 - SMS spam (sometimes called cell phone spam) is any junk message delivered to a mobile phone as text messaging through the Short Message Service (SMS). The practice is fairly new to North America, but has been common in Japan for years. In 2001-2002, the systems at DoCoMo, the country's major service provider, were overcome by the volume of SMS spam, causing users' screens to freeze and spreading programs that caused the phones to dial emergency numbers.
According to some experts, other parts of the world should brace themselves for a similar deluge. Others, however, point to several reasons why SMS spam is not likely to become as prevalent in North America and Europe as it is in Japan. For one thing, text messaging itself is much more popular in Japan. Forrester Research reported that 80% of Japanese mobile users use text messaging, in contrast to just 17% in the United States. Furthermore, it costs the sender about $0.08-0.12 to send each text message -- not prohibitive for most users, but too costly to make the mass mailings of the spammer profitable.
 |
Learn more about Mobile Basics |
| CDMA2000: A 3G mobile technology: CDMA2000 is a 3G mobile technology that includes 1xRTT, EV-DO Rev 0, EV-DO Rev A and EV-DO Rev B, and it competes with GSM technologies. |
| CDMA technology: An understanding of CDMA technology is critical for mobile managers when they are trying to select the best cellular solution for their enterprise mobile strategy. |
| An introduction to Android for mobile application development: Introducing Android, Chapter 1, from 'Android Wireless Application Development,' explores the benefits this open source platform brings to mobile application development. |
| Nokia versus Apple: Rumors are hot and heavy that Nokia will soon launch a competitor to iTunes. This raises some very interesting questions that are addressed in this analyst report. |
| The IT Guy: Mobility -- It's a beach: In this episode of "The IT Guy," a mobile worker finds that his devices (wireless laptop, glare-free screen and PDA) don't guarantee a seamless outdoor work experience. |
| LAST UPDATED: |
17 Jul 2007
|
 |
Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know.
Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com
|
|
More resources from around the web:
|
 |
 |
| |
RELATED CONTENT
 |
CDMA technology
An understanding of CDMA technology is critical for mobile managers when they are trying to select the best cellular solution for their enterprise...
|
|
CDMA2000: A 3G mobile technology
CDMA2000 is a 3G mobile technology that includes 1xRTT, EV-DO Rev 0, EV-DO Rev A and EV-DO Rev B, and it competes with GSM technologies.
|
|
Femtocell solutions: Key questions to ask before you invest
Femtocells can improve in-building cellular coverage, but there are several key factors you must consider and questions you should ask before you buy...
|
|
|
Show me everything on 
