Don't you hate that 15 seconds of useless airtime when you call someone and want to leave them a voicemail? Did you know the cell phone companies are making MILLIONS of $$$ from us consumers for those collective 15 seconds? Why not just have a beep? We KNOW what to do!
David Pogue, tech blogger and columnist, wrote an article in the NY Times recently that started the "Take Back the Beep!" campaign in which millions of annoyed cell phone users are writing to their cell phone carriers to get rid of that dead 15 seconds we're paying for.
Want to get into the act? Here's a link to a website that provides the email addresses for all the major cell phone carriers so you can express your opinion.
If you twitter and you're interested in technology, you might want to start following David Pogue @Pogue, where you'll be able to get updates on how the campaign is going.
As an avid observer of politics and social networking technology, I can't wait to see if it works! Join the cause if you're interested, and/or respond to one or more of the following prompts:
In what ways do cyber campaigns like this one alter politics and policy making in America?
Do you think online grassroots campaigns like this one are positive or negative forces in American politics? Explain why.
Predict how and why the major cell phone carriers will respond to this campaign.
11 comments:
I think online grassroots campaigns like this are positive forces in American politics. If cell phone users want to see a change in the service, this is exactly what they should be doing, rather than sitting around and complaining. After all, isn't that part of the American Dream? Seeing something that you want, working hard to achieve it, and then enjoying the benefits? That's the beauty of the country in which we live: we have a certain amount of power over the laws we follow. Campaigns like these, successful or not, show other American citizens that they do have a voice and they can do something to change the things that aren't satisfied with, whether its as complex health care laws or as simple as voicemail. Even if the ultimate goal isn't reached in a short amount of time, getting the word out there and getting involved in a cause is certainly a start.
I think if cell phone carriers are smart, they will pay attention to this campaign. The commercials you see on TV these days for major cell phone carriers are extremely competitive. Also, the carriers are always seemingly dedicated to making the customer's life easier. Most of the time, (for me at least), the things they say sound very appealing. Unlimited texting for only $10? Rollover minutes every month? Count me in. If cell phone carriers start advertising "Just the Beep," that would just add to the bonuses customers get when they subscribe to that service.
I think this is a great idea! Although I myself don't have a cell phone, I get annoyed whenever I call one of my friends and have to wait through all the generic voicemails to leave a message! Campaigns like this alter policy making by using a technology that carries far and fast to all people in the world using these cell phone services. Like Mary said, advertising "just the beep" is a great benefit for people, just like rollover minutes. Everyone wants to save money, even if it's just nickels or dimes here and there. I mean, everyone will drive a couple extra miles to go to a gas station where gas is 10 cents cheaper, so why not do the same for their cell phone bills? Those dimes add up over a period of time. I think that grassroot campaigns like these are DEFINITE positive forces in America. Although it's something as simple as 15 extra seconds on the phone, it could save cell phone companies from becoming multi-billion dollar, economy ruling buisnesses. I think that some companies will respond positively (for the people) to this by either cutting off the 15 seconds, or not charging for them, if this campaign becomes larger and more important in the news. Until you posted this, I had never heard of this news at all. I think it's also very important that twitter is getting involved and helping to spread the news. The more people get involved, the more strength there is in numbers.
I agree with Mary, online grassroots campaigns are a positive force. Americans always have things they would like to change. These campaigns give them the opportunity to voice their opinions and take a stand. The "take back the beep!" campaign is a great idea. I know I don't like listening to the messages and the fact that you have to pay for them is irritating. I think that many people will respond to this campaign and feel as though they are having an impact. Cell phone carriers are always trying to catch peoples attention and becoming part of this campaign would really attract cell phone users. I'm sure that if this campaign is more widely advertised Americans will be glad to speak their opinions in order to save money and eliminate this annoying fifteen seconds. Cell phone companies get many new users everyday, they are extremely strong companies and people need to feel as though they are being heard by the companies that effect them.
Let me begin this blog by expressing my personal annoyance with the monotone voice that degrades my intelligence with step-by-step instructions on how to leave a message every time I call one of my friends. It’s a waste of time and money, two very important things in today’s society. (However, as soon as the other line picks up, you’re charged for a minute anyway, so as long as you don’t talk incessantly to another person’s voicemail, and you keep your message under a minute, there isn’t really any additional charge.) I commend David Pogue for his initiative to try to remove the dull intro, or at least make it optional, however, do some research people! I’m on a sprint service plan, and these instructions annoyed me so much, that I simply removed them from my own voicemail. I can’t know for sure that all cell phone companies have this option because I’m not on them, but I didn’t see anything about the following option for sprint customers in Pogue’s article, so who’s to say that other companies don’t have the same choice.
1. Call your voicemail
2. At the menu, press 3 for personal options
3. Press 2 for Greeting
4. Press 1 to change the greeting
5. Press 3 to enable/disbable the instructions
America is a democracy! A government by the people, and we have a right to express our opinions on political matters and have them taken into consideration. Cyber campaigns reach the masses very quickly. They allow us to affect politics in America by taking things to the next level. We can organize ourselves and our opinions; we can arrange popular protests to pressure politicians to make changes that match the general consensus. Or on a smaller scale, we can protest phone companies to stop cheating us out of our money.What are they going to do? Ignore the popular demand? Lose customers? I think grassroots campaigns like this one are very positive forces. I know there are many issues that annoy me personally that I’d like to do something about, and this is a great way to accomplish change. Now if America wants the "take back the beep" campaign to accomplish anything, they need to protest on a larger scale. They need to make the issue more popular, gain momentum, so that cell phone companies have no other option than to give in.
I have to agree with Jess in a sence that its an annoyance to everyone, not just cell phone users. And you know that the phone companies know exactly what they are doing. If you want to leave a message, there is NO way around it, making it a nessessity for leaving a message. Its a waste of time, a waste of money, and a waste of battery (cell phone). Also, most cell companies get paid for the time you use checking you voicemail. You have to call and put in a password and blah blah blah. I no longer have to worry about that however because Apple has done away with that unnessecary charge. Instead of calling your voicemail, its set up the same as a text message: you see you have one, you click/touch it and it begins playing, no unneeded airtime. My take on the situation is that it does need to end. Simple as that. It is a waste and with the lack of money for most American families, stupid expences as these don't make times any easier.
It just shows that large corporations won't stop at anything to squeeze a few more dollars out of the American people. I think that this is a great idea for a campaign. It would save time, money, and it would be much easier to leave a message. But why stop here? There are plenty of important issues that Americans need to become more involved in. The time it takes to leave a voicemail isn't really that big of an issue compared to other ones (such as healthcare reform). This country is meant to be of the people, by the people and for the people, not for the corporations. At the moment, our government is controlled by the big corporations like the automobile industry, the oil industry and the healthcare industry because they have most of our elected representatives in their pocket. The only way we are going to get out of this situation is for the American people to step up and take action.
I think that this campaign is a good influence because even if it wasn't working it makes people feel like they can make a difference in large scale businesses. Cyber campaigns normally are put forth to try and change something that everybody doesn’t like, and even if they don't work, at least the problem is brought to attention. I think that cyber campaigns are a good thing. This cyber campaign can change the phone companies’ interests from monetary gain to losing customers to their competition, because they don’t want to change for the peoples interests. I agree with Zane about this country being about companies and it does need to stop. If you have been following the "Take back the beep campaign" it now says that AT&T and T-Mobile are going to try and change the voicemail to help people out. Verizon, which sucks in my opinion, says just to turn off your voicemail, and Sprint just said what Kelsey said to turn off the instructions yourself. It also says the way to bypass the fifteen second voicemail instructions is "* on Verizon, 1 on Sprint, # on T-Mobile and AT&T". So, I would start finding out your friends’ phone services until it changes.
I believe online grassroots campaigns like this one are positive forces in American politics for many reasons. First of all, it shows the American way of thinking something is unfair so you set out to change it, then get to enjoy the benefits. Another positive impact of this campaign is that the campaign shows companies that the American people will not tolerate injustice and so companies know where to draw a line and not waste our time and money. I believe this issue will have no change if it only stays as a verbal campaign. Unless people are proactive on this issue and cause a huge uproar, the phone companies will not change. If the people do make a big deal out of this, I don't believe the companies will simply change it. I think they will put some sort of catch to the deal so they still make some money off of peoples voicemail.
I was researching on the take back the beep campaign and my mom told me she saw something about 911 fees on tv next door. Last year in states were trying to pass a bill that would charge people 50$ for every 911 phone call they made or pay a monthly fee. this year they offered refunds and they only paid back a small percentage of the money back and now some places seem like they are going to do it again. here are some links if you decide to check it out.
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jan/28/editorial-ventura-city-council-should-not-charge-p/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,498007,00.html
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jun/29/time-running-out-to-apply-for-911-fee-refunds/
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/search?q=$50%20fee%20for%20911%20calls&start=10
Others are out there and some even talkabout how money wasnt even used for 911 dispatch or on firefighters. the states take a monthly thing out of phone bills to "fund 911":
"Alabama — 70 cents.
Alaska — 50 cents to $2.
Arizona — 20 cents.
Arkansas — 65 cents (raised in April).
California — 0.5 percent of intrastate calls.
Colorado — 40 cents to $1.25.
Connecticut — 46 cents.
Delaware — 60 cents.
District of Columbia — 76 cents.
Florida — 50 cents.
Georgia — $1 to $1.50.
Hawaii — 66 cents.
Idaho — Up to $1.
Illinois — 72 cents, but $2.50 in Chicago.
Indiana — 50 cents.
Iowa — 65 cents.
Kansas — 50 cents.
Kentucky — 70 cents.
Louisiana — 85 cents.
Maine— 37 cents (raised July 1).
Maryland — Up to $1.
Massachusetts — 75 cents.
Michigan — 19 cents to $2.71.
Minnesota — 75 cents (raised July 1).
Mississippi — $1.
Missouri — None.
Montana — $1
Nebraska — 50 cents to 70 cents.
Nevada — 25 cents.
New Hampshire — 64 cents.
New Jersey — 90 cents.
New Mexico — 51 cents
New York - $1.20, but $1.50 in New York City.
North Carolina — 70 cents.
North Dakota — $1.
Ohio — 32 cents.
Oklahoma — 50 cents.
Oregon — 75 cents.
Pennsylvania — $1.
Rhode Island — $1.26.
South Carolina — 61 cents.
South Dakota — 75 cents.
Tennessee — $1.
Texas — 50 cents.
Utah — 65 cents local fee plus 13 cents state fee.
Vermont — None.
Virginia — 75 cents.
Washington — 50 cents local fee, 20 cents state fee.
West Virginia — 98 cents to $4.65.
Wisconsin — 75 cents.
Wyoming — 75 cents." but with all of the money they're making off of the people and how little returned I think they didnt use much of it for 911 purposes
http://blog.taragana.com/n/fees-collected-from-phone-bills-for-911-service-by-state-118889/
Cyber campaigning goes a long way, longer then people may think. Internet is everywhere, on cell phones, in homes, businesses, even at McDonalds. If you can get the word out all across the internet, it may not do much right away and I'm pretty sure people aren't going to jump right away with a solution, but they will know about it. Thats where the game begins. The next time they see a commercial for a cell phone they will think of the campaign. If a cell phone company was smart, they would start a "Just a Beep" option and that right there will draw so many peoples attention. Its the things that get in peoples heads that can change the world. The internet is good for that. That is why cyber campaigning is a positive force in politics. Major cell phone carriers will respond to this campaign because they know that they will draw in new customers that read about it and feel that it is a waste of 15 seconds.
I think that they should not charge you for the time you spend waiting just to leave a message. It is not like we have never used a cell phone before, we know how to leave a voice mail. we are not two years old. They should not be charging us for the fifteen that we waste. It is being selfish just to do that so you can get money from customers. The right way to do it is to advertise your campaign and do it the right way.
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