goal is to gain feedback and advertise the brand through its fans. The company seems to have plans to allow some ambassadors to join OnePlus at mobile events to talk about its devices as well. Beyond that, some ambassadors may even get to try out new devices before they launch. In the meantime, the company hasn’t said how long the program will remain in place or how many participants will be allowed to take part.
OnePlus Ambassador Program Signup