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Despite continuous improvements to the technology, wireless companies have not found a way to stop unsolicited or SPAM Text Messages. There are a few solutions out there that each of the companies allow. Here are the steps you can take with the 4 largest wireless companies to help stop unsolicited text messages.
In which a simple 2 paragraph blurb about data recovery in the works for Sidekick users becomes a Tolstoy epic on data resilience and redundancy. Good reading for that upcoming 18 hour flight to Tasmania.
Subscribers in Southern California's 760 Area Code Must Now Dial All 10 Digits
AT&T and Google are currently engaged in an ongoing dispute about the rejection of the Google Voice iPhone application. Last Friday, AT&T pushed the spat further by filing documents with the FCC saying that Google Voice violates government Internet policies.
Nimbuzz intends to enable you to get your Skype, Google Chat and Calls, social networking, SIP calls, and Instant Messages in one convenient place. When it works.
FCC Chairman Genachowski has proposed six net neutrality principles be adopted as rules by the FCC. This welcome sign for an "Open" Internet could effect everything from your home Internet Service to your cell phone and broadband data card service.
But this is just the first step. Learn about what the FCC Chairman proposes and how it affects your Internet service.
T-Mobile begins charging all customers $1.50 for the privilege of receiving your bill in the mail. Oh by the way if you were already paying $1.99 for the privilege of receiving a detailed bill the $1.50 will be added to that total. Are they also going to start sending it postage due?
UPDATE: Sept. 11, 2009 - T-mobile has withdrawn the $1.50 billing charge.
Those annoying prerecorded telemarketing calls are about to become illegal and violaters will face stiff fines. MORE
Questions raised by bloggers and online media about AT&T's role in the rejection by Apple of an Google Voice app for the Iphone, have prompted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ask the three companies "what gives." To its credit, it is good to see the FCC asking questions under the new Obama Administration. MORE
How to get Internet out of the wall or out of the sky and share it with others
The FCC recently sought comment concerning what actions need to be taken to ensure consumers of wireless, broadband, and video services are well informed about: the costs associated with the services; the contracts consumers must enter into; the charges for which consumers are billed; and the methods for resolving billing issues.
Imagine you are small business and you get a bill from your local phone company company for $1000. You are shocked because your monthly bill is usually closer to $100 per month. The company claims that your higher bill is for the international calls that you made from your fax machine. "Hold on", you think. "I didn't make any international calls from my fax machine or from ANY phone. I didn't make any international calls at all!"
You protest but the phone company says that even though you didn't make the calls, someone was able to hack into your phone system and make the calls. "But wait", you exclaim, "I don't have a phone system. I don't have a PBX. I just have two phone lines provided by you".
"Ah, but you didn't take precautions to protect your phones from being hacked," responds the phone company.
"What precautions!", you reply. "I put international call blocking on my phone service".
An impossible scenario? Apparently not accordingly to Telepacific/MPower. It did almost exactly this to a San Diego-based flower shop. Read our complaint about this shocking practice.
The CPUC is considering revising the rules regarding reporting of unauthorized charges for telecommunications services. Learn about the proposed changes as well as UCAN's position and legal filings on the issue.
UCAN has filed a federal class action complaint against Sprint Nextel (aka Sprint Solutions) for illegally billing customers taxes, fees, and text message charges on data services plans. You can read the complaint here.
AT&T's practice of enabling international roaming without customer notification violates the CA Public Utilities Code, which is intended to protect consumers from "cramming" of unauthorized charges. AT&T customers are also being charged for calls that were never placed. UCAN asserts that these customers never sought nor authorized international roaming as a service provided in connection with their cellular phone service.
Of all the new features and capabilities of today's cell phones, UCAN receives the most complaints about ringtones and text messages. Our issue center contains all sorts of valuable information from consumer guides and updates to lawsuits and settlements against major cell phone providers. Come inside and see for yourself!
UCAN established that Cingular Wireless engaged in illegal marketing and customer service practices from 2000-2002 and filed a suit in July 2002. The case dragged on for years, but in was worth the wait. In 2006, a CA Court of Appeals judge ruled against Cingular and upheld a CPUC decision to hit Cingular with a large fine for its unconscionable actions. Get all the details inside our issue center.
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UCAN's affiliate New Media Rights is hosting a discussion forum on the future of media and journalism in San Diego. Join in on the discussion now!
How to protect your own blog or website from liability for user generated content
Is Youtube putting advertisements on user videos without permission?
Essential free and open software toolkit for consumers
How to find free music, images, and video you can use or remix in your own creative works
How to Listen to Music on the Internet for Free...Legally
How to make a Podcast... for free
Visit NewMediaRights.org
Don't let your cell phone hold you prisoner! Learn How to Hack Your Cell Phone Using BitPim and then Make Your Own Ringtones for Free at our newest affiliate:
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Get personal assistance with your consumer complaint about a company by using our Online Complaint Forms. Or, call the Fraud Squad Hotline at (619) 696-6966!
Want to bring the hammer down on annoying telemarketers? Stop Telemarketers Now and get your number off telemarketing lists. And for the telemarketers that just won't take no for an answer; we'll show you how to take them to court and hurt em where it counts...in the pocketbook.
Don't buy a cell phone without our Mobile Phone Plan Checker!
Register to get it FREE right now!
What are you packin? Is it anything like UCAN's new and improved Consumer Complaint Directory? If not, you should really pick up a copy. This thing is chock-full of hard-hitting consumer punch.
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