SMSC Crime – an issue?

By on March 14, 2008 in Uncategorized

Had a reader email me and ask me what I knew about SMSC crime.

Not a lot, other than a passing awareness, was my answer.

I said I’d make like a Who Wants to be a Millionaire and ask the audience.

Is it an issue?

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  • http://www.smstextnews.com/category/ben_smith Ben Smith

    OK. I’ll ‘fess up and say I don’t know what SMSC crime is. Do I have to hand back my gun and badge?

  • http://normob.blogspot.com HeavyLight

    Ben asked: “Do I have to hand back my gun and badge?”

    “I’m afraid that as you’re only 9 months into your contract, Sheriff, there’ll be a ‘small’ cancellation fee…”

    HeavyLight’s last blog post..Apple, RM Battle Shapes Up

  • http://invalid.name Dan Lane

    Is it something to do with the ancient art of using a third party SMSC to which your operator has a connection but not a billing agreement therefore giving you free text messages…. it hasn’t worked in well over a decade.

  • http://www.smstextnews.com/category/ben_smith Ben Smith

    @HeavyLight: :-) )

  • http://www.shockradio.co.uk Ricky C

    Ancient Art is not actually true. This practice still goes on, I agree much less in the UK however in the developed world it is a bigger issue.

    Dan where is your information from?

  • http://invalid.name Dan Lane

    @Ricky back in ye olde days it wasn’t really a crime since it’s a standard feature to be able to choose your SMSC… nowadays it’s standard for UK operators to block SMSCs and force you to use their own, it’s presumably standard with other network operators.

    That’s what jumps to mind when someone says “SMSC Crime” but TBH it’s a vague term and could mean many things.

  • http://www.shockradio.co.uk Ricky C

    Of course I agree it is very vague. This topic actually intrests me as I became aware recently that one of the UK networks was having trouble with one of its smsc! As a contract user I contacted, the network and I was given £5 disount off my line rental for life!
    I contacted them as ultimly the revenue lost and the extra costs associated would be passed onto me as a consumer.
    In regards to your bit about it not being a crime, in my opinion I think it is as you are knowingly defrauding (usually) another network.

  • Issah

    A bunch of kids at my school found out a usable SMSC and charged people for access to this extremely valuabele (it’s a secondary school). It was soon blocked however.

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