Over the past few weeks I’ve been getting an unsolicited SMS which says that a certain MERCADO is leading the mayoralty race in Makati. The message says that the data comes from a commissioned SWS survey. This is a very bad example of how to do mobile marketing in the Philippines. First, this is actually a violation of the rules made by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). For mobile, there should always be an opt-in and opt-out choice. Second, this is doing them more damage than good. Makati residents who get this probably get more annoyed. For the record, let me just say that this is one of the most unethical and stupid political mobile marketing campaign that you can do. It’s invasive, interruptive, and just plain rude. Whoever is behind this should be ashamed of themselves.
Here’s the text message. I just edited it a bit so that I don’t end up spreading the wrong information.
SWS Survey as of March 7 to 10, 2010 with 2520 Makati Residents Respondents:
District 1: Mercado xx%, Binay xx%, Genuino xx%, Aquino x%.
District 2: Mercado xx%, Binay xx%, Genuino xx%, Aquino x%
The phone number that sent the message is: +639309463313. I already texted this number saying to not text me again ever or I will sue them, lol.
Testing Facebook connect. (Lol)
There is no opt in/out indicated in that message because the message came from a regular number as opposed to ads/infos from mobile carriers/ other content providers which are only 4 digit numbers (at least that’s the way with Globe. I assume that the same is true for Smart?) Most probaly ang ginamit para ikalat ang message na ‘yan is an account (prepaid/postpaid) enrolled in an unlitext scheme.
I hope tama ang naisip ko.^^
That’s probably how they do it. I still consider it spam though.
Carlo, did they stop texting you after you told them not to?
I’ve been getting lot of campaign texts as well, and it’s become really annoying. It’s considered spam, there’s no clue as to who is sending them, and no text would persuade me who to vote for.
I don’t want to tell them to stop sending, though, as they might text all the more. :-S
Yep, they stopped texting already.
I have been receiving the same from this number 09165254410. I replied rudely and guess what?? They spread my number..I continuously receive text messages from unknown numbers up to now.
i got three messages from three different numbers having the same message as above. i wrote their numbers on the back of bus chairs.
off topic question lang, any idea where to get/rent or avail of that 4-digit number? who’s the provider ba to approach?
cheers,