MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Cell Phone Telemarketing is Coming to the US

Bob Russell · 08-22-2005, 02:25 PM

UPDATE: It seems like this may have been a hoax that PalmOne has passed on to us in its Treo newletter. According to About.com, it's an urban legend, as indicated by Pitcher23. I'm sure we'll get this sorted out in time, and determine whether or not the info is legitimate.

If you are like me, it may have just seemed natural that telemarketing calls don't come on your cell phone. But that's a convenience in the U.S. that seems to be short-lived.

According to a Palm Treo Newsletter from PalmOne, "[font=verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Very soon, cell phone numbers will begin being released to telemarketers. To help avoid those annoying and potentially expensive calls (yes, you will be charged for them) be sure to register your Treo smartphone number with the National Do Not Call list. Just call 888.382.1222 from your smartphone to protect your number for the next five years. Or register at their website: https://www.donotcall.gov/[/font]"

I'm on the Do Not Call list for my home phone number, and I can attest to the fact that it helps. But there are so many exemptions that I certainly am not free from sales calls. To be getting a telemarketing call that I also have to pay for is really not something I look forward to.

Some people are starting to fight back. For example, at AntiCall, where they ask people to call the telemarketers and provide numbers to do it hoping it will waster their dollars on long distance charges. Just symbolic, but reflects the growing frustration.

No doubt we will see two trends as a result...
1) People will become extremely rude toward telemarketers
2) No one is going to answer their cell phone unless caller id shows it's someone they want to talk with.

Spam, telemarketers, slogs, popups, viruses, trojans, ... where does it all end?!

08-22-2005, 02:25 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Cell Phone Telemarketing is Coming to the US UPDATE: It seems like this may have been a hoax that PalmOne has passed on to us in its Treo newletter. According to About.com, it's an urban legend, as indicated by Pitcher23. I'm sure we'll get this sorted out in time, and determine whether or not the info is legitimate. If you are like me, it may have just seemed natural that telemarketing calls don't come on your cell phone. But that's a convenience in the U.S. that seems to be short-lived. According to a Palm Treo Newsletter from PalmOne, "[font=verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Very soon, cell phone numbers will begin being released to telemarketers. To help avoid those annoying and potentially expensive calls (yes, you will be charged for them) be sure to register your Treo smartphone number with the National Do Not Call list. Just call 888.382.1222 from your smartphone to protect your number for the next five years. Or register at their website: https://www.donotcall.gov/[/font]" I'm on the Do Not Call list for my home phone number, and I can attest to the fact that it helps. But there are so many exemptions that I certainly am not free from sales calls. To be getting a telemarketing call that I also have to pay for is really not something I look forward to. Some people are starting to fight back. For example, at AntiCall, where they ask people to call the telemarketers and provide numbers to do it hoping it will waster their dollars on long distance charges. Just symbolic, but reflects the growing frustration. No doubt we will see two trends as a result... 1) People will become extremely rude toward telemarketers 2) No one is going to answer their cell phone unless caller id shows it's someone they want to talk with. Spam, telemarketers, slogs, popups, viruses, trojans, ... where does it all end?!