By Gabriela Baron
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered on Thursday, Sept. 15, phone makers and distributors to give directions about blocking features amid the wave of spam text messages.
Through a Memorandum Order dated Sept. 14, NTC directed mobile phone manufacturers, distributors, and dealers to provide directions to their users on how to block texts from mobile numbers not in their contact lists and how to create a spam folder in their inboxes.
NTC said the directions should be disseminated through the manufacturer’s websites and social media accounts.
“Mobile phone manufacturers, distributors, and dealers shall put up posters in their physical stores to educate their mobile phone buyers on how to use, enable, or activate the text blocking, spam folder, and other similar features in their phones,” the memo read.
“Mobile phone manufacturers, distributors, and dealers shall include in each new mobile phone package an insert or leaflet containing directions on how to use, enable or activate text blocking, spam folder, and other similar features in their phones,” it further read.
NTC said the memo would now be part of the requirement for the approval or acceptance of permits for customer premises equipment especially for mobile phone products filed before the Commission.
The Commission ordered the immediate implementation of the measure within 15 days from the issuance of the memo. –ag
