AMTA Snapshot Edition 35

Mobile industry groups welcome new consumer protections for premium rate mobile services The mobile telecommunications industry and mobile content providers yesterday welcomed the approval of an industry scheme that introduces a range of safeguards to protect children, gives consumers clear cost information on premium mobile phone services and a “stop” command to unsubscribe.

Special thanks for a job well done After two years of hard work by AMTA Members, the Australian Communications and Media Authority today announced its approval of the Mobile Premium Services Self-Regulatory Scheme.

Giving mobile phone thieves something to scream about The mobile telecommunication industry’s world-leading, anti-theft technology has helped to reduce the number of phones reported lost and stolen over the past 12 months, AMTA’s Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said this week on Channel 9 news.

Capped mobile plans a major driver of lower prices for customers Capped plans have had a big impact on driving lower prices for consumers of post-paid services, AMTA Chief Executive Officer Chris Althaus said in response to criticism of the term “capped”. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has expressed his concern in a media release this week at the continued use of the term “capped” to describe certain phone plans. “Rather than being a cap, these plans often have no spending limit and people can be charged for amounts far in excess of any cap,” John Pinnock said.

Australia’s world-leading deployment practices highlighted at international conference MCF Executive Director, Tanya Stoianoff has been invited to speak at an International Workshop organised by the University of Ioannina in Greece, about the achievements of the Mobile Carriers Forum in Australia.

CEO’s column Next-generation network technologies will provide a quantum shift in opportunities for our industry to service customers with a rapidly expanding array of applications, services and experiences as convergence gathers pace, AMTA CEO Chris Althaus said.

ACMA releases tender for Do Not Call Register The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a request for tender for the development and operation of a national Do Not Call Register. ACMA is seeking submissions from suitably qualified and experienced organisations, or consortiums, to both develop and manage the register. ACMA will hold an industry briefing on the tender at its Melbourne office at Level 44, 360 Elizabeth Street, at 2.00pm on 13 October.

ICE Conference in Canberra considers hot topics The 2006 conference of the Australian Communications and Media Authority will kick off in Canberra in 48 days’ time. The ‘ICE’ conference – ‘Information Communications Entertainment’ – will take place at the Hyatt Hotel on 23 and 24 November.

Data services drive up American ARPU Cellular-News reports that overall spending for wireless service in the United States has increased significantly from 2004 as customers continue to try new non-voice service offerings such as text messaging and games/music file downloads. According to a new J.D. Power and Associates study, during the past three-year period, the average monthly wireless bill has increased a full US$11 -- from US$55 in 2004 to US$66 in 2006.

AMTA’s Annual General Meeting is on November 23 AMTA’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 23, 2006, in Sydney. The meeting will be held at noon at Level 6, Nokia House, 19 Harris Street, Pyrmont, Sydney.