You may know of Working Assets, the leftist financial services company that lets you donate chunks of your credit-card or phone bill to causes like ending the war in Iraq and supporting workers' rights.
They run a cell-phone service, too, and it's got some attraction for politically progressive types. WAW subscribers get to call their congress people and "other decision makers" for free, for up to 30 minutes each month, and WAW puts information about political activities in their bills. (Way to get people to read their bills, guys.) A customized WAP portal lets subscribers hit Daily Kos, the BBC and various political action pages in two clicks. And a chunk of each month's wireless bill goes to selected political causes.
WAW's phones are all basic and inexpensive, appealing to the struggling members of the working class. The LG VI-125, possibly my favorite voice-only phone ever, is free with a two-year contract. For $30 you can get the LG PM-225, which adds a mediocre camera. Monthly rates are competitive with the big guys. By now 400,000 people have signed up, the organization says.
But here's the irony: Working Assets Wireless is an MVNO (a mobile virtual network operator) that uses Sprint as their network. As I've reported previously, Sprint is a non-union company -- and in fact, the Communications Workers of America are encouraging wireless users who support organized labor to switch to Cingular, the only unionized major carrier. While Sprint is the most popular enabler of MVNOs, Cingular is in the MVNO business as well with brands like the kid-oriented Firefly Mobile, super-cheap Net10 and luxury-focused Voce.
After a week's worth of phone calls and e-mails, WAW's Wendy Herlosky said that Sprint was the only major carrier enabling MVNOs back in 2000 when WAW started up. So now that they're locked into a long-term contract with Sprint (see, it doesn't just happen to individual consumers), WAW tries to make amends by giving money to causes like Jobs With Justice and raising the minimum wage.
Switching to Cingular would force WAW to make their customers buy new phones, as Cingular and Sprint phones are incompatible. It might change rates and service plans. But it would also send a strong political message. Is that worth the inconvenience? That's the struggle politically aware people always have to face.
And switching to Cingular would let them offer the phone at left -- can I call it the Pinko RAZR?
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July 19, 2006 1:59 PM
Regardless of one's political sentiment, that's a pretty rough spot to be in with the contracts. I wonder if WAW will have the opportunity to leave Sprint behind when their contract is up, or perhaps they have enough leverage or bargaining power to influence Sprint's social responsibility position and policies towards its workforce. And if they don't, I wonder if WAW'll take their business elsewhere-and how that might impact their customers. (eg, will they have to get new handsets, will they need to enter new service contracts, etc) I've gotten mailings about WAW in the past, and while it sounded like a good idea, I was well, in a contract with a large carrier at the time I couldn't get out of. :) Also, I think "Pinko RAZR" is perfect. ;)
July 19, 2006 4:32 PM
Just one more load of crap from the far left. Serves 'em right, I hoe you all enjoy your crappy phones. I like my Treo thank you very much. Unions are one step away from communism so the pinko razr fits pretty well.
July 19, 2006 4:41 PM
One suggestion - one comment: Suggestion: Alternatives to MVNO - tho the tekkie industry just LOVES using letter abbreviations (sexy secret code for the NERDS??) - could be "ghosting" or, gosh, service provider!! Why don't we just call it what it is?? Sprint is the backbone behind WAW accounts. Comment: I am looking for EFFECTIVE SERVICE.....Unfortunately Cingular - so far - has the least "dropped calls"-- a huge frustration for me now with Verizon. However, close proximity of Cingular (BellSouth's baby) with new BellSouth owner AT&T keeps me from switching. Since the 80's telecom 'divesture' - which is now being neutralized by our lobby-friendly Federal representatives - AT&T has, in my opinion, earned the reputation of having the most unfriendly, frustrating and inadequate customer service of any of the Bells. That is saying alot.......and I will do whatever I can to avoid dealing with that company or any of its partners. Sprint could get my business and personal accounts if they can step up in the tech area and offer the service thresholds required. While I would enjoy supporting their business model I can - and do - find many other ways to make donations to worthy efforts including Samaritan's Purse, Americares and Feed the Children in addtion to local orgs.
July 19, 2006 6:29 PM
from someone named REDM3. Hmm....
July 19, 2006 8:48 PM
Boy must be slow new day, how about the middle east war ??
July 20, 2006 6:50 AM
It does not look or feel good when you can't get any info on their web pages, or through their web special. I tried clicking on the Working Assets Link, to look at their web page. EVERYTHING leads to We'd like more information, please call.... Doesn't amtter if I want to look at plans or phones, they want a zip code. doesn't matter what zip code I put in (and I started trying a number, from around the country) all I get is a "please call and talk". Sounds like they want to hook you up with a high-pressure sales person instead of giving you any information.
July 20, 2006 7:33 AM
homeec, you must be having a browser problem. Do you have cookies turned off? Wireless carrier sites generally use cookies to record your ZIP code, because they may offer different plans in different states. I've tried WAW's Web page on two PCs and a Mac so far, and I can get lists of phones and plans on all of them. Try ZIP code "10016", which is the PC Magazine offices, for instance.
August 17, 2006 11:20 AM
Switch to Cingular?? I have been a Cingular customer for several years and they now want to charge me five bucks a month more because they sold me a CDMA phone (which they no longer support) as their system is turning into GSM. Why didn't they use GSM to begin with like the rest of the world? OK, so I am a moron for buying into Cingular to begin with!!