Mobile Premium Messaging Services Code launched – hurray!
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Posted Thu 28 February 2008 @ 9:54 a.m. by Sarah Putt
The Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF) has announced it’s finalised the Code for Premium text messaging services. The aim of this voluntary Code is to give consumers confidence around using paid-for text services such as ringtones, txt2win games and operator chat.
It’s a code that I am personally very pleased to see endorsed by the TCF Board, because I was one of those people who spent hours and hours drafting it. Together with representatives from mobile content service providers and three carriers I must have examined every clause in this code at least five times. And that was before the working party consulted with the Commerce Commission, the ASA, and went to public consultation – complete with public workshops in Sydney, Auckland and Wellington.
For me it’s been a real insight into the work that the TCF does and why it’s important to acknowledge the successful role they are playing in the industry. If the carriers and providers can sort out the many, many issues that are confronting the telco sector via voluntary codes like this, then the user will surely benefit by receiving better services in a timely manner. And rest assured, if my experience is any indication, these codes are not put together lightly – when the TCF say it’s a working party, they really do mean Working.
So Cheers to everyone on the TCF Premium SMS Working Party. We did it!
Categories: Innovation | Regulatory | Vendors | Wireless carriers