Customers rebelling against plan for cell-phone directory

Grok Headline matches for Customers rebelling against plan for cell-phone directory

Cell Phone Directory

Cell Phone Directory 07/28/2004 04:28 PM

Cell phone directory gets hoots, hollers: This seems like a no-brainer to me.

The days of searching in vain for someone's cell phone number are almost over. Starting early next year, you'll be able to call directory assistance to get a mobile number.

However, some people object:

"These devices are considered much more personal than landline (phones)," says Chris Hoofnagle of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "People tend to carry them everywhere and answer them when they ring."

What's more, cell phone subscribers pay for incoming calls, even unwanted ones.

Such concerns prompted Verizon Wireless, the No. 1 wireless company, to keep its 40 million subscribers out of the directory.

Isn't it interesting how cell phones have made phone numbers personal? A phone number used to be associated with a family ot a business — a group of people. But now, everyone in my family can have a cell phone, and therefore a phone number associated with them personally.

Click here to comment on this entry

Cell Phone Directory Coming Soon

Cell Phone Directory Coming Soon 05/20/2004 05:26 PM

National Cell Phone Directory Launch

National Cell Phone Directory Launch 08/05/2004 03:56 AM
We are launching the first "opt in" national cell phone and VoIP directory online. The CTIA currently has plans to launch its own directory after the first of the year. Because of this, there are three different versions of the Wireless 411 Privacy Act in congress-two in the senate and one in the house.Here are a few ways in how our directory is different and why we support the wireless legislation.1. Our directory is completely "opt in"2. No fees for being listed or unlisted.3. Consumer has control of his or her information-not the wireless carrier.4. It will be online for anyone to access.5. Other information such as VoIP numbers and other contact info can be listed. [PRWEB Aug 5, 2004]

Will your cell phone number be in a
telephone directory soon!

Will your cell phone number be in a
telephone directory soon! 07/04/2004 03:55 AM

Apparently some of the biggest names in the cell business want to publish your cell phone number in a national directory. I am not so sure that I want everyone in the country to have access to my cell phone number. I am sure that this is going to get squashed before it see's the light of day but who knows. [Dan Gillmor]

Privacy Could Hamper Cell Phone
Directory (AP)

Privacy Could Hamper Cell Phone
Directory (AP) 06/17/2004 04:31 PM
AP - Consumers' passion for privacy in California and other Western states could signal an uphill battle for the proponents of a national cell phone directory.

Privacy Could Hamper Cell Phone
Directory

Privacy Could Hamper Cell Phone
Directory 06/17/2004 06:00 PM
San Jose Mercury News Jun 17 2004 9:38PM GMT

One Solution for Angry Cell Phone
Customers

One Solution for Angry Cell Phone
Customers 06/20/2004 02:10 AM
Consumers are fed up with cellular phone companies, prompting legislative action in some states. Once company offers to buy back old phones that still work but are no longer in use to help consumers who feel “stuck” with old phones. [PRWEB Jun 20, 2004]

Rocky road seen for cell phone customers

Rocky road seen for cell phone customers 02/18/2004 12:05 PM
Chicago Tribune Feb 18 2004 3:07PM GMT

Pride Communication Services, #1
Reseller of Krusell Leather Cell Phone
Cases, to Begin Selling Identity-Theft
Conscious Horizontic Plus Cell Phone
Case in April

Pride Communication Services, #1
Reseller of Krusell Leather Cell Phone
Cases, to Begin Selling Identity-Theft
Conscious Horizontic Plus Cell Phone
Case in April 03/29/2005 04:34 AM
To Better Accommodate the Needs of Today’s Identity Theft Conscious Cell Phone Users, Pride Communication Services (PCS), a Subsidiary Franchise of KaseIT and the Largest Reseller of KRUSELL Leather Cases, Announced Today that it Would Begin Selling the Horizontic Plus Cell Phone Case, KRUSELL’s Newest Offering, In its Online Store in April. [PRWEB Mar 29, 2005]

Iowa phone company tries to block
incoming cell phone calls

Iowa phone company tries to block
incoming cell phone calls 08/16/2004 05:48 PM
Iowa phone company plans to block cell phone call in a dispute with wireless carriers. The Iowa Utilities Board has prevented the plan for now.

Quick-'n-Dirty methods to determine
which competing label is better: "Cell
Phone" or "Mobile Phone"?

Quick-'n-Dirty methods to determine
which competing label is better: "Cell
Phone" or "Mobile Phone"? 04/28/2004 11:39 AM

On the SIGIA-L mailing list, Stephanie Berger recently asked: "My cohorts are not sure whether to use "cell phone" or "mobile phone". Any evidence that one is better than the other, or one is used more often than the other?"

This is a good example of the kind of labeling questions information architects face all the time. The answer to these labeling questions will depend on the target audience (a better label for whom?), on business requirements (maybe the business want to promote one term over the other) and on the context in which the label will be used.

I'll discuss the conversation that followed here and afterwards point to some useful tools for if you have a labeling question yourself.

Andres Sulleiro: "Without any empirical data I will go with my own opinion. [...] A quick survey of the phone carriers seems to suggest that "wireless" (as in "wireless phone", "wireless customer") is most common among US carriers, though you see some references to "mobile" as well. T-mobile, a European company, uses "mobile" which is more common in Europe as well as being the name of the carrier."

Method: check what other websites call it.

Jason Cho: "I think "cell" is more widespread in the US as Andrés noted. "Call my mobile" can sound pretentious to Yankee ears. But I would think everyone understands the term "mobile" on a business card."

Method: personal experience.

Peter Van Dijck (and others): "Google for "cell phone" (including quotes): 6,230,000, Google for "mobile phone": 6,360,000. Looks like a tie, assuming your audience is similar. Just pick one and make sure your search engine knows both terms."
Christina Wodtke: "Y ahoo for cell phone : 16,800,000, yahoo for mobile phone: 21,200,000. What does this really tell you? you'd have to know who each engine indexes, how much of the web, etc.. better to use a magic 8 ball. ;-)"

Method: check popularity of the terms on the web.

Peter Van Dijck: "My next step would be to find out what people search for on your site,
or if not available, on the web (assuming that's more or less your audience). Google adwords can help."

Method: Find out what people (preferably your target audience) search for.

Dave: "I like "mobile" for the reason that Christina stated (forward compatibility); USers and non-USers will equally understand it. Also, it is more interoperable w/ most of the vCard based addressbook programs out there. I don't know any that are using "cell" or "cellphone" ... I also like the clear and easy two word approach of "mobile phone" ... I'm always wanting to say "cellphone" where "cell phone" is really the more correct version. "cell" though just doesn't feel like a real word b/c the "cell" doesn't fit a meaning to me. I know what it means if I am forced to think about it, but it really doesn't mean anything to me at all."

Method: personal experience, check what software programs use.

Christina Wodtke: "> As can Ove rture's keyword tool (couldn't find URL straight away).

You also might consider some adaptation of the freelisting technique on a subset of your target. E.G., a write in survey: what portable electronics do you own, then analyze for use of "cell phone" and mobile phone".

Method: freelisting technique.

Eric Reiss: "Having worked closely with several telecommunications companies, including Tellabs (US), Nortel (Canada), ADVA (Germany), and NetTest (Denmark), this discussion is one I've heard before. Europeans generally don't recognize the term "cell phone." North Americans seem to accept both "cell" and "mobile." ATT insists on promoting the term "wireless." In most instances, we've agreed on the word "mobile" since it is understood by the widest audience. Nortel, for instance, used "cell" almost exclusively until the late 90s, but now leans toward "mobile." I think there is a trend here."

Method: ask the subject matter experts.

Pabini Gabriel-Petit: "There's also Wordtracker.
[...]
In this vein, you might try just walking up to people, holding up your cell/mobile phone, and asking them what they call it."

Method: Analyze what people search for.

Method: Find out what labels your users use.

Quick-'n-Dirty methods to determine which competing label is better.

So, as a review, here are some of the methods used to determine which label is better.

1. What do you think?
Method: personal experience/insights.

2. What do your users think?
Method: freelisting technique.
Method: Find out what labels your users use: show them the item you're trying to label and ask them what it is. (You could build an online tool for this).
Method: Find out what people (preferably your target audience) search for / check popularity of the terms on the web. Ove rture's keyword tool. Google adwords. Wordtracker. Google and Yahoo both list how often a term is used on the web (use quotes around your terms!).

3. What do the experts think?
Method: ask the subject matter experts.
Method: check what other websites/software call it.

Gotcha's: be careful when using these techniques. You are looking for a label that works for your audience and your business requirements. Most of these techniques use audiences that may be very different from yours, and most are indicative only (ie: they're not hard science). Use your judgement.

FreeHeadset.org launches program to
promote wireless phone safety by giving
away free cell phone headsets.

FreeHeadset.org launches program to
promote wireless phone safety by giving
away free cell phone headsets. 07/26/2004 02:22 AM
New laws that mandate the use of cell phone headsets have recently passed in several states. In response, FreeHeadset.org has developed a program to provide wireless phone users with a free cell phone headset. [PRWEB Jul 26, 2004]

Cell Phone Users Interrupt Sex for Phone
Calls

Cell Phone Users Interrupt Sex for Phone
Calls 04/11/2005 08:07 PM
user survey reported

consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/cell_sex.html
track this site | 3 links

The Keys to Keeping Cell Customers

The Keys to Keeping Cell Customers 11/14/2003 04:08 PM
Business Week Nov 14 2003 3:06PM ET

Users plan to migrate Active Directory
to Windows Server 2003

Users plan to migrate Active Directory
to Windows Server 2003 04/30/2004 05:05 AM
At the recent Directory Experts Conference, which NetPro put on in Reston, Va., at the end of March, some attendees had some remarkable things to say in the survey that was carried out at the show.

SAP Extends Plan to Lure Oracle
Customers (Reuters)

SAP Extends Plan to Lure Oracle
Customers (Reuters) 04/04/2005 01:16 PM
Reuters - SAP AG , Europe's biggest software maker, on Monday widened the reach of its plan to take away customers from rival Oracle Corp. by extending it to 6,500 Oracle customers who are not currently SAP users.

Do People Want A Mobile Phone Directory?

Do People Want A Mobile Phone Directory? 08/31/2004 03:37 PM
There's been a lot of talk over the last few months about the potential for a mobile phone directory. Many in the industry have been pushing for it, though, consumers fear for their privacy. Already sick of telemarketers on their landlines, they don't want to start receiving such calls on their mobile phones as well. Those supporting the directory want to set it up so that you can only request the number based on a name, rather than get your hands on the entire directory -- which, in theory, should eliminate the type of phonebook dialing that many telemarketers engage in. Of course, it just takes one screwup allowing the directory to get out there, and it won't matter any more. The other part of the debate has been over whether such a directory should be opt-in or opt-out. The folks behind it have done a very odd sort of agreement on this, suggesting they could make it "opt-in," but that you will have to pay if you don't want to be included. In other words, a new fee could simply start showing up on your bill, and the way to get rid of it, would be to give out your mobile phone number. The latest in this ongoing debate is a new study suggesting that 52% of users would opt-in to such a directory if it had some privacy protection (just what kind of protection is not described and could make a huge difference). 11% would opt-in even without privacy protection. Of course, the study was done by a company who provides consulting services for the directory assistance industry -- so you have to imagine they have some bias. A big new directory makes it more likely someone will hire them.

Cable & Wireless America customers
praise buyout plan

Cable & Wireless America customers
praise buyout plan 12/10/2003 12:07 AM
CWA announced its sale to turnaround and investment company Gores Technology Group LLC yesterday, ending a period of uncertainty for customers.

Mobile Number Phone Directory Panned

Mobile Number Phone Directory Panned 07/02/2004 11:36 AM

Chicago Tribune: Cust omers rebelling against plan for cell-phone directory. The proposal for a wireless number directory surfaced in May from the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association. Shortly after, legislation was introduced in Congress and some states that were seeking to regulate the directory. For one thing, lawmakers wanted to assure that no number would be listed without permission and that carriers could not charge for unlisting a number, as wired phone companies do.

I just notified my mobile carrier, T-Mobile, that if it participated in this directory, forcing me to opt out at some later date, I would give serious thought to moving my service to another carrier. This should be opt in, period. I'm paying when people call me. For that reason alone I don't want to have my number widely distributed. The people who need to have it, do have it. Why is this so difficult for the carriers to understand, anyway?

Mobile Phone Uber-Directory in the Works

Mobile Phone Uber-Directory in the Works 01/26/2004 10:18 AM
Congress shouldn't allow the carriers to proceed with this directory on anything but an opt-in basis: Require that customers affirmatively tell the mobile companies they want to be listed. Then again, Congress has repeatedly shown its willingness to do what industry tells it to do, without our consent.

Stem-cell-companies.com: Launch of the
Stem Cell Companies Directory

Stem-cell-companies.com: Launch of the
Stem Cell Companies Directory 06/05/2005 11:58 PM
Kaeria SARL is launching a directory of companies who work on stem cells, so that the various industry players can be identified and presented. [PRWEB May 25, 2005]

Net phone customers brace for 'VoIP
spam'

Net phone customers brace for 'VoIP
spam' 08/10/2004 06:59 AM
Internet phoning offers big benefits for marketers--automation, lower costs and potential regulatory loopholes.

RCN joins fight for Internet phone
customers

RCN joins fight for Internet phone
customers 08/04/2004 06:07 AM
Chicago Tribune Aug 4 2004 10:46AM GMT

Cablevision gives new customers free
phone service

Cablevision gives new customers free
phone service 06/22/2004 07:13 AM
Boston Globe Jun 22 2004 11:48AM GMT

Service Lets Customers Buy with a Phone
Number

Service Lets Customers Buy with a Phone
Number 04/07/2005 05:39 PM
Retailers in the Boston area are experimenting with a truly contactless payment method that uses a cell phone number to deliver payment, loyalty and CRM.

Verizon letting DSL customers cancel
phone service

Verizon letting DSL customers cancel
phone service 05/28/2004 10:46 AM

Verizon has gotten a clue and understand people are using their cell-phones as their primary telephone number are allowing people to cancel their landlines and keep their DSL. I am sure that they finally figured out that they where going to loose the customers otherwise. [engadget]

BellSouth Can Force DSL Customers To Buy
Local Phone Service

BellSouth Can Force DSL Customers To Buy
Local Phone Service 01/27/2004 10:59 PM
Just a few months after the Georgia Public Utilities Commission told BellSouth that they can't force DSL customers to buy local phone service, a federal court has ruled (in a separate case) that BellSouth isn't violating anti-trust laws by requiring DSL customers to have local phone service. The article doesn't have many details, but it sounds like those who filed the lawsuit did a very bad job explaining their case. The judge simply tossed out the case saying that "the customers lacked legal standing to pursue the lawsuit and failed to state any valid legal claims" against BellSouth. It would be nice if there were more details, because on the face of it, you would think the case would at least get heard. If BellSouth is the only way to get DSL (thus, a monopoly) and they're then forcing customers to buy local phone service (something they don't want), it certainly sounds like an anti-trust violation.

Biz Directory - World - Professional
business directory - Biz Directory

Biz Directory - World - Professional
business directory - Biz Directory 12/26/2004 09:04 AM
Business Directory

biz-directory.org
track this site | 2 links

Analyst Claims Some Phone Companies
Intentionally Over-bill Customers

Analyst Claims Some Phone Companies
Intentionally Over-bill Customers 06/22/2005 02:30 AM
A telecom services analyst warns that he sees similar errors on phone bills so often that he believes some phone companies intentionally allow errors to continue, making adjustments only when a customer requests it. [PRWEB Jun 22, 2005]

Mobile phone software maker fails to
connect with customers

Mobile phone software maker fails to
connect with customers 12/13/2003 11:01 PM
Scotsman Online Dec 13 2003 9:35PM ET

Cell Carriers Quietly Drop Data Plan
Prices

Cell Carriers Quietly Drop Data Plan
Prices 04/23/2004 09:52 PM
The Feature notes that cell data prices have dropped, quietly: A few weeks ago, it was $80 per month for unlimited data from those who offered unlimited plans, with lower fees only for metered services. Cingular offered no unlimited service. In the face of faster national networks and Verizon Wireless's commitment coupled with T-Mobile ($20/month) and Sprint PCS ($15/month) pricing, The Feature's Eric Lin notes a host of small changes. Verizon Wireless is now down to $50/month for 1xRTT, but still charges $80/month for PC Card-based 1xEvDO. Cingular plummeted its GRPS and limited EDGE to $20 per month (but it's not listed as such on their site yet). AT&T Wireless is offering GPRS/EDGE at $45/month. To quote Mike Masnick of TechDirt, So, now it seems that the entry point for the highest speed is $80, then you drop to $50 when there's a bit of competition, and down to about $20 when your service doesn't have much to distinguish itself any more....

You could have a 3G cell phone already

You could have a 3G cell phone already 04/11/2005 03:55 AM
Jakarta Post Apr 11 2005 5:22AM GMT

A Cell Phone in Every Pot

A Cell Phone in Every Pot 12/09/2003 02:39 AM

Ce ll Phones Sales Skyrocket

"The worldwide market for cell phones is outstripping even the most enthusiastic predictions from the beginning of the year, as consumers continue to snap up handsets at a dizzying rate, according to research released Monday by Gartner.

Handset vendors sold 132.8 million units in the third quarter of this year, up 22 percent from last year's third-quarter shipments of 108.8 million units, says Ben Wood, an analyst with Gartner based in London. Gartner calculated the figures using the number of units sold to end users, rather than units shipped into the channel.

'The total market is on fire,' he says. 'We had predicted about 470 million units for the year, but it's going to be about 500 million this year.'

Mature cell phone markets such as western Europe and the U.S. are going through a replacement cycle, as consumers with older black-and-white phones are trading them in for new models with color screens and cameras , Wood says.

'We're getting to a point where a mobile phone is as much about fashion as anything,' he says." [PCWorld.com]

It won't be much longer before purchasing a mobile phone will be as much about utility (staying connected to the internet) as anything.

Cell Phone Zen

Cell Phone Zen 08/16/2004 02:27 PM
My phone sucks ass! The voicemail has never worked properly since day 1. At least once a week I have...

Blogging with your Cell Phone No Thank
You!

Blogging with your Cell Phone No Thank
You! 04/01/2005 03:24 PM

Their is a new service that is going to launch in April that will help those of you that want to Blog via your cell phone. Come on text message is bad enough when you have to send several lines now they want to make it easy for me to post via my cell phone.

No Thank You! [Sil iconValley.com]

Cell Phone Tombstone

Cell Phone Tombstone 04/18/2005 03:07 PM

This might be the saddest tombstone I've ever seen. If this isn't the inventor of the cellphone—something I'm not sure I'd want looming over me in the afterlife, anyway—then I'd really like to dig him up and steal all the moldering gadgets with which he was inevitably buried.

I'm pretty sure I've seen this in come corner of the internet before. Has anyone seen a better quality image? I want to read the inscription.

Israeli Mobile Phone Headstone [UnwiredNews via LiveDIgitally]

Your Cell Phone Is Tracking You

Your Cell Phone Is Tracking You 12/21/2003 03:43 AM
PollGuy writes "I had never heard until this article in the New York Times (sacrifice of first born required) about services that let regular people track the ...

Cell phone lockdown.

Cell phone lockdown. 12/06/2003 05:34 PM
CNet: Cell phone lockdown. Now that number portability is in effect, locked phones are even more evil. Two reforms that I would suggest are forcing carriers to unlock phones when contracts expire and allowing customers to take their phone rebate in cash when signing the contract.

Did ya know I named my cell phone?

Did ya know I named my cell phone? 03/13/2003 10:26 AM
Why, yes I did. I'm so unbelievably tired. See, the thing is, I do NOT want to fall asleep right...
Grok Description matches for Customers rebelling against plan for cell-phone directory
GrokA matches for Customers rebelling against plan for cell-phone directory

Customers rebelling against plan for cell-phone directory