It's fairly trivial to blast out messages using any of the countless available
SMS software packages.
NTT DoCoMo is required by law to be VERY secretive with their customer
information, including individual cell phone numbers, but that doesn't mean
there aren't plenty of other ways to get lists of cell numbers. A bank account
and some web surfing and you can find lists of phone numbers, emails, etc. In
fact you can pay to have someone's name looked up and get ALL the information
they filled out for their cell phone application, and then sum. Just like in the
states, the black market trafficing of personal data is in Japan, too.
r e n
John Stebbins wrote:
> This topic was posted last month by Andrea, and I would like to re-visit it.
>
> As discussed below, cell users have to pay to use an email service, but all
> can receive Messaging for free (NTT is Shortmail, J-Phone is SkyMail, etc.).
> Messaging is sent directly to the phone number and is limited to around 128
> characters.
>
> I recently was "Messaged" from an unknown party. So my question is, can
> messaging be used as a push technology (for direct marketing, etc.)? Is a
> cell phone owners directory available somewhere, or is random digit dialing
> being used? And do messages have to be sent from a phone (one at a time),
> or is the technology available (and legal?) for blanket messaging?
>
> Any info would be greatly appreciated!
>
> John Stebbins
> V.P. and Managing Director
> NPD Japan, Ltd.
>
> Tel: +81-3-5350-4774
> Fax: +81-3-5350-6588
> john_stebbins@npdjpn.co.jp
> www.npd.com
>
> Andrea Hoffmann wrote:
>
> >
> > Are there services (in Japan, Europe or the USA) which already
> > use this push technology? How does it work, how do I get the
> > information pushed as a subscriber and do I have to subscribe?
> > Is it difficult to setup?
> >
> > What do people on the list here think about push technologies
> > in general and especially when used on a mobile phone? Is it
> > something people will use a lot? Is it "better" then pull on
> > phones? What kind of info would you like to get pushed?
>
> Easiest way to push to phones in Japan is to send emails. On I-mode
> it's even possible to email HTML mails to some handsets if you know
> what you're doing. Regardless, many services offer push info via email.
>
> I-Mode also has FreeMessage, which is kind of like an email broadcast,
> but it's not being used so much now as it's just as easy to use email
> to multiple recipients at once.
>
> Biggest problem with push is that it costs the user money to receive
> email, even mails the recepient doesn't want. Looking at potential spam
> backlash like we saw (and still see) on the fixedNet.
>
> r e n
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** note new work email: renfield.kuroda@msdw.com **
Received on Wed May 31 05:51:08 2000