It is not another article from the series “about the harm caused by mobile phones.” A mobile device, undoubtedly, is a useful and good thing. Especially the modern ones with the help of which you can not only call and send text messages, but listen to the music, watch images and video, learn the latest news. All of these can be ordered and received on your phone fast and easy. And unfortunately not always safe!

All the text, audio and video information that can be downloaded to a phone is called “mobile content.” There are a great number of ways to get money from users by the means of mobile content. All the online magazines are full of advertisements like send SMS with a code on some number and get ringtones/images/video-clips. The price of the service was shown in the bottom and written in a small font.

The ways of deceiving users are really multiple. For instance, you ca be offered to download an image or ringtone at a good price “forgetting” to warn that you automatically subscribe to paid newsletter. If you try to complain you will be explained that the payments taken from your account are additional charges, percents or whatever. There are cases when the ordered content wasn’t even received by the user (the service refers to the wrong number of the wrong secret code etc.)

The scheme is very simple: the frauds only have to persuade users to send SMS on the paid number, and then the money will be taken from them. Not the sum the user expects, but the sum the mobile pirates will want to withdraw.

Getting involved with untrustworthy content you can lose both money and health. Of course, not your health, but the health of your phone. Alongside a doubtful media-file your phone can download harmful software. It is no wonder. Phones are getting more and more close to PCs in their abilities, and the development of mobile viruses doesn’t stand still.

“Undoubtedly mobile viruses are the most steadily developing type of harmful software and moreover they have great potential for further development” - state Kaspersky Lab researchers. Moreover, the way PC viruses have covered in 20 years was made by mobile ones in only 3 years. It is especially true for smartphones – there appear at least 10 new Trojans each week. It is assumed that in the near future, mobile anti-virus software will be as obligatory as PC-based one.

Mobile viruses may spread via WAP-content, MMS and through average content as well. Games are especially dangerous in this very respect. A peculiar story happened three years ago when the game Mosquito 2.0 was released.

Shortly after that there have emerged messages that the game, being installed started to send SMS on unknown numbers. The actions that had been considered to be the result of a virus turned out to be anti-pirate know-how of the developers: SMS was sent on British-registered number in order to trace the legality of the spread of the game.

Nowadays, mobile viruses act according to the similar scheme – taking control over a phone and getting money from the account of the owner. All that can be recommended – be careful in downloading content. And if you are a lucky owner of a smrtphone, you’d better install regularly updated anti-virus software.

Who Esle Wants the Latest Mobile service by 3 and AT&T?

Music video channel by 3

The British mobile operator 3 has started the introduction of the new mobile service - a music video service for $1 per day. The new music video tele-channel will be added to other Planet 3 channels. It features 8 4-hour channels of different genres (it means that 8 programs 4 hours each constantly repeat). It is obvious that the service is a kind of reaction on the emergence of the similar services in Britain (MusicStation by Vodafone and dual-downloads services).

It seems that there are no monthly fees for the services, but if you use in daily it makes $30 a month.

The mobile operator AT&T has announced the release of a free inquiry service.

The users will be able to call the free number 1-800-YellowPages from any stationary of mobile phone in the US and get free access to the companies list. The service also enables advertisers to apply to the local customers.

Calling 1-800-YellowPages (1-800-935-5697) a user has to listen to audio-advertisement before getting the required info. After the add is listened to, the user will be connected to one of the companies he is interested in absolutely free.

David Huntley, senior vice president-Diversified Businesses, AT&T, said:

“Consumers are looking for directory assistance when they don’t have a phone book handy or can’t jump online. In addition to our premier caller-paid Directory Assistance service, AT&T 1-800-YellowPages now offers our consumers audio YellowPages, powered by Nuance’s speech technology. Nuance has been a critical player throughout the development of our new state-of-the-art advertiser supported Directory Assistance service.”

This year AT&T has already launched the service in a number of states. In the meantime it will be launched nationwide.

New Mobile Services: Nokia Internet Radio and payWave by Visa

Nokia Internet Radio

Nokia has announced the release of the service Nokia Internet Radio for mobile devices.

Tommi Mustonen, head of the Nokia music business, said:

“Most new music discovery occurs while you’re listening to the radio. By offering the Nokia Internet Radio service on mobile devices, the radio experience becomes more accessible, giving people new ways to find music.”

By offering hundreds of radio stations from all over the globe the radio catalogue Nokia Internet Radio promises to simplify the search of new music. With the help of the new service, a user will be able to find the required radio station by the name, genre, country or language. Each out the refresh of the top 10 radio stations takes place so that s user could find out which tracks top the world charts. Moreover, the users will be able to add top stations to the “favorites” list.

At the moment the application Nokia Internet Radio is supported by the following models: Nokia N82, Nokia N91, Nokia N95 и Nokia N95 8GB. It is planned to be released for other phones like, for instance, the upcoming Nokia S60 3rd edition.

payWave by Visa

Visa has started testing a few new mobile payment systems in a number of countries.

In Brazil the company is testing a distance payment system which will enable the users to make payments from mobile devices.

In Canada Visa is planning to test is contactless payment service “payWave” in cooperation with the bank Royal Bank of Canada. The testing will start next year in Ontario. The testing process will feature the chipsets NFC (Near Field Communications).

At the moment the similar system is being tested in Malaya in cooperation with Maybank, Maxis and Nokia. Visa is also testing payWave in Thailand. The system payWave is already included in Visa credit cards in the US, that’s why the company doesn’t have to use mobile phones to realize the technology.

Brand New Mobile Services by Amazon and Jamster