COS News Bites: Protesters, "Can you hear me now?"

Egypt

Turning up in strong numbers for the sixth straight day, protesters continued to shout loudly their message worldwide (they had to shout because their cell phones were not working properly). They issued two central demands: 1) that AT&T provide better customer service and 2) that the contracts be changed such that they can transfer to another carrier if AT&T cannot seem to be able to provide a signal greater than 1 bar at their homes or places of business.

AT&T President Randall Stephenson-- who fired his entire Vice Presidential staff on Saturday, trying to cling to AT&T’s nearly 80-year rule -- visited a cell phone tower (that was strategically positioned above his house by employees) and declared, “It is working for me- I do not see a problem”. Stephenson was following up on the drop call situation and showing support for his company, the report said.

Whether the 280,000 employees deployed to the streets, to convince people that their cell phones indeed do not work properly but that unfortunately they are bound by a contract, will remain employed at AT&T for much longer is a key question for their future.

Opposition leader Paul Marcarelli (that guy that shows up in random places with his phone and say’s “Can you hear me now”) called AT&T on Sunday. Unable to reach them he left a message,  "leave today and save the world."

Sources: Protesters in Egypt , The iPhone Effect, AT&T's Signal is Still Spotty, Android Market Share

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