I don’t even know how many times I’ve picked up the phone expecting to hear a human on the other end but was instead met with a robotic prerecorded voice. Just like everyone else I proceeded to hang up without listening to the voice for more than 2 seconds.

Luckily, the days of these robotic marketing calls are numbered as the Federal Trade Commission has recently announced that they will be made illegal and violators could face fines up to $16,000 per call. Below is a quote from FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz:

Starting September 1, this bombardment of prerecorded pitches, senseless solicitations, and malicious marketing will be illegal. If consumers think they’re being harassed by robocallers, they need to let us know, and we will go after them.

Don’t get too excited yet as the ban doesn’t include prerecorded marketing calls from banks, politicians, charities or telephone companies. Bummer.

via gizmodo

Tags: Business, Calls, Cell Phones, federal trade commission, ftc, marketing, Mobile News, Off The Topic

As we told you earlier this year, Zer01 Mobile has been getting ready for a nationwide launch in July. In case you forgot let me refresh your memory! Zer01 Mobile is going to bring you unlimited nationwide voice and data and even international unlimited calling.

In order to take advantage of all those unlimited calls and data you will have to install custom software on your phone. Should you choose to purchase a new phone from Zer01, that option is available too. Why do we need custom software installed on the phones? Zer01 will use data networks for any kind of connectivity. That means your call will not drop even if the coverage of your chosen network isn’t that great as the software uses the data connection for making and receiving calls.

Not yet convinced? Zer01 Mobile won’t force you into any new contract. Their offers work as prepaid services. You’ll end up paying $69.99 per month for all the unlimited phone calls, messaging and Internet browsing and an additional $10 for unlimited international calls. Whenever you choose to stop you’ll be able to do so! If you own a BlackBerry or Android phone you’ll have to wait a while until you can get the service since Zer01 Mobile will only work on Windows Mobile phones right now. But what do you say? Anxious to try something new?

Tags: Android, BlackBerry, Calls, data, international, Mobile News, Mobile Software, OS, Other Brands, SMS, Unlimted, Windows Mobile, Zer01 Mobile