Recommend a socially responsible wireless provider
September 1, 2015 9:45 AM Subscribe
Currently I’m on AT&T (unlimited plan grandfathered from ages ago) and my partner is on Sprint (and gets unreliable service throughout the SF Bay Area). I’m looking to consolidate us to a single provider and also want to use the opportunity to switch to a more socially conscious company. Where should we go?
I’m planning to use some unlocked iPhones, so that part is sorted. In terms of providers, I’m aligned with companies like Credo and TPO (The People’s Operator), but the snag is that both operate on Sprint’s network, and I've found the Sprint network to be too unreliable in the SF Bay Area. Are there any BYOD MVNOs operating on a GSM network (also because we travel) that align with socially responsible causes that the hive mind can recommend? I’ve seen this Wikipedia list, but since it doesn’t show TPO (which launched in the US in July) I’m wondering if it may be incomplete and also looking for personal experiences.
I’m planning to use some unlocked iPhones, so that part is sorted. In terms of providers, I’m aligned with companies like Credo and TPO (The People’s Operator), but the snag is that both operate on Sprint’s network, and I've found the Sprint network to be too unreliable in the SF Bay Area. Are there any BYOD MVNOs operating on a GSM network (also because we travel) that align with socially responsible causes that the hive mind can recommend? I’ve seen this Wikipedia list, but since it doesn’t show TPO (which launched in the US in July) I’m wondering if it may be incomplete and also looking for personal experiences.
The only four nationwide cellular network operators in the United States are AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
Unless you live in a *very* special and remote area, any other company you find "selling" wireless service is actually just re-selling service from one of these four companies.
I think (but am not sure) that AT&T Mobility has the most highly unionized workforce of the four. Beyond that (assuming I am even correct), I doubt you will find much of a difference between the four in terms of social responsibility.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 6:09 PM on September 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Unless you live in a *very* special and remote area, any other company you find "selling" wireless service is actually just re-selling service from one of these four companies.
I think (but am not sure) that AT&T Mobility has the most highly unionized workforce of the four. Beyond that (assuming I am even correct), I doubt you will find much of a difference between the four in terms of social responsibility.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 6:09 PM on September 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Juffo-Wup, look up MVNO. Credo, Ting and TPO (as mentioned above) are all socially responsible operators.
We have been happy users of Credo for MANY years, but apparently the Sprint coverage in our area is good enough.
posted by intermod at 6:44 PM on September 1, 2015
We have been happy users of Credo for MANY years, but apparently the Sprint coverage in our area is good enough.
posted by intermod at 6:44 PM on September 1, 2015
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We offer BYOD on both GSM and CDMA networks and you can have multiple devices on a single account. I personally think the pricing structure is superior to most, though if you're both heavy data users it can be more expensive than alternatives.
Coincidentally, I'm also responsible for our philanthropic and patronage efforts. Primarily, this means we work to support issues relevant to our business. Internet freedom, diversity in technology, freedom of expression are pretty core to our values. Practically, this means we support organizations like the EFF, anti-sopa/pipa and similar campaigns, and argue in support privacy online.
I'd like to think these efforts make us socially responsible, but I'm very much on the inside and perhaps it's for others to judge.
posted by Sleddog_Afterburn at 4:02 PM on September 1, 2015 [2 favorites]