Newspaper Sources

Holson, L. (10 May, 2008). Spam Moves to Cellphones and Gets More Invasive. The New York Times Online.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/10/technology/10spam.html

This article in the Times discusses how spam is now being sent to cell phones via text messaging. Holson writes how spam through the cell phone is much more invasive, and the user is alerted with a beep while also having to pay the price of a received text message. She explains that most cell phone users have a dedicated e-mail address, like AT&T users whose e-mail is their cell phone number followed by @text.att.net. It also comments that people may be getting spam messages confused with legitimate text messages and it will add confusion to SMS communication. This article may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who is wants to know more about privacy related issues with mobile technology.

Richards, J. (16 May, 2008). Shops Track Customers Via Mobile Phone. The New York Times Online.

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3945496.ece

Richards discusses new technology that shopping centers have introduced that track their customers throughout the store to detect their shopping patterns. The technology can tell when customers enter a shopping center, how long they stay in each store and what route they take when they walk around. He notes that shopping centers may be able to make a case to stay open for longer hours depending on their customers shopping habits, and several centers have already used client’s information to adjust policy.

Associated Press. (4 June, 2008). Teens Are Sending Nude Photos Via Cell Phone. International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi

This article written by the Associated Press discusses the growing trend of teenagers trading nude pictures of themselves via their cell phones. It suggests that many of these pictures are ending up in the wrong hands after having been sent to entire address books as opposed to the individual they were intended to be sent to. It also discusses the implications of modern cell phone technology and how much easier it is to spread information, intended or unintended. This information may be useful to a researcher or a journalist who is interested in learning about youth culture and cell phones and how they are adapting to the technology.