A sure way to kill SMS in the US - SMS spam is on its way...

Ok, here are two little blurbs via CTIA daily news wire that make me REALLY WORRIED!

mBlox Unveils New Cross-Carrier SMS Product
SMS infrastructure services provider mBlox, Inc. unveiled its Premium SMS product set for the U.S. wireless market. The new service allows customers, such as mobile marketers, advertisers, retail service providers and affinity networks to seamlessly access all premium-rate, SMS-capable U.S. wireless carriers, providing a complete package of SMS delivery, revenue settlement, and SMS micro-billing. The service is enabled by mBlox's integration with carrier SMS transport and wireless billing systems. (Source: PR NewWire)


Short Codes Could Spark Surge in Mobile Marketing
The recent launch of Common Short Codes in the wireless marketplace could open a surge in opportunities for the mobile marketing industry. As content providers, advertisers and marketers adopt the new SMS-based service, it will open the door to broader use of text messaging in sweepstakes, contests, coupons and other promotional devices. Jim Manis, vice president of M-Qube and global chairman of the Mobile Marketing Association says, "The real value of Common Short Codes is the personal nature of the mobile phone. It's being able to target and personally communicate with people." Manis predicts a rise in common short code use early next year, when many marketers initiate new budgets. (Source: DM News, NY)

While there IS an FCC ruling that says marketers can not use cell phone numbers unless customers explicitly requested to get promotions on their cell phones, I wonder what will happen with SMS. Most carriers in the US also charge for incoming text messages regardless of its sender. The new short codes and software for locating all SMS capable phone numbers seems to provide a frightening amount of power to marketers though. I HOPE this does not happen. I love using SMS and find it one of the most useful features of my phone. However, SMS is just starting to gain users in the US. If marketers start spamming before users become comfortable with SMS, it is likely that many will prefer not to use the feature. In fact, I am positive that I will be calling Verizon and asking them to completely disable SMS as soon as my phone starts getting flooded with messages.

I wonder how long it will take for a consumer class action suit against both carriers and marketers for the charges incurred from unwanted and unrequested messages too... hmmm...