AMTA Snapshot Edition 162

Global project to improve access to mobiles for disabled and elderly Pictured above are: Michael Milligan (MMF), Gunela Astbrink (TEDICORE), Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Chris Althaus (AMTA) at the GARI launch. A new global information service to help people with disabilities or functional limitations find suitable mobile phones was launched in Parliament House on Wednesday this week with AMTA partnering the Mobile Manufacturers Forum in the initiative. The mobile phone industry, in response to requests from disability groups for improved information regarding disability, has developed a worldwide information service for reporting the accessibility features of mobile phones.

Mobile communications made more accessible The Rudd Government today welcomed industry efforts to improve the accessibility of mobile communications services for the aged and people with disabilities.

Launch of Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative TEDICORE welcomes an industry initiative by the Mobile Manufacturers Forum in partnership with the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) to make it easier for people with disabilities to find the right mobile phone to meet their needs.

Australia?s top councils honoured at mobile phone recycling awards Brisbane City Council, Dalby Regional Council, Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Moonee Valley City Council and Shire of Lake Grace Council were praised for their mobile phone recycling efforts at the 2009 MobileMuster Local Government Awards, which were presented at the National General Assembly for Local Government, in Canberra this week.

MCF discusses community consultation at ALGA Conference In a further step along the road towards better communications with Councils about Australia?s mobile networks, the Mobile Carriers Forum attended this week?s Australian Local Government Association conference.

Productivity Commission - Phone checks, air security 'unjustified' Nearly eight years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US, Australia's economic watchdog has recommended some airport security measures be streamlined and background identity checks on pre-paid mobile phones be abolished or changed, the Australian newspaper writes today.

Cutting red tape on social and economic infrastructure Telecommunications consumer information obligations should be streamlined and identity check requirements for prepaid mobile phones should be abolished or revised to lower costs to business while achieving their policy objective of allowing law enforcement agencies to identify mobile phone owners, the Productivity Commission says in a new report.

Australians mostly satisfied with telcos Three-quarters of Australians are satisfied with their telecommunications services, although the number of complaints is continuing to rise, a report released today showed, AAP reported this week.

Denmark allocates digital dividend spectrum to mobile; Russia reviews position The GSMA reports that on 22nd June, Danish Minister of Culture Carina Christensen and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Helge Sander announced that the spectrum band 790-862MHz will be allocated to mobile broadband. This is a distinct policy shift on the part of the Danish government which had previously reserved all but 8MHz of the digital dividend spectrum for digital broadcasting.

One national consumer law for Australia Thirteen different consumer protection laws will become one under a Bill introduced into the Australian Parliament this week, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Innovation, Dr Craig Emerson, said this week.

THE message says: DUR DF an OTT SMS I sent WT? SRY. OK TTG. It translates: Do you remember, dear friend an over the top message I sent without thinking. Sorry. OK, time to go, reports the Daily Telegraph today.