February 9, 2010
Electronic Privacy and the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will soon weigh in for the first time on the permissible scope of employer monitoring of employees' electronic communications. Such monitoring activity raises many issues that remain the subject of uncertainty in this developing area of the law. Law.com reports.
The case under consideration by the Court, Ontario v. Quon, arises in the context of government employees, who are protected from unreasonable searches by the Fourth Amendment. Private-sector employees have no such constitutional protection. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court's forthcoming ruling will likely have implications for private employers who face employee claims alleging an invasion of their common-law privacy rights.
Read full article.
Teens Text 10 Times per Hour: Nielsen
American teenagers send an average of 10 text messages per hour they are not in school or sleeping, according to research by The Nielsen Company, reports Marketing Vox.
What do your mobile phone habits say about you?
Spotted on MIT Technology Review, a study of reciprocity between mobile phone users reveals surprising insights about the flow of information in society.
Text messages in Nigeria urge people to murder
Text messages that urged people to murder and then burn their victims' bodies helped stoke inter-religious violence in central Nigeria that killed hundreds of people last week, police and rights activists said on Tuesday. iAfrica reports.
"The messages helped escalate the violence in Jos in that some of them instructed people on how to kill, dispose of and burn bodies," said leading rights activist Shehu Sani.
Read full article.
Are the Health Hazards of Cell Phones Being Covered Up?
Spotted on Switched, a thought provoking and well documented article by GQ's Christopher Ketcham on the potential dangers of cell-phone radiation.
More in Switched and full GQ article.
February 8, 2010
Canadians get Vancouver Olympics Text Alerts
Text messaging and mobile marketing companyTxT2Look has created a text message alert service and mobile website for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics beginning on February 12.
By sending the text message OLYMPICS to 77788, anyone in Canada can get instant real time alerts sent to their mobile phone. They can then choose to receive alerts for any of three categories including Canadian medals, gold medals for all countries or game by game results for Team Canada men's hockey.
People can also access the alerts by logging onto the mobile website with their phones at www.TxT2Look.com/Olympics. And a third feature of the service, people can text CANADA, GOLD or HOCKEY to 77788 at anytime to receive instant results.
[via Press release]
Clickatell to Extend Free SMS Services for Relief Efforts in Haiti
Global text messaging company Clickatell has reportedly announced that with its goal to provide relief to earthquake victims in Haiti, it is going to extend its free SMS service to organizations offering aid there.
According to Pieter de Villiers, CEO at Clickatell, people in Haiti are showing tremendous courage and determination and the company is seeing SMS play a significant role in scaling the efforts of the people on the ground and around the world.
Villiers noted that Clickatell invites relief agencies to make use of its SMS Gateway into Haiti and offer such services for the remainder of February as a small contribution on behalf of Clickatell and its staff.
[via TMCNet]
No lights? Send SMS complaint
Power supply company BSES Yamuna has launched a new service for East New Delhi residents: Consumers can just send an SMS for complaints regarding a supply outage or voltage fluctuations. And they will get feedback as soon as possible. The Times of India reports.
Read full article. Image from the BBC.
Google readying speech translator phone
According to TechRadar, Google is preparing new smartphone translator software that it say will be able to hear speech and translate it instantly.
It would obviously be basic at first, analysing small segments of speech before translation, but Google believes it would soon be refined with many users, according to Franz Och, Google's head of translation services.
Read full article.
Iran’s Internet and Text Message Fails Ahead of Protests
Internet connections are crawling in Iran and text message traffic has been disrupted ahead of planned anti-government protests in that country this week. The timing is raising eyebrows.
[via Mashable]
February 7, 2010
Zimbabwe’s new constitution
As a community service, The Zimbabwean - an international newspaper for Zimbabweans at home and abroad - is offering space in every issue to enable the people to have their say about the new Constitution document that will become the foundation of the new Zimbabwe.
Please SMS your views to +263 913 245 709 – and The Zimbabwean will publish as many as possible in the coming weeks.
China. 'Sexting' among acquaintances not targeted
According to China Daily, an official from the Supreme People's Court clarified Friday that the crackdown on pornography on mobile phones targets those who "sext" to the public, not amorous couples who text each other.
Related: - Chinese government launches crackdown against online and cell phone porn industry
February 6, 2010
Motorola is back in the (ad) game for Super Bowl
The Chicago Tribune reports that after a four year absence from advertising on the Super Bowl, Motorola - from second largest phone manufacturer in the world, in 2006, to fifth in 2009 - is back in the game.
The Super Bowl ad is an important part of the turnaround strategy.
You can view teaser ad here.
Read full article.
Tech review finds impermissible texts
Texas Tech issued a release late Friday regarding a self-reported violation of NCAA rules in July involving impermissible text messages to recruits of three sports, including football. Sports ESPN reports.
NCAA rules bar the sending of text messages to prospective athletes until after a student has signed a national letter of intent with the university. Aside from football, the violations also occurred in softball and men's golf. Many of the self-imposed penalties have been fulfilled, the school said.
Read full article.
Related:
-- NCAA approves ban on text messaging
Expanding the Law: text messages need to be included as sexually explicit material
State Rep. Peter Koutoujian said the House will work quickly to close a legal loophole that led the state’s high court Friday to overturn the conviction of man accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a minor. The Daily News Tribune reports.
Authorities said Zubiel thought he was going to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex after sending her sexually explicit instant messages.
The girl was really a Plymouth County Deputy Sheriff.
Zubiel's attorney argued instant messages were not illegal because state law bans only printed material, handwritten or "visual representations”, but not typewritten words.
The Supreme Judicial Court agreed, and in a unanimous decision Friday said only the Legislature could expand the law to include instant messaging.
Solar-powered handsets a boon for Haiti
The Telegraph reports that though cell phone networks were up and working within days in earth shaken Haiti, the crucial issue for many was not being unable to communicate, it was being able to keep their phones charged.
Dutch mobile phone firm Intivation, however, has long realised that its solar powered handsets were a solution to the problems of Haiti’s unreliable infrastructure. Mobile phones that use this technology have been deployed worldwide since 2009, predominantly in regions that do not have reliable electricity girds. Over half a million of these devices have been sold worldwide in the last six months.
And Intivation donated 1,000 of its solar-powered handset to the earthquake-stricken Caribbean country.
Read full article.
Siri Assistant, a personal assistant app
Siri Assistant is a new iPhone app that helps people get things done by combining intelligent voice recognition with hooks into tons of different web services, making it easy for people to use their mobile devices to get things done.
Apple Bans Location-based iPhone Ads
Apple has told developers it will not accept iPhone applications that use the smartphone's global positioning system to distribute location-based advertising. Information Week reports.
February 5, 2010
Facebook dominates UK mobile use
According to GSM Association Facebook accounts for nearly half of all the time people in the UK spend going online using their phones.
[via the BBC]
Wells Fargo Extends Text Banking to All Customers
Wells Fargo & Company announced today that text banking -- a safe and easy way to stay on top of account information -- is now accessible to all customers including those who have yet to enroll in Wells Fargo Online Banking.
Through its research, Wells Fargo learned that customers appreciate being able to check their current available account balances while they are "on the go." A text banking request to Wells Fargo can quickly provide customers with their current available account balances*, transaction history, credit card payment information, and the address of the nearest Wells Fargo ATM.
[via MarketWatch]
iMussolini app removed from app store
According to French daily Le Monde, the much written about and controversial iMussolini app containing dictator Benito Mussolini's biography, speeches and video footage, has been removed from the app store.
Not because of pressure from Jewish groups, nor from remorse on the part of it's developper Luigi Marino, but because Marino received legal threats by film institute Cinecitta Luce for copyright violations.
February 4, 2010
Nokia navigation software downloads reach one million
Nokia's Ovi Maps have been downloaded 1.4m times overall since the free application became available on January 21 2010, the company claims. The BBC reports.
The service provides different direction information for drivers and pedestrians in 74 countries and 46 different languages."We're averaging a download a second, 24 hours a day," said Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's executive vice president.
Read full article.
Medical Question? Text a Group of Doctors
A start-up called Truth On Call lets reporters, financial analysts, pharmaceutical executives and, soon, patients, text questions to a group of doctors.
Using SMS Technology, Truth On Call offers industry members the opportunity to ask thousands of physicians questions by text message and receive an answer within minutes. Physicians can be selected by specialty and other characteristics.
For every question answered, physicians receive $10 payable to themselves or to a charity of their choosing.
[via Bits Blog]
Nationwide Healthy Baby Campaign Uses Texts to Reach Mothers
A new text messaging campaign in the US aims to curb infant mortality by texting health tips to pregnant moms.
Wireless carriers including AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have agreed to waive all fees for receiving the texts.
Organizers say texting is an effective means of delivering wellness tips because 90 percent of people in the U.S. have cell phones.
Under the new service, mothers-to-be who text "BABY" to 511411 will receive weekly text messages, timed to their due date or their baby's birth date. The messages, which have been vetted by government and nonprofit health experts, deal with nutrition, immunization and birth defect prevention, among other topics. The messages will continue through the baby's first birthday.
[via ABC News and Press release.
February 3, 2010
Cell PHones to replace wallets and tickets
A new report by Juniper Research - titled Mobile Ticketing Applications & Markets - predicts cell phones will replace traditional paper tickets for everything from cinemas to air travel. The study also said airlines and bus and train operators are developing a range of new mobile tickets that will work via text messages, bar codes or downloadable applications.
Read full article in The Telegraph and Juniper Research Report.
Latest Japanese phones not looking good
Japanese phones used to be years ahead of anything we had here in Europe and decades ahead of those in the US, but not any more. The latest US and European smartphones are super-slick devices with gorgeous user interfaces, while the latest Japanese phones are almost the exact opposite.
[via Mobile Mentalism]
Toshiba cell phone promises to act like a secretary
Toshiba is developing new tech that will supposedly make your cell phone function like a secretary. It notices behavioral patterns in users and does things like display train schedules, recommend nearby restaurants, and learn the lifestyle of its owner with frequent usage.
[via Tokyomango]
Related:
Brokers must think twice before tweeting, Facebooking
Interesting, from arstechnica:
Read full article.
Submit a question for President Obama by Text Message
Organizing for America (OFA), a project of the Democratic National Committee that carries on the work of the Obama presidential campaign, launched a text last night in connection with an upcoming event called 'A Conversation with the President.'
In line with the continuing push for transparency -- embodied Monday by the YouTube interview with the President featuring questions submitted by the public and voted up in Google Moderate -- this event, scheduled to happen Thursday at 5:45, features questions from the public.
The twist this time is that people can submit questions by text. Active subscribers to the Barack Obama SMS program -- which is at 62262 -- received this message explaining how to send the President a question:
Join us for a Conversation with the President on Thurs at 5:45pm EST live at BarackObama.com. To submit a question, reply ASK with your NAME, STATE & question.
OFA staff will continue to gather questions through some time Thursday before the event gets underway.
Case Study on the Hever Castle Triathlon SMS campaign
The organisers of the Hever Castle Triathlon successfully used text messaging as part of their communications strategy to keep competitors informed about race details and results. In addition, the mobile channel filled the gap between online and traditional promotions by providing a direct means of marketing to participants.
For the Hever Castle Triathlon, Telemark created marketing exposure for the event via industrybased online media, in triathlon focused print media, through guerrilla marketing, leafleting and signage in the surrounding areas, as well as building awareness through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Alongside these traditional and digital promotional strategies, Telemark partnered with BulkSMS.com to deliver text messages for the Hever Castle Triathlon. BulkSMS.com’s Web to SMS messaging platform allowed for application-to-person messaging and was used to engage directly with competitors. Texts were delivered to competitors’ mobile phones and provided time critical event logistics information and post-event communications.
The mobile channel played a key role in extending the event organiser’s ability to interact with race participants and went far in the professional running of the triathlon by Telemark.
According to Tristan King commercial manager of Telemark, “We found that between online advertising and the website, the BulkSMS.com messaging solution filled in the gaps in our marketing and communications strategy.”
This post is a paid editorial ad from BulkSMS, a leading wireless application service provider offering two-way SMS messaging services.
February 2, 2010
Text Messaging Vital in the Fight for Immigration Reform
The ease, speed, and relatively low cost of texting has made it an ideal tool for grassroots organization. It has proven particularly useful in the movement for immigration reform, as many activists and beneficiaries living illegally in the U.S. have limited access to tools such as the Internet. Switched reports via The Huffington Post.
Read full article.
'Mobile phones revolutionise e-commerce in Africa'
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Tuesday released the results of a comprehensive study into the economic value of mobile phone use in Africa, particularly in the banking sector. Afrique en Ligne reports.
Read full article.
AT&T waives wireless charges for Haiti workers
AT&T Inc. said Tuesday it will be waiving wireless charges for relief workers who are receiving voice and text messages on their wireless devices while helping Haiti citizens.
The relief on charges will be retroactive to Jan. 12, which is the day the earthquake hit, the company said in a statement.
[via Dallas Business Journal]
Google adds multi-SMS support to Google Voice
Google added the ability to send text messages to more than one person (to up to 5 different recipients separated by commas) using its Google Voice software.
[via Mobile Burn]
Bristol Zoo wants old phones to help protect gorillas
Bristol Zoo Gardens in the UK are appealing for people to recycle their old phones to help "safeguard the future of gorillas in the wild". The BBC reports.
The zoo will receive £1.75 ($2.80) for each mobile donated, which will go towards its conservation projects.
Previously:
-- Coltan and Your Mobile: A M0pocket Repentance And Mobile Community Call To Action
Related links on "blood tantalum":
-- Recycled phones and "blood Tantalum"
Cell phone companies and Activists' pledges and campaigns:
-- Winning "Come Clean 4 Congo" Video
-- Stop Texting, to Save Lives in Africa
-- Mobile industry aims for greener phones
-- Your Old Cell Phone Could Help Save a Gorilla
-- Making cell phones hurts Gorillas
-- Mobile phones kill great apes
Image from UNEP
16-Year-Old Develops Underground Texting System
A remarkable teenager in New Mexico has invented a device that may significantly speed that process with the ability to text from underground caves. The young man's invention may have other applications, as well. NPR reports via Switched.
The device is something like a computer attached to a ham radio. It transmits data using low-frequency radio waves that can penetrate rock more easily than high-frequency transmissions, like those in FM broadcasts.
If this test succeeded, it would be the deepest known underground digital communication ever to take place in the United States.
Australia. Ban on mobile phone jammers may be lifted for prisons
Mobile phone jammers will be allowed to operate in prisons if the communications regulator approves an exemption to a decade-old ban on the call-blocking devices, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
Submissions to the review are open until the end of April.
Flight 3407 co-pilot sent 2 texts prior to takeoff
According to The Buffalo News, the co-pilot of the plane that crashed in Clarence Center last February used her cell phone in the cockpit to send two text messages prior to takeoff, possibly in violation of federal "sterile cockpit" rules that bar pilots from focusing on anything but the flight to which they are assigned.
Read full article.
February 1, 2010
Follow Super Bowl Commercials on Twitter
If you're like me, a Super Bowl commercial fan, this year you can follow the news on a twitter stream twitter.com/superbowlads10.
An app made for thoughts and prayers - from you to Haiti
Note to Haiti is an iPhone app developed by MEDL Mobile after they recognized an overwhelming number of prayers for Haiti in their app Note to God.
Faced with immeasurable devastation and difficult trials ahead, MEDL Mobile offers this simple app as a means for people to give their wishes to the nation of Haiti.
It's also a place for you to be inspired to action. By clicking How You Can Help Link, you'll be able to make a $10 donation with 100% of all proceeds going to the Red Cross.
Nokia and Publishing group Pearson offer English to Chinese
Publishing group Pearson and phone maker Nokia have formed a joint venture to deliver English-language learning materials to mobile phone users in China, the two companies said on Monday, reports MoneyControl.
Mobile phones are crucial for access to information in China, which has at least 720 million mobile subscribers, double the amount of Internet users it has.
Brits send 11 million text messages per hour
According to the Mobile Data Association (MDA), in 2009, 96.8 billion text messages were sent - that's 11 million text messages per hour or 265 million per day.
Recent research by Tekelec found that 60% of people over the age of 45 are now just as likely to use text messaging as they are to make a voice call.
It also revealed that 44% of 35 to 44-year-olds and 14% of over-45s send more than 30 text messages every week.
Read full report in BizReport.
In Denmark, firing by SMS still rampant
According to the Copenhagen Post Online, though management has been warned against the practice and we haven't seen such headlines in years, more and more companies are firing their employees by text messaging.
Related firing by SMS incidents around the world:
-- Home from Dubai for Eid, Indian workers fired by SMS
-- Lecturer may sue after SMS sacking
-- 23 sport newspaper staffers fired by SMS
-- Economics lecturer in Bangladesh suspended by SMS
-- Romanian Football manager sacked by SMS
-- English Headmaster expells pupil by SMS
-- Belgian School Principal Fired by SMS
-- South Korean credit card firm sacks staff via SMS
January 31, 2010
Irresponsible study claims texting while driving does not result in fewer crashes
A new (irresponsible) study by The Highway Loss Data Institute has found that state laws banning the use of handheld devices to make calls or send text messages while driving have not resulted in fewer vehicle crashes. The Huffington Post reports.
Read full article and The Highway Loss Data Institute press release on the study.
