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:

http://support.t-mobile.com/tm23533.htm

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

Q&A: Troy Norcross on Bluetooth Marketing at E-Consultancy

The guys over at E-Consultancy recently interviewed me about Proximity Marketing with Bluetooth as part of my marketing program to promote my new paper - Proximity Marketing with Bluetooth. Buy your own copy here!

Using Fax SPAM to get people to Bluespam

As if Bluespam wasn't a big enough problem already - One company has decided to use Fax SPAM as a way to try to market their product!

Yesterday a friend of mine forwarded me this Fax SPAM that he received asking him to spend £2,395 to be setup as his own Bluetooth Marketing - and they even talk about running Bluetooth marketing where you have "high footfall or passing traffic".

This is in direct conflict with the best practice guidelines from the DMA and - I hope - will be in conflict with the guidelines coming from the MMA.

If you run Bluetooth marketing in open-areas then you can't adequately communicate to people that a) Bluetooth marketing is in operation b) what's the content that they might receive c) what do they need to do?

What you will do is interrupt people and have them start complainging about more Bluespam!

If you got one of these faxes - I'd love to hear about it -- and what you think!

I have taken the liberty to Blue-out the details of the offending company and I'm not going to name them here. Why give them any more publicity!


Come on folks. Bluetooth can be really effective - both cost effective AND respectful of the consumer. Let's work together to make Bluetooth marketing a great experience for everyone!

Best regards,

Troy

IngBoo - Go Fetch!

I was recently introduced to IngBoo from an old colleague of my Rikard Kjellberg(we are both recovering Openwavers!)

IngBoo looks like a really interesting - and useful - service and I'm having a lot of fun trying it out. Rather than me trying to describe it - this is what IngBoo has to say:

IngBoo (http://www.ingboo.com) connects people with important information
for ongoing updates.

The “ongoing” is a system which automates Internet tasks that people do
on a repeat basis.
You can ask IngBoo to find you a new job, discover a
great deal, look for a vacation package, track a shipment with UPS and many
other things.

IngBoo simplifies life and saves you time via a new and novel user
experience – The IngBoo list.

You can enjoy the IngBoo List on the IngBoo portal, as an email digest,
over web and mobile. It can be integrated into other destinations as well, such
as Facebook and myYahoo.
IngBoo reduces information clutter and helps me
focus on relevant information updates.

Look for the IngBoo tag on the right-hand column here on the blog - and give it a try!

All the best,


Troy

118800 Does PR Launch to Avoid Notice

In an attempt to minimize the impact of launching their mobile phone directory service, 118800 has launched during a 2 day tube strike... meaning the headlines will be filled with irate Londoners who can't get to and from work -- and hopefully they launch of 118800 will get buried in the back of the news.

In case you didn't know about them, 118800 has built a business around making money by selling access to you via your mobile phone - without your express permission.

Reading from their FAQ, 118800 claims that they get their numbers:

Our mobile phone directory is made up from various sources. Generally it comes from companies who collect mobile telephone numbers from customers in the course of doing business and have been given permission by the customers to share those numbers.

So - If you gave permission for your bank to call you - and your bank sold your details on to 118800 - then anyone who uses 118800 can now call and reach you on your mobile phone. WHAT's UP WITH THAT?

How do you become ex-directory

Again - from their FAQ:

Can I be ex-directory with 118 800?
You can become ex-directory by texting the letter ‘E’ to 118800 from the mobile phone you want to be made ex-directory or you can call us on 0800 138 6263. Standard network charges apply. The first time 118 800 contacts you you will be sent an SMS reminding you about how to become ex-directory. Please allow up to 4 weeks for your ex-directory request to take effect.

My suggestion and request of you? -- Blog/Tweet/Talk to everyone in the UK and have them become ex-directory - but there is one more thing we can do.

Under the Data Protection law you can write to 118800 and demand that they divulge all of the information they hold on you - and the source of the information.

Write to them and ask, "Who sold my details to you?" -- And then go back to the business who sold-you-out and update your preferences with them to ensure it doesn't happen again...

Oh yes and once you find out who sold-you-out, you might consider taking your custom somewhere else! Do you really want to do business with someone who sells your personal contact details - especially your mobile phone number - to an unknown 3rd party? I think not!

---

A long standing topic for me

I haven't written a blog entry in a while - but this is one of those hot topics for me. As business people we have to treat our customer relationships with great care. And selling customer data to unknown and untrusted 3rd parties just doesn't cut it.

I beleive that we should require that all data brokers be completely transparent. Every time we receive a call, an e-mail and even a letter in the post - we should know exactly how our details were provided to the marketer. Did they get access via the Electoral Roll? Did they buy a list from Experian - or did they have a list and "enhance" the list with data from Experian? Did they buy the list of addresses from our favourite magazine? - or maybe it was our grocery store loyalty card program. We have the right to know - but today the marketer doesn't have the requirement to share the data with us.

Last year I wrote to the ICO and suggested that we implement a policy of "trust through transparency" asking that every marketing communication include a "Source" line in the address. i.e.;

Troy Norcross
555 Ashdown Court
London X1L 44G
Source: Rodale Magazines Partner

And this is the response I got back:

6 May 2009

Reference: INF0207463

Dear Mr Norcross
Thank you for your e-mail sent on 11 July 2008. Initially, please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in this response which is due to the large volume of correspondence currently being received by this office.
I have considered your e-mail. Your idea of an advertiser disclosing the source of their data when they have acquired the contact data from another source is an interesting idea and would make the marketing methods more transparent to the customer.

Greater transparency is something that we encourage and there are clearly benefits to the consumer but your idea places an obligation on marketing companies who are not in breach of the law and goes beyond the EC directive and legislation. Therefore this is not something we would be likely to pursue.

I appreciate your taking the time to consider these issues and I am sorry that we are not able to take your idea further.


Yours sincerely



LB (I removed her name - it's not her fault!)
Casework and Advice Officer

So - it looks like the ICO doesn't see this breaking any laws so they say they can't do anything. Do YOU have any ideas on how to bring this idea into reality?

Yes - I'm already talking to the DMA!

OK folks - a longer post than I expected for my first time back -- maybe it's the start of regular postings again...

All the best!

Troy

9:45 AM Tuesday - 10-June
Quick Update

Attempts to optout via Text did not result in a nice confirmation message that I had been made Ex-Directory -- so don't even know if that works.

I called the 0800 number 3 times - and my call was "put in a queue" for 10 minutes at which point I was unceremoniously disconnected. (They have to pay for those 0800 calls!)

All in all - a typically poor experience for a very shady dodgy service!

UPDATE: My friend Nikolas Tardent has pointed out that there is an Ex-Directory link on the website - Visit it here and follow the instructions.

So far I have not been successful in getting my 5-digit code to have my number removed - still waiting... So I'm not sure that this service even works yet.

In the meantime - please share this link far and wide... Let's put these guys out of business BEFORE they start! -- If someone wants to run a mobile directory service is must be Opt-In!

Bluetooth - from the consumer side

So - I'm trying something completely different! If you've arrived here from the ad I've placed on Facebook - THANKS! If you're a regular reader - THANKS! And if you came here only because you accidentally fell asleep on your keyboard - THANKS!

There are no prizes - but it would be great to know how you use Bluetooth on your mobile phone... Can you answer the two questions below to find out? - Results will be posted here later!

Online Surveys & Market Research

Online Surveys & Market Research

Bluetooth Marketing Survey

Hi folks - I haven't done much writing here on Consumer-Preference in the last year (largely because I've taken a new job!) but that doesn't mean I don't still have a passion for Bluetooth Marketing Done Right!

If you are involved in Bluetooth marketing at all - I'd like to invite you to take a short survey (only 16 questions including the basics about yourself!)

You can reach the survey here:

http://www.newmediaedge.co.uk/phpsurveyor/index.php?sid=1

By following the link above you will register for the survey and then you will be sent your own personal link to the survey. All information is kept private and compliant with UK and EU Data Protection legislation.

I'm also looking for some help in asking a more generalised consumer audience how they use Bluetooth. Turned on - Turned on and invisible - or "I have no idea what is Bluetooth!" -- If you have a good facebook community or other way to survey at least 500 Londoners - please let me know!

All the best!


Troy