| Anyone who uses email is familiar with email spam. | | | | text message costs the subscriber about 10 cents on |
| Spam is unwanted (junk) mail. Recently, spammers | | | | average, this clearly poses a problem for cell phone |
| have made the leap from email to phones. Now, | | | | subscribers. However, if cell phone spamming |
| spammers are not only focusing their attention on | | | | continues in its current vein, it may eventually pose a |
| email users, they are also using text messaging as a | | | | problem for cell phone providers, as paying for spam |
| way to spam cell phone subscribers. | | | | will certainly discourage subscribers from using their |
| Text messaging spam may come in the form of | | | | text messaging services. |
| stock quote, short ad, etc. It cannot be a long | | | | Currently, U.S. wireless carries make billions of dollars |
| message because text messages impose a limit on | | | | in service fees from text messaging every year. If |
| the amount of characters one can use. Although | | | | subscribers stop using the service, this would result in |
| receiving a short junk message doesn't really pose a | | | | a major loss of revenue. The amount of text |
| threat to consumers, and may be an irritant that can | | | | message spam dramatically increases every year. |
| be overlooked, text message spam creates a unique | | | | Therefore, if wireless carries do not find a way to |
| problem that does not occur with email spam - cost. | | | | control spam, it won't only be the wallets of their |
| Although there are costs associated with gaining | | | | subscribers that suffer the consequences. |
| access to the internet and email accounts, users are | | | | The good news is that wireless carriers have already |
| not charged for the messages they receive. | | | | begun to take measures against spammers and |
| However, the case is different for text messages. | | | | minimize junk messages. They have begun to use |
| Once a subscriber uses up their phone minutes or | | | | filters as a means to screen out junk text messages. |
| allotted number of text messages, they are subject | | | | This is a process similar to the junk email filters that |
| to additional fees for every phone call or text | | | | most email providers have put in place to benefit |
| message after their limit. | | | | their users. |
| In the US both sending and receiving text messages | | | | In the meantime, if you are a customer of a wireless |
| costs the subscriber money. Therefore, wireless | | | | provider, and receive text spam, contact your |
| users are not only receiving text messaging spam, | | | | customer service center, and find out if they offer |
| they are paying out of pocket to do so. Since each | | | | refunds for the spam text messages you receive. |