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Technical Help & Discussion => Mobile Phones & Other Handheld Devices => Topic started by: Simon on September 27, 2011, 21:54

Title: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Simon on September 27, 2011, 21:54
App makers have been warned to improve their charging controls after a watchdog reported a pair of Android apps were wrongfully billing users.

Earlier this year, premium-rate regulator PhonepayPlus fined mobile payments provider mBlox £135,000, after discovering that a free battery monitoring app - made by mBlox's client SJA Mobile - was sending text messages to premium rate services without permission from users.

mBlox claims it had no knowledge of the rogue app and passed the fine onto SJA Mobile. "At no stage was mBlox accused of having any knowledge or role in creating this harmful application," said mBlox CEO, Andrew Dark.

The second case also saw a mobile app send paid-for messages that couldn't be shut off. If the user sent a message to stop the premium texts, the app simply sent another to turn it back on. That firm was fined £30,000.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/370144/watchdog-to-rein-in-rogue-app-developers
Title: Re: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Rik on September 28, 2011, 09:37
Nice to see the slap on the wrist being administered with such tenderness that they won't even feel it.  >:(
Title: Re: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Simon on September 28, 2011, 11:29
Depends how big the firm is.
Title: Re: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Rik on September 28, 2011, 12:19
Even for the smallest firm, £30,000 is not much of a penalty.
Title: Re: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Simon on September 28, 2011, 12:46
It would be for mine. 
Title: Re: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Rik on September 28, 2011, 16:42
OK, software firm. :)
Title: Re: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Simon on September 28, 2011, 16:54
Could have been a lone developer.  :P ;D
Title: Re: Watchdog to rein-in rogue app developers
Post by: Rik on September 28, 2011, 17:44
 ;D