Watchdog employs puppy to monitor 0871 numbers

REACTING TO complaints that 0871 telephone numbers in the UK are ripping people off, the industry regulator - Ofcom - has charged ICSTIS with the task of regulating such numbers.

Except that you'll have to wait at least two years for ICSTIS (the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of the Telephone Information Services) to start watching the sector. So it's not so much of a watchdog as a little puppy.

Hidden away in the announcement is the fact that Ofcom has also extended ICSTIS' remit to include all adult services regardless of price. That's crucial because ICSTIS tried to get out of complaints over smutty MMS (Picture) messages because they'd been sent for free (initially).

ICSTIS' lack of a nasty bite was recently criticized by British MP, Phil Willis. Responding to the £40,000 fine issued to MBlox, by ICSTIS, he said: "This fine represents small change compared to the estimated £10m profit that the sale of the Crazy Frog ringtone made for its owner."

He added, "There seems to be a clear case for better regulation of both service and content providers in this market." The INQ would heartily agree. µ

See also
Kids unprotected from cheap phone smut, says ICSTIS
Just say not to 0870