Working Assets Wireless is an MVNO (on the Sprint network) that donates 1 percent of the amount its customers spends on mobiles to charitable causes. It’s now taking that further by partnering with specific causes and donating 10 percent of customer spending to that cause. The latest partner is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) with the launch of Planned Parenthood Wireless—which will donate 10 percent of its revenues to PPFA. The prices are reportedly competitive, and I’m guessing that the 10 percent which is donated is largely in lieu of a marketing budget. In terms of extra, PPFA-specific services there is a mobile activism platform utilizing SMS alerts and text messaging to rally supporters around legislative decisions and women’s health issues.
Last November Amnesty Wireless was launched, with 10 percent of profits going to Amnesty International, and a partnership for Humane Wireless is in the works. The interesting part of this is the virtual-MVNO model, where an organization with experience at running an MVNO partners with other organizations for more specific efforts.