Dear Readers Today’s edition of Snapshot – number 187 – is the last of the year. The AMTA team including MobileMuster and the Mobile Carriers Forum want to thank you for your support in 2009 and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The mobile telecommunications industry noted this week’s Federal Government announcement about ISP filtering to combat specific content that has been refused classification (RC), saying the industry was committed to being socially responsible and in step with community needs and expectations.

The Australian Government this week announced further details of its approach to improve safety on the internet for Australian families.

For every phone recycled by December 31 MobileMuster will donate the gift of chicken through Oxfam Unwrapped to a family in need overseas.

MobileMuster says a “Big Thankyou” to the 164 schools participating in the “ I can do that” schools recycling challenge for collecting 849 kg of mobile phone components

Office workers are being urged to ignore business calls on their mobile phones and emails over the Christmas break, as research shows the damage to mental health caused by the intrusion of work into family time, the Sydney Morning Herald reports today.

Bega Valley Shire Council has joined forces with WSN Environmental Solutions and MobileMuster to provide residents with a free service to recycle their old mobile phones without even leaving home.

The Federal Court in Brisbane today imposed $6.5 million dollars in penalties against two further respondents in proceedings brought by the Australian Communications and Media Authority against SMS spammers. These penalties are in addition to the $15.75 million imposed on five other respondents on 23 October this year and bring the total amount of penalties in this matter to $22.25 million to date.

ACCAN, Australia’s peak communications consumer organisation congratulated the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on its second successful outcome against unsolicited SMS with the Federal Court yesterday imposing a further $6.5 million in penalties against spammers.

People enjoying the festive season at this year’s Peats Ridge Festival just north of Sydney will have the opportunity to help build a sculpture Treecycle made from recycled mobile phones.