O2 are going to get a hammering over this and rightly so.

The situation appears to be that if you have been browsing on your mobile phone using an o2 data connection in the last 15 or so days, you will have been unwittingly sending your mobile phone number to that websites database in the HTTP requests which usually contain pretty useless info about who you are in terms of location and IP address etc.

o2 stupidly to let every website you visit on your mobile know your phone number:

This is absolutely great news if you like your mobile phone being shared with every site you visit, but is astonishingly bad news if you visit sites that could have questionable methods of making money (rather a lot) or where the owners of sites could perhaps be easily persuaded to channel a few of those numbers to unscrupulous marketing firms for a little extra dosh. Think injury lawyers, or worse still spammers who make you pay £’s every time you reply to texts to stop them sending the damn f***ers.

Yes I think it IS that bad.

Any site you visited will be able to sell your number knowing its working and live and on o2.

Thank you O2:

Thanks a lot you set of halfwits.

Now when you ask me those security questions in order for me to remove my ridiculously high insurance that would never pay out in most circumstances anyway, why dont you just forget that part and simply tell me/them who I am and where I live and ask me “have I had an accident in the last few years”.

o2 you have right royally pissed me off….again.

Questions that need answering:

The following questions have been answered do the o2 blog but not particular fully in my opinion but they maybe useful as a start:

Q: How long has this been happening?

A: In between the 10th of January and 1400 Wednesday 25th of January, in addition to the usual trusted partners, there has been the potential for disclosure of customers’ mobile phone numbers to further website owners.

Q: Which of my information can website owners access?

A: The only information websites had access to is your mobile number, which could not have been linked to any other identifying information we have about customers.

Q: How do I know this won’t happen again?

A: We take the security of our customers’ data extremely seriously. This was a one-off incident, which has now been fixed. We have fixed the problem and we are putting in additional measures to prevent a re-occurrence.

Q: Why did this happen?

A: Technical changes we implemented as part of routine maintenance had the unintended effect of making it possible in certain circumstances for website owners to see the mobile numbers of those browsing their site.

Q: I want to leave O2 with immediate effect because you have breached T&Cs / shared my data without my consent. Can I?

A. In this instance, and as acknowledged by the Information Commissioner, there has been no immediate breach of the Data Protection Act. This was a technical error that has now been rectified. In light of this, customers’ contracts remain valid and O2 shall continue to provide you a service in accordance with your terms and conditions.

Q: Can I opt out of O2 sharing my mobile number with these partners?

A. It is not possible to opt out of our age verification process, which exists for child protection purposes.

You can choose not to visit our trusted partners whose sites offer you ringtones, wallpapers and content direct to your phone. These sites require your mobile phone number in order to complete the purchase and charge it to your mobile bill.

Q. Who are your trusted partners?

A. There are two instances where we share your mobile phone number with websites:

We share mobile numbers with two age verification partners, for child protection purposes. For those customers that have not verified with us that they are over 18, we share your number with Bango.net and Eckoh.com who then verify your age before you are able to access sites with over 18 content. Your number is not shared further than these two partners and is only used for this purpose.

Q: Who can I complain to?

A: Please contact O2 through our normal channels, details of which can be found here.

Q: How are you compensating customers?

A. As part of our usual business practice, we consider compensation claims where you can demonstrate material loss. Customers wishing to speak to us should do so through our normal channels, details of which can be found here.

More questions?

What other question would you like answering, do let us know?

I have said before that Data is the new Gold for networks, minutes and texts are going to be less of a burden in cost terms to the networks and more of a giveaway as time goes by.

But data is where the real costs and opportunities currently lie for mobile operators.

With the above in mind AT&T has released revised plans for data charges to its customers, but in it they are hoping to provide a little more room to manoeuvre and give more choice for heavy users.

The new plans will come into effect on Sunday and is on the back of AT&T stating that they have had to totally rethink their data policies and pricing due to heavy demand which is only increasing month on month.

Users can move to the new plan if they are on existing contract or they can stay put if it would suit them better to do this based on the information given below.

I think this is pretty fair and one o2 could have offered in the UK when they forced their unlimited data subscribers onto a capped data plan with force, even though people had signed up to a full unlimited data deal.

The deals:

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• $20 a month you can buy 300MB of data
• Data Pro package 3GB costs $30
• Data Pro 5GB $50 GB this includes the mobile hot spot capabilities and tethering

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This compares to previous options of:

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• 200MB for $15
• 2GB for $25
• 4GB for $45

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The company is seen to be encouraging users to use data proved by their own Wi-Fi hot spots at over 29,000 locations across the US, so all in all it seems like an expected move, and one that you will just have to swallow I am afraid, unlimited was never really unlimited anyway!

AT&T also make use of alerts to keep their customers in check if they are close to going over their data allowance, as we all know this can be costly!

So as you can see it is going to be more costly in general but if you are a power user you get a little more for your money than you did before, so it is a little bit like the low end users subsiding the larger consumers of data on the go, but they get a touch more thrown in also….good deal or a deal breaker?

We have already covered the news that Carrier IQ was potentially tracking over 140,000,000 mobile devices at the end of last week.

Now, when you hear the name Carrier IQ, you automatically think of potentially illegal phone tracking, so it is also interesting to see just how quickly the legal teams gather pace when the mention of a breach of privacy is muted.

A number of law firms are gunning for carrier IQ and companies who used their technology:

The following law firms have jointly filed a class action complaint in a Delaware Court against carrier IQ:

Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow & McElroy LLP, Sianni & Straite LLP, and Keefe Bartels L.L.C.

This relates to what is being described as:

“cell phone tracking software scandal.”

and an,

“unprecedented breach of the digital privacy rights of 150 million cell phone users.”

It is reported that HTC, AT&T, Motorola, Apple, Sprint, T-Mobile and more are also going to be hearing from the law firms mentioned above in relation to the potential abuse of privacy of smartphone owners globally.

Carrier IQ sounds ostensibly good natured:

The problem as I see it with carrier IQ is that to all intents and purposes it masquerades as a perfectly safe and capable tracking software that is intended to aid manufacturers find bugs and issues with their devices and networks, and so make the users life more pleasurable, and pain free.

The problem is that this software is installed discretely without the device owner having any knowledge, and there is no opt in or out option when you get your new device.

The company sell the software as:

“Mobile Service Intelligence solutions that have revolutionized the way mobile operators and device vendors gather and manage information from end users”

Sounds all well and good, but surely personal privacy is a highly valued right in our society.

Personal privacy the issue for most:

Many people in the US and wider feel that governments and corporations are taking more and more liberties with our own personal information. And while we hope that the concern is only that, a real issue presents itself when something so covert as tracking software is installed on your personal communication device.

The issue is about full transparency, as there is also a theory that keystrokes are included in the data that gets reported (if a patent application is anything to go by), though it has to be said that I am becoming less convinced that this was the case currently (perhaps this was due to be rolled out later)….

At which point, I wonder when we would have been informed of this?

My guess is never.

David Straite, one of the lawyers leading this crusade, said in a statement.

“This latest revelation of corporate America’s brazen disregard for the digital privacy rights of its customers is yet another example of the escalating erosion of liberty in this country,”

David Straite’s co-counsel Steve Grygiel added:

”Anyone who cares at all about their personal privacy, or the broader constitutional right to privacy, ought to care and care a great deal about this case.”

What do you think to this news?

Is it getting blown out of proportion? Or is this kind of privacy invasion best nipped in the bud early before we hand over too much control blindly to the “powers that be”?

On Friday, Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office reached the decision not to pursue claims that Daum (Korean internet search specialist) and Google, actively collected illegal data of smartphone users.

Yonhap News reports that the legal challenge did uncover that Google and Daum were collecting location data, but this was only the position of the user and not any further details about them.

This comes as news from the US shows that Carrier IQ could be reporting information back to companies who want to learn about a smartphone or device users specific actions including messaging and keystrokes.

Admob was the accused platform:

It was thought that Admob was the platform that could have been reporting user data back to Google. Earlier in the year the offices of Google were raided by Seoul police in order to secure hard drives and learn more about how the Admob platform was being used.

GPS coordinates OK but not personal information:

One prosecutor admitted that it would be tough to use a smartphones IP address as people moved around suggesting that it was OK to obtain location data through GPS but nothing more than this.

Deeper murky waters:

In news related to the relationship between Daum and Google, it has become apparent that Daum was also separately cleared of capturing data this Friday, after law enforcers also raided their offices in May.

Google also have other pressing issues with the Korean law agencies, as they are accused of blocking and banning search rivals from including third-party applications on Android handsets.

The nine month long trial is starting this week and will run up until the summer of 2012 when the Olympics will be in town. The areas covered will be the most densely populated parts of the capital and will include: Canary Wharf, Soho, Westminster, South Bank and Kings Cross. This will take in 25 base stations and will put O2 firmly on the map as pioneers for the UK in terms of a 4G LTE network.

O2 UK chief Ronan Dunne said in a statement.

“Today’s launch of the UK’s first 4G London trial network demonstrates our commitment to delivering 4G to our customers at the earliest opportunity, the work we are doing now will lay the foundations for our commercial 4G network when it launches in the UK.”

But is this really 4G or a “just passed version”?

LTE was not considered part of the 4G criteria until December last year when the ITU said that LTE and WiMax and “other evolved 3G technologies providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities with respect to the initial third-generation systems now deployed”.

Basically they were saying that until 4G proper comes along you can now market this technology as 4G, even though it is more closely related to improved 3G.

LTE 4G a bit of a con?

Unlike LTE advanced which will offer around 100mbps and should be able to work “in motion” the o2 trial of LTE in London starting this week will only offer half those speeds and will still struggle “in motion”….this basically means that using the connection while walking or travelling in your car will be problematic in the main.

Those who are involved in the trail will be using mobile dongles from Samsung: model: B3730 which are supposed to support speeds up to a huge 100 Mbps. Portable hotspots and headsets will also be trialled, they will utilise the 2.6Ghz spectrum which is said to be capable of delivering speed of up to 150 Mbps.

Mobile Vidoecalls and HDTV to the masses?

With the pressure on data rates being pushed all the time, there are current limitations that occur for the average user when they are out and about. One of the main power hungry platforms is video. The move to improve the amount of data that can be transferred on a mobile connection will be welcome news to TV lovers and networks.

4 year delay caused by disagreements between networks including o2:

4G was suppose to be available in the UK in 2008, yes 4/5 years ago, and it still looks like the spectrum will not be put on the wholesale market for another year or more after these tests and other issues between mobile networks are resolved.

Who is involved in the trial?

The O2 trial will use technology from Nokia Siemens and also Cambridge Broadband Networks and NEC, with other smaller “trials” already taking place in the UK in Cornwall and Slough earlier this year it is not until the London trials really bring in some hard data that companies can finally see how the technology has worked on a mass scale in a dense urban environment where its ability to pass through buildings due to the particularly high bandwidth offered at this frequency will be of serious interest to businesses and consumers.

The trial will bring in the John Lewis department store, members of the institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and people visiting the o2 arena in London’s Docklands.

UK behind on 4G and costs business nearly £1 Billion a year

With the UK languishing behind the US, Australia and Germany with the 4g roll out, an Open Digital study has claimed that UK businesses are losing out on more than £730 million a year in productivity due to the slow introduction of 4G to the UK.

Wolverhampton Wanders have just announced that they will be the first premier league club to offer supporters a chance to be part of their own branded mobile network.

I assume this will not be an option taken up by the likes of Chelsea fans or the other boys in Blue. So what will this offer fans of the Wolverhampton club and why have they decided to push the boat out into this type of mobile technology for their fans?

Well for Wolverhampton wanderers they get the chance to offer there fans a service that they can then use to push offers, promotions and generally stay in touch with the fan-base who take up the white label mobile SIM card, for instance a game on the 17th of December V’s Stoke will be on offer to owners of a £10 SIM card for £10 per ticket, based on pre orders and while stocks last.

The virtual network will be powered by Orange’s infrastructure.

Paul Lakin, Head of Commercial Affairs at Wolves said:

“We are delighted to offer our fans a Wolves mobile pay as you go SIM card that first and foremost provides outstanding value and network coverage. In today’s climate it is essential we provide our fans with the very best products in the marketplace and I’m sure our fans will enjoy the volume of calls that can be made by purchasing Wolves mobile SIM cards.”

The offer obviously comes underpinned by the mature Orange network so most of the UK is covered even in deepest darkest “Black Country”, and the call charges will be 5p per call and text for users within the wolves mobile network, but data will be costly at 11p per MB, calls outside the nwtork will be 20 pence per minute and 25p in some cases and 10p – 12p to text.

What do you think of the move? A bit of a con for parents to subsidise their young ones mobile habits?

Or filling a gap?

It would seem that they are targeting people with less disposable income (non season ticket holders) and non phone contract holders.

Users with jailbroken devices in the US who are accessing Verizon’s hotspot network and do not subscribe to a data plan are having their ability to tether their devices blocked.

Verizon and AT&T start to make a stance in order to maximize revue from data and voice plans:

According to ReadWriteWeb, one of their employees was taken to this screen when trying to access a hotspot on a Motorola X jailbroken phone:

AT&T recently started to migrate jailbroken users with no data plan to a tiered pricing structure to access their hotspots.

These will start at $20 per 2GB of data on Verizon when coupled with a data plan of $29.99 or more. For every GB of data consumed after the 2GB allowance users will be charged another $20 per GB.

Data is the new revenue model for networks:

With aggressive pricing to attract users to mobile phone contracts that offer good value for calls and texts creating less and less profit for the networks, the only way that the carriers can start to maximize profits in the medium term is to start being much lees tolerant on data that has been historically used as another means of enticing customers. Similar to the way a stereotyped drug dealer would “hook you in” and then charge more when your addicted, this seems to be pretty much the case with data plans by two of the countries largest mobile carriers.

The Federal Communication Commission was issued with a letter from an Advocacy group in March complaining that Verizon should not be allowed to block tethering access using Long Term Evolution found in the Android Market. Google justly responded to this by blocking tethering applications in the Android marketplace. Though GetJar still allowed tethering apps to be acquired.

At&T to throttle heavy users of data

In news that AT&T will not want to become common knowledge a press release was issued dated Friday 5th August 2011 stating that they will start to throttle heavy users of data.

With data becoming the real gold mine, how long before new companies enter the market offering users other options to consumers?

I wrote about a prediction for the future in relation to mobile devices, one where you simply buy a data plan and use a VOIP service such as Skype or Gmail voice and leave this running in the background so you are always available when needed, and simply email people you want to “text”. Do you think this will be the future of mobile contracts, or is the coverage not good enough, I would argue that it will be perfect when 4G rolls out fully and coverage starts to become no real issue from WiFi hotspots doted around countries such as the US, UK and Europe….Taiwan are already offering tourist and locals the chance to tap into a medium speed Wi-Fi network in TaiPei.

Lets take my own contract on O2 here in the UK: A minimum charge of $80 USD per month with a free Samsung S2 phone, 600 minutes, unlimited texts and I live in a metropolitan area on the outskirts of a big town. My reception = useless. Basically pointless to own as I never ever receive any calls. This is 2011 I expect better.

On the other hand if I wanted to pay for BT’s openworld, I could get access to their Wi-Fi service and be able to utilise calls on VOIP. As it goes I do not need this as I already have Wi-Fi but you seem my point here.

We have more and more options every year, I feel like I have been serioulsy ripped off right up until 2010 for text messages that have been around for 20+ years and cost networks absolutely nothing in terms of data. At one point in the last 18 months I was being charged 10 pence per text after I went over my limit in one strange month before changing my contract to the sum total of around $60 USD extra for text messages alone that totalled around 950 in one month (350 over my limit), ridiculous, and total daylight robbery.

What do you think of your contracts, do you feel we are given good deals for calls, texts and data or are we used to be being ripped off nowadays?

With the current penetration of smartphones set at the 40% mark for the US and Western Europe, only a mere 20% of Asia Pacific consumers currently own and use smartphone devices, though interest in buying a smartphone is set at around 50% according to research by the Nielsen group, meaning that the Asia Pacific market looks set to boom in the coming 12 months.

iPhone most desirable item:

The Apple marketing machine appears to have done a grand job over in the Asia Pacific region as the research found by Nielsen shows that even when people currently do not own Apple products 17% of Malaysians are seeking to own an iPhone as first choice for their next mobile device and 11% seek a Blackberry, proving that Apple and RIM’s Blackberry have a high “mind share” relative to their current market positions. Apple and Blackberry currently only command a 1% and 3% share respectively of the market in Malaysia so you can see that desire is high for these new type of devices.

Data use to alter dramatically in the Asia pacific region:

With smartphones designed from the ground up to be more “connected” in relation to the internet, statistics show in the US that smartphones users are 3 times more likely to access the internet than their less enabled cousins (86% v’s 30%). They are also 4 x more likely to access their emails while on the go (80% v’s 20%) all actions that seriously eat up data, this is not even taking into account social media use, watching online video and online game participation.

Many smartphone users already spend over 25% of their time on the social network Facebook.

Tablet sales will only stand to compound the data issue further:

With people in the US and Europe buying more tablet PC’s than expected at the expense of the laptop and desktop. Data packages are now being offered with your tablet purchase to ensure you enjoy a more connected experience when on the go. Whether you opt for a 3G connection to go with your new tablet, or simply stick to a WiFi connection when available, the fact is more and more people are demanding some form of data connection where they perhaps would not have expected it as a result of the growth of tablet PC’s and the ease in which you can use them while on the move.

Multimedia phones masquerade as smartphones in India:

Companies such as Spice and Micromax in India are currently filling a gap created by the desire for a smartphone by offering devices that appear to be smartphones but lack the sophistication offered by Apple or Android, they are churning out what we would term Multimedia phones, yes they have touch screens and yes they can play audio etc and look quite cool, but they are a fraction of the cost and not quite as all singing as their more developed smartphone cousins.

Increased data use creates problems as well as opportunities:

Fast speeds and great connectivity will be key to ensuring that data providers stay ahead of the curve and are not drowned by their competitors in the age of permanently connected devices.

Not being able to monetize the data that is used by consumers presents only one solution for the providers and that is to make sure that they are competitively priced in terms of data packages available and also have excellent service levels to boot.

Smartphones will become very personalised through the operating system and applications that engage with the user:

The level of engagement that the user will expect and desire will become key factors in people staying with an existing operating system or deciding to try a new one. Advertisers will be presented with a brand new market in the Asia Pacific region to tap into with creative use of mobile advertising that will add value to brands and encourage user engagement.

Structure of data plans need to be decided upon:

One thing stopping the growth of smartphones is the availability of data services that people can afford, the Asia Pacific area sees users sceptical whether their mobile package includes enough data allowance to ensure they do not receive hefty bills at the end of the month for going over their current allowance. This mistrust permeates many users in the Asia Pacific area and needs to be addressed to encourage users to be more worry free with their mobile phone use where data is concerned.

After an earlier report about the UK Ministry of defence creating a series of videos aimed to educating forces staff on the dangers of updating to Facebook and Tweeting information that could be intercepted by “the enemy” and general nasty folk.

Symantec have produced a report focusing on the corporate sectors potential exposure to negative social media coordinated by their own staff and how to mitigate the consequences.

Symantec are World famous for supplying security, storage and systems management solutions have recently released their social media protection poll for 2011.

The real cost of social media disasters:

The survey is the cumulative result of research that was conducted during April 2011 by Applied Research.

They surveyed IT and C-level professionals responsible for networks, computers, and technology resources at small, medium, and large enterprises.

These were defined as being the following:

(small – 1,000-2,400, medium – 2,500-4,999, and large 5,000+ employees).

Survey Scope:

With 1,225 respondents in 33 countries in North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

The survey was done to assess how companies were currently protecting their assets and themselves from potentially negative consequences of information sharing via social media outlets.

9 Social media “incidents” a year:

The poll has highlighted that one bad tweet can cost a company up to $4 million in lost revenue as a result of a bad tweet that has leaked sensitive information.

As usual when it is information you wished no one knew about you can guarantee it is just what people want to share!

And with nine “social media incidents” a year on average at the organisations surveyed, the result of these incidents meant that 94% of those surveyed suffered considerable loss at the hands of loose tweets and facebook updates related to sensitive information. The findings make for interesting reading for any business who is looking to ensure that social media is not used negatively when shining a light on their own organisation for marketing gains.

Top 3 social media incidents:

The survey found that the top three social-media incidents included:

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• The loss or exposure of confidential information (41 percent).
• Employees sharing too much information in public forums (46 percent).
• Increased exposure to litigation (37 percent).

[/arrowlist]

And the impact of social media incidents included:

Over 90% of the survey respondents who had social media incidents suffered negative effects as a result, these included:

[arrowlist]

• Reduced stock price (average cost: $1,038,401 USD).
• Litigation costs (average cost: $650,361 USD).
• Direct financial costs (average cost: $641,993 USD.
• Damaged brand reputation/loss of customer trust (average cost: $638,496 USD).
• Lost revenue (average cost: $619,360 USD).

[/arrowlist]

Greg Muscarella, senior director of product management for Symantec’s Information Management Group reported is quoted saying:

“Employee education and training on the proper use of social media for business purposes is just as important as having the technology pieces in place,”

I would argue with that and say that businesses should look at specialist social media agencies to organise what gets out in the blogosphere and how to aggregate and syndicate all that content in a wise and effective manner.

Obviously Symantec are in the business of selling their services and solutions so they actually suggest businesses should look at investing in the following areas of data management and law:

[arrowlist]

• Employee training
• Legal policies
• Archiving solutions
• Data loss prevention

[/arrowlist]

Data roaming charges in Europe to be cut:

Having just returned from a fleeting busman’s holiday within Europe, I was seriously annoyed to find that my mobile bill had a data roaming charge applied to it.

As a regular flyer I always use local wi-fi and turn off the data roaming option as soon as I depart from the airport.

Data roaming bill from recent trip to Europe:

I have to blame my Samsung S2 for the charges incurred as it seems to turn data roaming on randomly (something I never had a problem with using my iPhone abroad).

Anyway, us Europeans are in for some relief as the EU is planning on imposing a data cap for data roaming charges that will bring the price of 1 MB of data to approximately 80p from next July, compared to the current levels of around £1-3 for 1MB and up to £5 per MB after a certain limit has been reached while abroad!

Currently O2 charge a massive £3.07 per MB in Europe and £6 for the rest of the World!

EU to “force” networks to comply:

The report in the Guardian this week highlights that the EU intends to push savings on to customers who travel throughout Europe as consumer groups throughout Europe have been calling for this type of action for a long time now.

Possibility to switch providers while abroad for data roaming savings:

People will also be able to switch providers to try and encourage competition in the market for overseas data roaming connections.

Better news still?

After a cap was introduced last week on the cost of overseas calls and texts, with a sliding scale from July 2012, we wonder if there will be a sting in the tail to go with the savings with prices across Europe to be capped at the following:

£0.28 per minute in July 2012, £0.25 per minute in July 2013, £0.21 per minute in July 2014.

Director general of the European Consumers’ Organisation – Monique Goyens, said:

“It’s reassuring that the commission is tackling the market’s structural problems by introducing decoupling of roaming from domestic telecom subscriptions, and at last acting on the increasingly important issue of data roaming. The current cap of €0.90 per MB is a slow start. Consumers should not be ripped off for surfing the net abroad.”

With the rise of Smart Phones and Tablets it is good to see the EU push a little onto the greedy networks who blatantly overcharge consumers for a service that they are now requiring and getting used to more and more.

Have you been stung by data roaming charges?

Do you think it is unfair to charge such large fees, or do you thin networks are justified in charging sizeable fees to use data abroad?