Winner of Our Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go Contest
Congratulations to Chris Paytas, the winner of our Virgin Mobile Boradband2Go contest. Here’s Chris’ winning story:
As a youth pastor I’ve been to some pretty exotic (read: end of the earth) places. In the summer of 2006, while on a mission trip to a small village called La Cieba in Honduras, one of our students had a grand mal seizure. While we were fortunate that we were staying with a doctor, news still needed to get home to his parents about the incident. Not having phone service and with the nearest working phone an hour-plus drive away, we opted to use the sometimes-on-a-clear-day satellite Internet service. Having tried for several hours to send an email, only to have the Internet crash every time, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We climbed the building to get to the satellite dish and adjust its position. Not knowing the best spot for positioning we had to holler down to verify the signal strength every time. Realizing that trees were blocking the best positions, we grabbed a chainsaw and haphazardly cut away a clear path. We finally were able to get a decent enough signal when I climbed the remainder of the tree and held the dish over my head to send the email. The student was fine. I have a more lasting memory, however: a four-inch scar on my leg from where I cut myself climbing the building.
Thanks to everyone who entered — I enjoyed reading all of your stories about the crazy things you’ve done to get Internet access!
What crazy things have you done to get Internet access?
I hear that Virgin is starting a welfare phone plan that gives 120 minutes for $10 a month to low-income people. But do I qualify as a student? I have a really low income. It would really piss me off if Virgin is discriminating.
@Andrew: I would hope there would be a Welfare plan for ALL in this economy.
I think $10 a month works out to 4 minutes per day phone usage allowance for the entire month, enough to make a few frantic 911 calls or some ‘I’m alive!’ call to worried relatives. That’s very considerate of Virgin, and perhaps that’s what the talktime should be primarily used for. Unused minutes ? Are they banked ?
What about those who are working middle class and have to live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet? we need help, too. I’ve seen low-income people have cell phone contracts,cable, housing, gas, electric or other bills being paid by us taxpayers thanks to welfare system. They are living better than us working class folks. I don’t think they need another hand me out.
I’ve been with Virgin for over 2 years and I haven’t gotten any kind of special offer or reduced rate. That kind of irritates me considering I have been a loyal customer for so long EVEN though I have a VERY LIMITED income and am a student. I might not be unemployed, but i work part time and paying less on a cell phone i barely use would really help me out. WHATS THE DEAL VIRGIN!?!?!