Amnesty International Goes Wireless
A service contract to help the oppressed. At least that's the logic behind Amnesty International's new cellular service, Amnesty Wireless (powered by Working Assets). Just pay around $30 a month, and you get a free smartphone (an LG-225) with some extras included. 10% of what you spend will be funneled into the NGO's war chest.
Of course, that flat rate doesn't cover extras like roaming, international long distance, if you go over your allotted minutes, or even SMS.. But in this respect, Amnesty Wireless is just like any other service operator.
The service only works in the US, and when roaming on a partner network in Mexico or Canada. But what other wireless service lets you harass pressure "targeted leaders" to improve the world's human rights situation?
Whether you love or hate Amnesty International (I'm honestly in apathetic about the whole thing), their new service shows just how much smartphones and PDAs are becoming a part of our life. Are we looking at a new form of advocacy, one that provides a genuine service to its "Volunteers"?
