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[IP] more on Pre-paid mobile phones





Begin forwarded message:

From: Fuat Baran <fuat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: October 12, 2006 1:22:18 PM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Fuat Baran <fuat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [IP] Pre-paid mobile phones

Apparently China is planning on requiring mobile phone users to register with the operators and show their identity papers.

http://en.ce.cn/Industries/Telecoms/200610/10/t20061010_8892715.shtml

The above article says it is "the latest move in the nation's fight against unsolicited advertisements, fake educational certificates and bank fraud via short messages."

I'm sure here in the U.S. we can come up with a homeland security justification for needing to show papers before buying a prepaid mobile phone. Can prepaid calling cards be next?

To Michael Kende: Which store asked for proof of age? Did they tell you what the minimum age is for buying a phone in the U.S.? Was it a store requirement, or a legal requirement?

                        --Fuat


On Oct 12, 2006, at 10:24 AM, David Farber wrote:



Begin forwarded message:

From: Michael Kende <Michael.Kende@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: October 12, 2006 10:06:45 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Pre-paid mobile phones

Last night I bought a pre-paid phone and the sales person asked for my ID, I asked why and he said it was to check that I am old enough to buy a phone- since I am 42, I was a bit dubious about that one, and then he typed my name and information into the system. I asked why and he said it was a requirement. My question for the group is, whose requirement, and why? I kind of thought the whole point of pre-pay was that you can just buy a phone and there was no need for identifying information since there is no credit risk, or directory listing. My colleagues tell me that in some European countries no information is needed, although that may change with new European directives.

Thanks,

Michael

Michael Kende
Principal Consultant
Analysys Consulting

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