SMS spammers to be exposed

2008-02-20 12:05

Ilse Arendse

Cape Town - Tired of SMS spam? A new local website will give users a chance to name and shame SMS spammers.

Stopsms.co.za will be similar to the hellkom or hellopeter websites, said Frank Kistler, who will be running the site.

Kistler told News24 he decided something needed to be done to get people to comply with SMS rules.

New regulations in effect from August last year make it compulsory for companies sending SMS messages within South Africa to offer consumers a way of opting out from receiving unsolicited commercial SMSs by replying with the word "stop" from their phone.

The regulation was introduced by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association (Waspa) and accepted by the South African SMS-messaging industry.

However, stopsms.co.za will be taking things further.

Asked if he thinks the current SMS spam regulation is working properly, Kistler commented: "It might if everyone does their best to stop it... but exposure will tell the tales."

The site plans to expose companies that abuse the SMS system and will also highlight loopholes that actually promote spamming, Kistler said.

"We will report any reported SMS spam/loophole listed on our website to the highest governing body of the service provider and communicate online cases that where reported to the various companies but we will not be involved with lawyers or cases.

"We will give companies the opportunity to list their comments as well," he added.

Stopsms.co.za will go live in "the next two weeks or so", said Kistler.

- News24