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US Cell Phone Users Discover SMS Spam

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the its-only-gonna-get-worse dept.

The Llama King writes "It's a bigger problem in Europe and Japan/Asia, but as SMS text messaging or "texting" becomes more popular in the United States, its users are discovering that spammers like it too, according to this Houston Chronicle story. Cell phone companies are trying to stem the spam flood before it starts, worried that users will turn off their phones, thus denying providers revenue."

4 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. only two things are certain in life.... by sweeney37 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Unlike Internet spam, wireless phone spam comes with an annoying beep on your phone and a direct price tag," said Janee Briesemeister, senior policy analyst with the Consumers Union in Austin. "Consumers aren't just getting an annoying message they didn't want, they are paying 10 cents for it."

    Perhaps because this will directly affect people's pocketbooks we'll see faster legislation. Not unlike taxes, when people start losing money, the louder they become.

    Mike

  2. simple solution by way2trivial · · Score: 5, Insightful

    charge the sender of all SMS's 5 cents
    give recipients a penny credit on their bill

    --
    every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
  3. SMS spam it isn't a problem in Finland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Since it has been outlawed many years ago. I haven't received a single spam during the time I had a cell phone (4.5 years).

  4. hunting down spammers is a waste of time... by shams42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...when you can just go after the companies that hire them.

    Now I know this might not work for international stuff like the Nigerian scam, but it should work for domestic spam. And though I don't yet recieve SMS spam, the vast majority of my e-mail spam seems to originate from domestic companies.

    I mean, in order to sell a product or a service, you have to provide your vict^h^h^h^h, customers with valid contact information so that they can purchase the product. Jon Q. Fucktard can't purchase herbal viagra or a "real university degree" without knowing where to send the check.

    Removing the financial incentive to hire spammers will be far more effective than trying to control it through technological means.