China Mobile Clamps Down on SMS Spam

China Mobile has announced that it will block marketing SMSs from seven advertising companies following a recent outcry about SMS spam in the country. It was recently claimed that 80% of all SMS spam originated from just the one company, Focus Wireless, a subsidiary of US listed Focus Media.

In its defense, Focus Wireless vice president Ji Hairong said that the company has acquired several small companies in preparation for a separate stock listing and the loosely controlled subsidiaries may be responsible for the spam. Focus Media Chairman Jiang Nanchun apologized on Wednesday for the spams and instructed the subsidiaries to stop their marketing efforts.

Focus Wireless has been reported to have had its operating license revoked by the regulator, although Ji Hairong denied this last week.

According to Nanfang Metropolis News, Focus Wireless' Zhengzhou subsidiary sends out 200 million SMS every single day - while several other company subsidiaries send out upwards of 30 million SMS per day.

"As the mobile operator, we have the obligation to block spam text messages. We hold an unavoidable responsibility in this case,'' China Mobile marketing operations manager Xu Ming told the Shanghai Daily. A China Mobile spokesperson said the company would clarify rules on spam message identification and blockage, and beef up technology to tighten and oversee junk commercials.

On the web: Shanghai Daily

Posted to the site on 23rd March 2008