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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Stopping SMS SPAM

Recently I received an e-mail asking for some clarification on "unsolicited text messages" -- As I was writing the reply I realized that it was probably a very common question so I thought I would publish both question and answer:

An E-mail from Al B.
Hi --

I have a T-Mobile prepaid plan phone and I get unsolicited text messages about twice per day. I don't use the text messaging functions at all.

I delete text messages without reading them, thereby avoiding having to pay for reading them.

My question is: if I stop deleting the unsolicited text messages and they start to "accumulate", where are they accumulating? Are they stored on my cell phone or are they stored elsewhere?

If stored elsewhere, what problems will I be causing myself if I stop deleting them and just let them accumulate (on a remote server?) indefinitely?

If stored on my phone, can I assume I have to delete them to avoid filling up my phone with junk text messages?

Thanks.

-- Al

And here is my reply:

Hi Al,

Thanks for your message.

In order to help you the most I'd like to ask a few questions.

1) Are you in the US - or somewhere in Europe?
If you are in Europe you don't pay to receive messages only for sending.
If you are in the US most plans charge you to receive the messages whether you open and read them or not.

2) Text messages are only stored in the network until they are successfully delivered to your phone. Once they are delivered - read or unread - they are no longer stored in the network. And yes - that means that you'll have to manually delete them.

3) The majority of text message SPAM in the US happens because people are sending e-mail to your SMS e-mail address. This is typically your number@t-mobile.com - like 3175551212@tmomail.net

A quick look on the web reveals this page:


Here you can install Message Blocking for T-Mobile and stop the majority of your unwanted messages... for Free...

There is a specific reference to stop e-mail to handset - and this is the one I think just about everyone should use:

To block e-mail messages to and from your @tmomail.net address, go to T-Mobile's e-mail filter options and select Block all messages from E-mail to handset.

The exception is if you use services like Flight Alerts from United or American Airlines - as this block may also block those alerts.

I hope you find this helpful.

If you have questions about how to stop unsolicited SMS messages on your device - feel free to send an e-mail to me at troy.norcross@newmediaedge.co.uk -- Maybe you're question will get published here too!

Best,

Troy

posted by Troy Norcross at 8:21 AM

1 Comments:

Blogger Keri said...

I'm glad you have not added marketing to the SMS above. SMS marketing is completely different from SPAMing people and whoever continues to send these messages has clearly missed the boat on this form of marketing. http://WHAMmobile.com.

2:43 PM

 

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A few words about why we're here

Since consumers first started to use SMS marketers have had the idea of text message marekting or marketing sms - also known as mobile marketing. And since that time marketing sms messages have grown and changed and new technology like bluetooth marketing, marketing bluetooth style to phones in close proximity to an advertisers.

And since the e-mail spam scourge took over the media, people have worried that there will be mobile phone spam. Spam is just another way of saying that advertisers send unsolicited text message marketing, marketing sms, bluetooth marketing or any other form of mobile marketing - it's mobile phone spam. There are even guides on how to spam phone s.

Consumer Preference is about permission based marketing, permission marketing solution. If, as an advertiser you can execute permission based marketing campaigns then you can certainly find ways to benefit from mobile marketing. And permission starts with understanding the consumer marketing preference. If you can understand consumer marketing preference, then you can execute permission based marketing. And permission marketing is not mobile phone spam.

There are many mobile marketing company listings that can be found on the Internet - and most mobile marketing company websites will tell you how they focus on permission marketing. Make sure that the one you partner with does more than tell you about it on the website. Opt-in marketing starts with your traditional marketing soliciting for permission.

Yes - Mobile marketing starts with traditional marketing - print, web, radio, television - all of the old standards. Because before you can send the first message to a consumer, you must obtain their permission... and that means that you understand consumer marketing prefernce.

Please enjoy reading consumer-preference.com - and if you feel that there is a point I'm making you'd like to share - then put a link to it from your own site. And always feel free to leave comments!

Troy Norcross

 

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