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Cell phone numbers up for sale
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by John Astad | January 31, 2008 at 03:34 pm
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The idea of the last refuge of privacy with your cell phone is heading south into the distant horizon when third party companies like Intelius Inc begin offering your cell number for sale.
Intelius Inc., a company that offers personal and criminal background checks and other “predictive intelligence,” began offering cell phone numbers in July as part of its phone number search service. The company said it was the first offering of its kind.
The Daily News
Currently a bill, the Wireless 411 Privacy Act has been referred to the Senate Commerce, and Transportation Committee to be amended to the Communications Act of 1932, which will prevent companies like Intelius Inc. from marketing your private cell phone number.
Three U.S. senators are pushing a bill to protect more than 250 million consumers from having their cell phone numbers listed in a 411 directory similar to directories available for residential phone numbers.
Intelius, which provides online background checks and sells cellphone directory information to consumers, filed papers on Thursday to go public.
The Bellevue company said it hopes to raise up to $143.8 million, and would trade under the symbol "INTL" on the Nasdaq, according to documents filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Seattle Times technology reporter
Senate Committee Members Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Wireless 411 Privacy Act
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John Astad
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 16:18 on January 31st, 2008
Thanks watermon. Well-researched and interesting post.
at 16:27 on January 31st, 2008
Very unsettling... basically, one's personal details become a sort or repeat hostage, ransomed over and over again.
at 16:36 on January 31st, 2008
Thanks Rob and Jordan.
Yes it was a bit unnerving when I first read about in my local paper on the online edition of the Galveston Daily News. It seems like all this high tech has a few disadvantages along will all the positive aspects. Now I guess we'll have to find a happy medium. So bad it gets to the point that it all has to be legislated when there are more important issues like health care, transportation, education, etc.
at 17:34 on January 31st, 2008
so basically it is just like a white pages listing directory?
at 14:12 on February 1st, 2008
Hello Watermon,
Great story - apparently they have an opt-out area, where they are supposed to remove your name and cell number, however I'm not sure I trust them for that. For all I know I could be giving them my number for the first time.
Privacy in America? What a joke!
Great story Watermon, and well narrated. ;) After having read the original article, I'd like to have read even more of your own thoughts on the matter.
~ Swan
at 23:32 on February 5th, 2008
but what is wrong with people being able to look your mobile number up in a phone book like they can do now for your landline??
at 08:44 on February 6th, 2008
Nothing is wrong with that. It's just that many people don't want their cellphone number available in public phone directory like their home phone number. The problem with posting in a directory is solicitors calling and interfering with one's privacy.
I don't know about your specific cellphone application . But with my application, I only receive calls from individuals whom I have had past dealings with where I gave out my number. That way I'm not bothered throughout the day by solicitors.
Basically where talking about freedom to choice, of whether you want to make your private cellphone number available or not. Having a number automatically available for the whole world to see without one's permission, I feel is not freedom of choice.
at 12:18 on February 9th, 2008
I agree with watermon people need privacy, it is bad enough getting spammed by e-mail but when it starts happening with cellphone users it could start to get really annoying. You can just imagine sitting on a bus or train with cell phones constantly ringing, with callcenters trying to sell there products.
http://cellphones-now.com