That is according to the Wireless Application Service Providers Association (WASPA), which says that as mobile devices become the primary way that people communicate and access the Internet, it is logical to assume that m-spam will increase in volume. It is vital that the industry and consumers of mobile content and applications work hard to create an anti-spam culture before m-spam degrades what is a brilliant marketing and communications medium.
Businesses should only use messaging providers that are members of WASPA since the organisation provides a list of its members at http://www.waspa.org.za/members/index.php. WASPA members are also required to display their membership of WASPA on their websites. To ensure that messages are sent via a legitimate route, businesses should also verify that the originating number of messages is registered at http://www.smscode.co.za/index.asp.
When consumers receive commercial SMS messages, they should also check the SMS Code website at http://www.smscode.co.za/index.asp to see whether a registered number was used. If not, they should take the matter up with the business, and urge it to use a member of WASPA.
"Pressure from customers is the surest way to change behaviours," says Russel Stromin, chairman of WASPA`s code of conduct working group. "If all businesses use only WASPA members for messaging, and only send via registered originating numbers, we will be able to regulate the commercial SMS messaging space much better," concludes Stromin.
