Darren New wrote:

> Stefan Viljoen wrote:
>> but usually the originator is paying real
>> money for the messaging - this limits spam.
> 
> Plus, at least in the US, the carriers keep tight reign over exactly what
> you can send and when, and they'll watch it, and they'll cut you off if
> you break their rules.

Hmm yeah. But that's the US - out here they don't do that at all - they just
send whatever you want, provided you have enough SMS credit left.
 
> Before you can send an SMS via a shortcode (rather than thru a phone), you
> have to tell them exactly what will be in each SMS, as well as what will
> be on any web sites you run, down to the punctuation and spacing. If
> someone sends you the word "STOP" and you send them any messages after,
> your account turns off.

Interesting! Is this law or just a particular company's policy?

> It's really rather draconian here. I'm amazed anyone manages to do any
> sort of business at all. Which is probably why smart phones (that bypass
> the carrier for data entirely) are so profitable here.
 
I've always thought an advantage of living in the third world is the lack of
regulation (or lack of knowledge, money, personnel, time, etc.) to enforce
much of existing regulations. Doing certain stuff is easier, but then
conversely you lack protection and safeties that first world citizens take
for granted.
-- 
Stefan Viljoen

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