Be wary of your mobile spend

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Authority (AMTA) has issued a warning to consumers about premium mobile phone & SMS services.

Most premium services offer entertainment, news, games, competitions as well as other content such as ringtones, wallpapers and information services. They usually cost more than standard SMS messages and are often featured in magazine advertisements, on television and on the internet.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, warns it is crucial that consumers are fully aware of what they are signing up to; and that people should ensure that they check the fine print of any offer before signing up.

Some questions Chris advises you should always ask:

• How do you opt out or cancel the subscription?
• Is it a one-off cost or are you signing up to the ongoing cost of a subscription service?
• If it is a subscription service, is there a minimum term?
• How does the pricing work?
• Are you paying to receive calls and messages as well as send them?
• What is the total cost of the service?

More info:
AMTA: Consumer alert
AMTA: Premium content sending mixed messages

Other charges and billing problems

Of course, it’s not just these types of unexpected charges that are making the news these days.

We also have children accidentally running up exorbitant bills; call charges for above the cap limits - and the iPhone dramas of 300 page bills, $4,954 bills; unexpected data charges for what you thought was “free” or capped net surfing - let alone the roaming charges fiasco. You only need to see how many videos are on YouTube about it.

The AMTA and ACMA websites have heaps of information to help you control your spending, how to avoid “surprises” and other helpful tips.

Of course, keeping an eye on your own bills online is always a very handy tip for your mobile phone spend.

Aside of course from avoiding late night tv ads

No, we’re not referring to Shane Warne..

Jerald Block, writing an editorial for the American Journal of Psychiatry, said “internet addiction” was a common disorder that deserved inclusion in a health professionals manual of mental disorders.

Excerpts from editorial:
It is a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder. Excessive text messages and emails, excessive gaming and sexual preoccupations and were all evidence of having the disorder. All symptoms sharing the following components:

1. excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time
2. withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible
3. tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use, and
4. negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, and social isolation

Let me just say before you read on, I am in no way making fun of any mental illness or sickness. Any public reference, such as his, is a positive step to helping people understand - and in turn getting help for those who need it. I think Dr Block makes a good point about having it recognised.

However, I thought it was possible to turn that list around and compile another list:

Top 5 Reasons I’ve suffered “Internet addiction Disorder” with excessive emailing and sms

1. Excessive text messages from services flogging their promotional offers even after you’ve “opted out”.
2. Receiving excessive text messages saying “How are you?”, or “What are you doing”, making it impolite (?) to not spend our money or credit to answer ongoing open-ended questions and conversations.
3. The anger and tension experienced when a computer is inaccessible, like say, when you move and your service provider promises you’ll be back up and running within two days - which then stretches out to twenty phone calls and three weeks without access to your online business.
4. Then the lack of understanding of your associated withdrawal symptoms suffered when they’ve lost their sense of time.
5. The unfathomable promise that they’ll email you when your internet is back up… (Now let’s think about that for a moment - kinda hard to get that email). Perhaps that could be summed up by negative repercussions above?

Ok - putting the soap box back away now

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“Initiate mile-high club invites via SMS?”

By year end, Qantas will be rolling out technology to allow customers to send and receive SMS and emails during selected domestic services.

They conducted trials with 11,000 customers to evaluate the technology, for use on their mobile phones and/or personal electronic devices. A GSM handset and global roaming account* will be needed to send or receive an SMS, while those wanting to send and receive emails will need a GPRS enabled device, like a Blackberry or an appropriately equipped laptop.

The evaluation of this new technology was a great success. An overwhelming majority of passengers involved in the evaluation indicated they wanted access to inflight connectivity on an ongoing basis, John Borghetti, Qantas Executive General Manager, said.

“Of course we want it - but at what price?”

Based on the quote to AMTA by Qantas GM Products and Services

we are committed to providing these products and services to the business market

The mention of “business market” might mean it will remain otherwise unaffordable. But it might just depend on our individual plans.

Guess it will be a game of ‘wait and see’ when the systems are in place, as to charges by our service providers based on global roaming rates*.

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Related:

• Qantas news release
• AMTA update
• iTWire article

Updated:
08/04/08: In-flight mobile calls approved for Europe

Banking security?

The ANZ has launched mobile banking and the NAB follows suit next month, but how safe would you feel being able to transfer money between accounts with just the use of your mobile phone?

I don’t know… Losing your phone might give more meaning to the “pay anyone” banking feature? And how about those late night accidental banking transactions?

I’m sure a little down the track, I’ll trust the banks, embrace change and love the convenience.

Until then, I think I’ll just continue with my fee-free internet banking, thanks.

Read more: The Age: Mobile banking steps up a gear

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We’ve previously warned about it, and this week the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Authority (AMTA) is also again warning about the risk of mobile phone scams and spams.

“What do you need to know?”

They have released a handy guide to help identify possible SMS scams from subscriber and other more sinister sources.

The main points to remember when you receive a text from an unknown source:

• Be sure to check the number before replying, particularly if all you can see is a name. If the number begins with ‘19’ it is a premium rate service and you are likely to be charged at a higher rate for a text or call
• You may be charged for future text messages that you receive as well as messages you send
• If you don’t think you subscribed to the service, it could be a scam.

The best way to deal with dodgy texts?

Read their guide and most of all, use your common sense.

Same as you would with emails, at the very least, simply ignore and delete them!

Related story: Check out the AMTA Online Guide for more info on how to identify and deal with such sms’.

Stay vigilant peeps

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