Coonan tells mobile providers "pull socks up"

Senator Helen Coonan has criticised some premium mobile phone providers, saying she will work with them to better protect and inform consumers about offerings such as ringtones, wallpaper and video clips.

“Whilst there are many service providers that are doing the right thing by consumers, it would appear that there are some that could pull their socks up,” said Senator Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

“I recognise there are some consumers, particularly young people, who are still getting into difficulties regarding their use of mobile premium services,” she added.

In 2004, the Government directed the regulator, now the Australian Communications and Media Authority, to develop controls on access to content supplied via mobile phones, whether that content was supplied as a premium rate service or on proprietary content portals or ‘walled gardens’.

Also the industry developed the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme, which came into force in October last year. This scheme is due to be reviewed by the end of October this year.

“I will be seeking to take an active role in this review to ensure that the premium services scheme is addressing the concerns of the wider community and I will be writing to both ACMA and the Communications Alliance shortly,” said Coonan.