The Mobile Marketing Blog - TellMyCell

Telus Promises Record-Breaking Refund in Premium Text Message Probe

Have you ever felt like your wireless carrier was ripping you off? That’s exactly what happened to thousands of former customers of three leading Canadian-based telecommunication companies. The Competition Bureau, a telecom watchdog, brought the investigation to focus in late 2015, when it challenged Telus to refund customer for charges made for premium text messaging services like ringtones and trivia games. The Bureau were originally seeking $10 million in customer rebates, but settled after Telus, a Vancouver-based telecom giant, offered $7.34 million, the largest-ever settlement reached by the organization. 

According to one report, while Telus did not personally gain from these premium services, they did support advertising (pop-up ads, apps and on social media) that misled their customers into signing up for subscriptions costing up to $40. After a five-month investigation, the bureau said third party providers collected these fees. Current and previous customers of Telus will be contacted soon to collect their rebates.

 

Score one for the consumers!

Meanwhile, there’s other shady behavior to report from our telecom neighbors to the north. In addition to the Telus investigation, the bureau is also investigating Rogers and Bell, for similar illegal charges collected by a third party. In March of 2015, Rogers agreed to pay $5.42 million in damages. The Bell investigation is ongoing. 

 

Lessons for Consumers

There are a few major takeaways from this telecom debacle that everyone should pay attention to. First, let this be a lesson to everyone enrolled in a carrier’s auto pay system. Never looking at a bill or service charges could mean you’re getting charged for services you don’t know about. If you don’t look for these fraudulent charges, you’re only going to notice them when they’ve impacted your checking account. Make an effort to observe and understand your usage fees and extra charges each month to avoid accidentally paying a third party for ringtones and apps you don’t want. 

Also, this event serves as a huge wake-up call to people in Canada (as well as the U.S.) that these large telecommunications conglomerates are trouble if not supervised or regulated. The carriers are conduits used to exploit their customers. While they get slapped on the hand with a hefty fine, third party offenders are none the worse for wear. It’s important that illegal charges like the ones in Canada be taken seriously by the general public.

In a time when cell phones have become less a personal preference and more a living necessity, it’s imperative that the public is protected against the potential wrongdoing of the telecommunication companies at home and abroad. We rely on them every day to make our lives run smoothly, each carrier is extremely profitable, and yet they would allow this kind of behavior to occur again and again. 

Until we can ensure regulatory action to prevent these types of fees and charges, all individuals should be looking at their cell phone bills to ensure they don’t become victims.

Apple Dodge More Legal Wrangles

A federal judge threw out a case against Apple, claiming the tech giant used its iMessage system to intercept text messages to Android phones. The case also claimed Apple prevented these messages from being sent, but the courts ruled earlier this year that it wasn’t of the class action variety. The plaintiffs—a husband, wife, and family friend—had attempted to prove the company was violating federal wiretap laws. 

These plaintiffs were Apple users who switched to Android between 2012 and 2014. The case started when an iCloud issue prevented iMessage texts from reaching their destinations. The plaintiffs said the glitch resulted in illegal surveillance. They noted that Apple keeping the “contents” of iMessages sent from iPhones to Android phones and sometimes failing to deliver the messages was a violation of the Stored Communications Act and Federal Wiretap Act.

 

Apple’s Response 

The company argued that because the plaintiffs sued after they switched to Android, they really didn’t have a case. Apple said in its court motion that this made it impossible to know whether texts sent to their “iMessage-associated numbers went to their Apple or Android devices.” 

Apple eventually fixed the problem, but won’t have to fork over monetary compensation. The company created a website that de-registers phone numbers from their iMessage service, though users can also disable iMessage on their iPhones before placing their SIM cards in Android devices. 

“Apple takes customer satisfaction extremely seriously, but the law does not provide a remedy when, as here, technology simply does not function as [the] plaintiff subjectively believes it should,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. 

Several carriers are now offering features similar to iMessage, including the ability to see what the other person is typing. T-Mobile, for example, announced last summer that the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6 phones would feature advanced messaging services through a software update. Features include “rich” one-on-one group messaging, such as near-real-time chat and the ability to share high-res photos and videos up to 10 MB. This is in addition to seeing what the person you’re chatting with is typing. 

T-Mobile says their advanced messaging service “is built to work across all devices, makers and operating systems--and wireless operators."

Ironically, some note that the Apple case is reminiscent of something Steve Jobs said in 2010. Jobs announced that Apple was going to make FaceTime an open standard, but it never happened. And while the concept of having FaceTime video chat functionality available in more devices and applications is an attractive one, it’s still unlikely to occur anytime soon. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as some industry experts argue Facetime is simply a way for Apple to keep its customers. 

Will more cases like Apple’s crop up in reaction to advanced text messaging services, or did the company nip the problem in the bud? The plaintiffs weren’t able to prove Apple broke any laws, but the issue sure did annoy a lot of users who made the switch to Android. Hopefully, other companies will ensure such problems won’t occur before they roll out advanced messaging services. 

 

The Best Smartphones in 2015

It’s that time of year again—no, not Christmas—a breakdown of the best smartphones of 2015! That’s right, it’s not too late to get great deals on the best phones of the year, and you’ll want to know who made this year’s cut and why before you make your purchase. 

 

#5 HTC One M9

This brand has come a long way this year, and for people who enjoy the minimalistic design of Apple, but prefer the Android operating system, this is a perfect mobile arrangement. 

Great features on this phone include solid build and utility, BoomSound audio and Sense overlay. While the camera isn’t the best the industry has to offer, for strict utility users, this is an affordable and thoughtful choice. The HTC One A9 is also pretty good, and it looks a lot like the iPhone. 

 

#4 Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

For users on the fence about getting a phablet, this Samsung device is your 2015 champion. The sleek and enormous screen size helps busy users see and do more with advanced camera and video features, which make getting social both a breeze and more enjoyable. 

If you like everything about this phone but don’t think this device will fit in your pocket, the Samsung Galaxy S6 has all the same great guts in a more traditional sized smartphone. 

 

#3 Sony Xperia Z5

This is a great phone for people who take their smartphone with them everywhere—we’re talking the mountains, scuba diving, you name it! This device is waterproof, dustproof and by all accounts indestructible. It also features the latest Snapdragon processor with 3GB of RAM.

This phone is certainly not the cheapest phone on the list this year, but depending on your daily activities, this phone could be well worth the small investment. 

 

#2 iPhone 6S Plus

We just couldn’t have a list without an Apple product in the mix, now could we? And the iPhone 6S Plus surely don’t disappoint. Yes, the 6S Plus is more expensive than its sibling the 6S, but it’s well worth the money if you’re thinking about upgrading your iPhone to a 2015 model. 

The iPhone 6S Plus is beautifully designed, features an awesome 3D Touch screen, fuss-free camera, and brilliant display. 

The other major advantage to the 6S Plus is the extra battery life it affords, which is a problem for most smartphone users. 

 

#1 Samsung Galaxy S6

Price drops on this incredibly good smartphone make it not only the most affordable smartphone this year, and dollar-for-dollar the most powerful handset on the market. 

The 5.1-inch screen is more than big enough to play, chat and snap just about anything you want, while still being small enough to be both lightweight and portable. Both the picture and video quality is an Instagram lover’s dream, which includes QHD display and a nifty TouchWiz overlay for ease of use. 

If you’re in the market for an end of the year upgrade make sure to grab one of these models to ensure you get one of the very best smartphones of 2015. 

 

10 Mobile Marketing Predictions for the New Year

The time to ring in the New Year is fast approaching, resulting in plenty of mobile marketing predictions for 2016. The world is increasingly a mobile-centric place, so what’s likely to happen to this essential industry in the coming months? 

 

1) Apps in the Mainstream

Apps are increasingly the choice advertising avenue for many brands, and have replaced more “traditional” marketing means. Marketers are set to provide more utility and value within their apps, which will become the go-to in regards to customer loyalty and rewards, engagement, and the purchase of goods and services. Management of billing and payments via apps is becoming more commonplace as well. Brands pander to the independent shopper, the jet setter, and the otherwise-very-busy consumer interested in getting what he wants and needs quickly.

 

2) Ad Unit Evolution

Popular ad units are predicted to evolve seriously in 2016. The user experience is in the forefront of advertiser and publisher minds, causing them to push for more native ad placements. Such ads are less annoying and disruptive to consumers. The days of the one-banner-to-rule-them-all approach are coming to a close, as advertisers will instead focus on options that better match the medium. Users are subsequently engaged rather than distracted. 

 

3) More Fun With Beacons

Beacons and other location-based advertising strategies will continue to grow and thrive in 2016. A Google Eddystone study noted that 85 percent of the top 100 retailers are set to adopt beacon technology by the end of the New Year, with beacons also set to influence some $4 billion of U.S. retail sales. 

 

4) Personalized Messages

Marketers now have the chance to craft the highly personalized messages they want, thanks to data and real-time technologies. Next-generation platforms make it easy for marketers to learn from disparate data sources, pair them with real-time mobile signals—including those for movement and location—and create incredibly personalized “mobile moments” consumers are sure to enjoy. 

 

5) Meaningful Mobile Commerce

The New Year is expected to be the year mobile commerce gets its shot. According to eMarketer , m-commerce sales will increase by 32 percent in 2016, which is much faster than e-commerce. 

 

6) Mobile Budget Increase

The influence mobile is having on this year’s holiday shopping season is paving the way for a huge shift in focus. Forrester Research predicts mobile as the fastest-growing of the digital channels, and suggests brands will use mobile to create “big, hairy, audacious goals.” Evidence of this transition began all the way back in 2014, when Hilton announced a $500 million investment in mobile technologies. 

 

7) Cross Device Tracking and Targeting

The cross device tracking market needs a leader. This means advertisers should use their first-party data in conjunction with third-party data sources to create a comprehensive approach for cross-device tracking and targeting. Working with ad platforms that offer DMP capabilities expedites the process. 

 

8) Mobile-Informed Predictive Decisions

The aforementioned burgeoning importance of location and movement data in “predicting the next best offer” means brands will likely leverage their mobile signals to  “sharpen targeting and create look-alike models to reach similar consumers in other digital channels with hyper-relevant offers.” Machine learning allows for further optimization of big data over time.

 

9) Less Ad Blocking Concern

Advertisers won’t be as intimidated by ad blocking as they used to be. Why? The mobile web doesn’t affect in-app campaigns. 

 

10) Transparency in Programmatic Advertising

Advertisers and publishers alike are calling for greater programmatic advertising transparency. Publishers require improved access to data to determine what ads and companies are the most successful, while advertisers want to know what they’re paying for and obtain that coveted return on investment. 

Fighting Teen Smoking Rates with SMS

 

Almost all of us have had trouble kicking a bad habit. There are all kinds of remedies available to support the necessary changes in behavior, and one of the newest is text messaging. 

Mobile-based text messaging, or SMS, is currently taking on one of the most dangerous habits on the planet: cigarette smoking. QuitText, paid for by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, is focusing its effort on young smokers, particularly teens and individuals in their early twenties. 

What’s unique about this demographic is its sensitivity to mobile technology. According to Amelie Ramirez of the Texas Health Science Center, “…people in their early twenties spend a lot of time text messaging anyway, so this is a good way to reach them where they are.”

The program has a fairly simple design and function. Users just text IQUIT to a five-digit number and are then prompted to receive a set number of text messages per day encouraging them to stop smoking. The free service has users regularly update their smoking status and report relapses. Additionally, it offers emergency help for those that qualify. 

"This way if you are a teen who is smoking, your personal coach is there with you all the time," Ramirez said. 

So far, the default setting (four to eight daily messages) has been the most accepted with median use reaching 27 days of activity. While about half of the users did fail to report at least one update, relapse reports were considerably lower. 

In a recent study published by the Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, the most important feature of the program was its variability—the fact that young smokers were able to stick (more or less) to the program. 

According to the report, “Some users complied fully with the requirement to report status changes, while even among those who did not, many found QuitTxt to be very helpful, suggesting that perfect congruence between message content and quit status is not essential.”

In other words, whether or not users followed the program perfectly, they still felt good about the service—and sometimes that’s all you need to kick a bad habit.  

Nicotine remains one of the most addictive drugs and the most challenging for people to quit, despite overwhelming evidence of its risks to personal health and the health of others. 

If texting can somehow manage to break through to a few smokers and get them to quit, perhaps it’s a safe model that could be implemented to help aid others in ceasing addictive habits.

 

SMS Messaging for a Healthy Heart?

 

Is texting the proverbial wave of the future regarding heart health? A new study says yes.  

This study’s findings were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Some 700 Australian heart patients participated in the study, which involved sending them information resulting in significant changes in blood pressure, as well as physical activity and cholesterol levels. It is proving to be an inexpensive, effective method of dealing with heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide.

Research was led by Dr. Clara Chow of the University of Sydney’s George Institute for Global Health, and built on smaller studies that connected health-related texts to physical improvement. Dr. Chow and her team of researchers randomly assigned participants to receive their usual healthcare only, or usual care along with automated “healthy” text messages. The study, entitled TEXT ME, lasted six months. Message examples included: 

• Walking is cheap. It can be done almost anywhere. All you need are comfortable shoes & clothing.
• Try avoiding adding salt to your foods by using other spices or herbs.
• Studies show that stress, worry & loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease. Please talk to a health professional if you need help.
• Try identifying the triggers that make you want a cigarette & plan to avoid them.

Nearly one-third of the text message group reached “target levels” regarding four or more heart disease risk factors compared to just ten percent of the non-text group. Factors included exercising five times per week or more for at least 30 minutes, not smoking, and having blood pressure below 140 over 90. 

The study wasn’t long enough to determine if heart disease risk factor improvement resulted in fewer heart attacks. Additional problems included counting on patients to report physical activity levels, and not experimenting with more text messages to see if larger improvements would result.

However, the benefits have the power to potentially “reduce risk of recurrent heart attacks by at least a quarter if they were maintained long-term,” said Chow. “We think it is really important to see if they can be repeated elsewhere in Australia and internationally, and maintained long-term.”

Dr. Chow noted her involvement with a more sizable study that involves 20 centers in Australian rural, urban, and indigenous settings. The study will find out if “healthy” text messages sent to patients provide long-lasting benefits.  

"Well-conducted randomized clinical trials like TEXT ME demonstrate that mobile health interventions, even simple ones, can influence patient behaviors and improve risk profiles in the short term," remarked study co-author Dr. Zupin Eapen, an assistant professor of medicine at Duke University in North Carolina. “Other text-messaging trials promoting things like weight loss and smoking cessation have shown equally as promising results.”  

Dr. Eapen also said that, while there are many, many apps available to help patients monitor their heart health, few controlled studies concerning the apps’ effectiveness have been conducted.  

Will text messages or apps be proven to benefit heart health in the long term? Time will certainly tell. 

Washington Police Add More Text 911 Services

Now, there’s another way to get 911 help. In addition to dialing 911 in an emergency, you can text for assistance. 

Text messaging 911 is a tool that Washington police hope will help those who cannot call for aid. It’s a useful solution to crises in certain circumstances, but Washington police want to point out that calling 911 is almost always a better option.

The new texting services offer remedies for those who cannot call 911 in an emergency because it’s not safe to speak, phone service is out, they can’t speak, or they can’t reach traditional services for any other reason. It provides almost immediate assistance by giving people the ability to transmit their locations and the nature of the emergency via text message.

 

Fairfax County and Others Offer 911 Text Messaging Service

For anyone needing help in Fairfax County, including the towns of Herdon, Vienna, Clifton, and the city of Fairfax, text messaging 911 emergency services is an option.  

These areas join Frederick County, Maryland, in providing text-to-911 emergency services for anyone living in the counties or towns. Frederick County was one of the first jurisdictions in the United States to use the text-to-911 program. It was the first in the metro D.C. region as well.

Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T customers can text their locations and emergencies to 911, and an operator will respond with assistance. In 2014, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that required all wireless carriers to enable 911 emergency texts for call centers that requested use of services. The FCC has spearheaded an effort to offer text-to-911 services across the country. 

Currently, about 6,100 emergency call centers in the U.S. provide text-to-911 services. But, Steve Souder, Director of Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications, states that only about 360 centers offer 911 text messaging. This places Fairfax County in an enviable position. The county call center is one of the 5 percent of 911 call centers that give this valuable option to its residents, and to those who work in the area.

 

Why Text 911?

It’s important to note that in most cases, calling 911 is the best option. Text messages usually take longer to go through then voice calls, so call if you can. But, in certain circumstances, texting 911 makes sense. A few of the situations in which text messaging 911 is a good idea include:

 

• When a person is deaf or hard-of-hearing
• When someone has a speech disability
• When a person is not in a safe place to speak to 911
• When a medical emergency makes someone incapable of speaking
• When one is in a place where voice calls will not go through
• When storms or disasters have shut down voice service

 

The future of 911 text messaging will allow people to text videos and photos of their emergencies. The next generation of 911 services will look nothing like they do today, which is why Washington police hope people will embrace the new 911 emergency service offerings.

How to Merge Text and Instant Messaging in Hangouts

 

To merge or not to merge text and instant message in Hangouts: that’s the question. On August 18, Google revealed a standalone website for its messaging and chat service, Hangouts. Now, users don’t have to go digging around through Google+ or Gmail and can instead use the new, dedicated URL to access IM, voice calls, video chats, and SMS.  

In addition to the new URL, Hangouts received a much-needed “interfacelift.” Users are now greeted by the same sleek design we’ve come to expect from Google, including fewer buttons on the screen and large landscape photography covering most of the background.

But back to the question: should users combine text and instant messaging? The verdict is still out on this question, and the move is likely going to be received with mixed reviews depending on how people interact with these individual features.  

On the one hand, it’s nice to jump around from SMS and chat, especially if you’ve got contacts that use the same technology for the same purpose. There’s also an advantage for users who may not check their Gmail inboxes often or rarely leave them open to check messages. 

However, things can start to feel clunky and disjointed if your contacts don’t use Hangouts frequently via mobile. 

 

Understanding the Switch

All of the fuss started months ago, when Google felt pressure to create a standalone page for its service, similar to Facebook’s messaging app Messenger, which already has a standalone page.  

The overhaul in version 4.0 includes updates for both Android and iOS, but appeals mostly to the already-loyal Gmail user who is most likely to use this free service.  

And if that’s a good fit for you, then you’ll surely want to make the mobile connection to various messaging tools within this service. To do that, simply download the latest Hangouts version 4.0 and get into your settings on the left side of the slide-out menu. 

From here, you can make Hangouts your default texting app by touching SMS disabled and selecting Hangouts in the list of texting apps. 

Next, you need to enable merges conversations, which will merge SMS and Hangouts conversation into one strand. Then you can select SMS, Hangouts, or Google Voice from the touch icon on the left side of the screen while texting. 

To enable Google Voice, you need to complete one further step by selecting your Google account instead if SMS under account settings. Then, you should be good to go.

How to Hack a Corvette with SMS

 

New research has shown that it’s entirely possible to hack a Corvette...with an SMS message. Four security researchers from the University of California San Diego recently presented a paper at the USENIX WOOT 2015 conference in Washington showing how they hacked a Corvette using mobile Telematic Control Units (TCUs). The units are more frequently referred to as tracking/insurance dongles. Researchers showed how these dongles, which are used by Uber and car insurance companies such as Metromile, are easily reversible and controllable via SMS.  

Such devices are connected to vehicles through the ODB-II port. This gives a person access to the vehicle’s CAN bus, which allows interaction with assorted features, such as brakes and windshield wipers. 

“We acquired some of these things, reverse engineered them, and along the way found that they had a whole bunch of security deficiencies,” said Stefan Savage, the computer security professor and project leader at University of California at San Diego. He noted that dongles “provide multiple ways to remotely…control just about anything on the vehicle they were connected to.”

 

What the Research Says 

Researchers discovered different methods of obtaining TCU details from online sources, such as the dongle’s correlating phone number and IP address. Once the Corvette’s number was found, researchers used special SMS messages to connect to the CAN bus. They then used the vehicle’s firmware vulnerabilities to control both the brakes and windshield wipers. And while these were the only two features tested, researchers could have easily accessed a slew of others, including door locks, transmission, dashboard data, etc.  

Unfortunately, TCUs are capable of receiving SMS messages while vehicles are in operation, resulting in serious risks to both drivers and passengers. The University of California security researchers subsequently recommended a number of actions, including improved key and password management, SMS authentication, and the disabling of WAN administration. 

"Metromile was concrete in its plans to disable all SMS access on its branded devices, consistent with our recommendation," said the researchers. 

The Corvette isn’t the only vehicle to be hacked successfully. Last month, researchers demonstrated how easily they could hack Jeeps featuring uConnect software. This means a staggering 471,000 US Jeeps are in danger of being controlled through IP addresses. Following the Jeep revelation, security researcher Samy Kamkar announced how a $100 gadget could be manipulated to control GM vehicle functions. 

Technological advancements may have helped vehicles and their drivers in regards to safety, however as with any advancement the opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities is present. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has created a group to analyze the “security and privacy of Web-related technology” utilized by the automotive industry.

 

Is Your Mobile App Up to Scratch?

 

Wondering why your app isn’t capturing consumer attention like it should?  

It doesn’t take much effort to delete an app, which any consumer will do should said app not function properly or prove difficult to use. Rather than annoying the majority of your audience with an ill-fated app, take the necessary steps to put it in working order. 

Here’s a look at what goes into creating a successful app, as well as a tip or two for getting yours off the proverbial ground: 

 

Affordability 

Is your app free? Or at least extremely affordable? There are plenty of ways to make money off free apps (Instagram, anyone?), with those costing $2 or less also proving attractive to potential users.

 

Usefulness

Does the app enhance the lives of its users in some essential way? Does it provide a practical purpose? If your app doesn’t fulfill a key role in users’ lives, then it better be very, very entertaining, such as the now-classic Angry Birds. 

 

Usability

How easy is your app to use? Is it simple to navigate and understand? An App’s Usability is key to growing downloads and maintaining engagement.

 

Advertising

What kind of reach does your app boast? Showcasing your product across social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest, as well as the company blog, is a good start, especially since these sites allow you to discuss matters related to the app and otherwise engage your audience. The more you engage and appear truly interested in users’ opinions, the more buzz your app will generate. 

 

Multi-Channel Capacity

Think about your app’s channel capacity as well. Evernote is a fantastic example of a multi-channel app, as it’s available no matter where you are or what the online situation.

 

Defining the Market 

Defining your exact market also helps your app get the recognition it needs for success. Is your target audience kids? Young professionals? Teenagers? Seniors?

 

Incentives and Rewards

What’s your app like in terms of incentives and rewards? Dropbox, for example, gives additional free space to consumers when they encourage their friends to join; the friends enjoy extra space as well. Rewards such as coupons, points, and virtual goals also help considerably when trying to pique consumer interest in your app. 

 

Tips and Tricks

Additional options for monetization include thinking about what upgrades you can implement, as well as how your app performs in terms of scalability. SMS marketing is another great way to generate interest in your app, as it’s easy to use and capable of reaching a mass audience in mere minutes. SMS offers a way to introduce your app with a free trial period. Additionally, you can ask customers to share a short referral code with friends in exchange for discounts on future purchases. 

Give your app the attention it deserves, and see if customers don’t give it the attention you want in turn.