TXTpower warns of cellphone health risks

THE cellphone you’re using may be hazardous to your health.

So warned consumer group TXTpower, whose members have raised the alarm after reports and studies showing the health risks pose by the frequent use of cellphones.

In an interview, TXTpower spokesperson Anthony Ian Cruz cited several studies here and abroad of the detrimental effects of the electromagnetic field and electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellphones.

Based on studies, Cruz said, prolonged exposure to these dangerous microwave radiations might result in brain cancer and other bodily tumors.

In some cases, experts claimed overexposure to cellular phone radiation resulted to poor sperm reproduction and even sterility, he said.

“Most of these studies remain inconclusive but there is absolutely no harm in making the public aware about these dangers. One may not know it but the gadgets we keep closely to our selves may cause problems in the future,” he added.

Children, students and young adults are likewise warned to give themselves some kind of protection from these harmful radiation.

Since these radiowaves affect some sectors of the brain, they might cause nausea and other illnesses related to memory and other brain functions, Cruz pointed out.

TXTPower is an organization of cellphone users that aims to empower Filipinos both as consumers and as citizens.

Cruz further explained that ensuring the safety of these radioactive gadgets is the primary concern of the government, particularly the National Telecommunications Commission.

“TXTpower considers safety from cellphone use as one of its primary concerns but because the government and not us consumers are duty bound to protect the public, the NTC must not be remiss in its job and it must work double time in ensuring that the cellular units being sold around have passed the required safety standards,” Cruz said.

He disclosed that the NTC has a unit that tests the radiation ratings of each handset sold in the market. By: Melnie Ragasa-Jimena Journal online

OFWs, affluent Pinoys plan to buy cell phones

THE majority of affluent Filipinos and beneficiaries of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) plan to buy cellular phones, the country’s primary source of growth in the services sector, in the next 12 months, according to Nielsen Media Research.

In a report, Nielsen said 45 percent of affluent Filipinos and OFW household members intend to buy cellular phones, with Nokia leading the pack of preferred brands at 78 percent, followed by Sony Ericsson and Motorola, 14 percent each; Samsung, 5 percent; and Panasonic and Siemens, 1 percent each.

Nielsen sampled 300 respondents, aged 18 years and above, from all socioeconomic classes and a remittance recipient.

The report also said the mobile phone is the most preferred medium for communicating with loved ones at 90.5 percent, followed by landline telephones, 44.8 percent; desktop computers, 23.3 percent; and home Internet, 4.4 percent.

Among the users, OFWs used prepaid cards at 97.4 percent; postpaid plans, 1 percent; and both plans, 1.5 percent.

Communication between an OFW and a loved one is often done once a week by 34 percent of respondents, once a month by 17.5 percent, and two times a week by 17.3 percent. The majority of OFW households spend between P101 and P499 a month, another 13.7 percent, P500 to P999; about 4.6 percent, P1000 and more; and the remaining 2.3 percent, P100 and below.

Upper class households also favor prepaid subscription with 60 percent, while 33 percent opt for postpaid plans. In general, Filipinos choose prepaid 60 percent of the time, with only two percent opting for postpaid.

In terms of service provider, Smart edged out rivals with 64 percent of respondents, followed by Globe with 36 percent, Sun Cellular with 17 percent, Talk ‘N Text with 5 percent and Touch Mobile with 2 percent.

Among the upper class, Globe emerged as the favorite with 61 percent; Smart, 45 percent; Sun, 17 percent; Touch Mobile and Talk ‘N Text with 1 percent each.

OFWs allocate 59 percent of their remittances to savings, 18.7 percent for businesses, 11.6 percent for appliances, 10.5 percent for insurance and 9 percent for real estate.

Nielsen estimated 800,000 households in the Philippines spent most of the $12.7 billion in annual remittances last year.

Among 3.2 million teens with mobile phones, 33 percent will spend between P100 and P200 per month; 31.2 percent, below P100; 20 percent, from P201 to P300; and 11.8 percent, from P301 to P500.

Among the teens, favorites applications are SMS or text messaging, 97.9 percent; download ring tones, 59.7 percent; MMS, 33.8 percent; Camera, 21.3 percent; radio, 21.3 percent; MP3, 9.6 percent; Internet, 5.5 percent; video streaming, 5.2 percent; and video calls, 4.8 percent.
--Darwin G. Amojelar - Manila Times

Nene: Stop cellphone gimmicks

By: Bernadette E. Tamayo - Journal
SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. wants to prohibit telecommunications companies from sending unsolicited materials like advertisements and contests to cellphone subscribers via text or short message service (SMS).

He filed Senate Bill 1138 regulating the sending of materials by network companies via text which are not solicited by the subscriber.

He pointed out that cellphone services, including text or SMS, are paid for by all subscribers. Unlike free services, therefore, there is no justification for such unsolicited materials.

“As competition among cellphone companies gets fierce, they have started to look into their existing customers as a renewable market through gimmicks, subscriptions and contests by increasing their availment of cellphone services,” Pimentel said.

He said telecom companies have resorted to these gimmicks as post-paid plans get more attractive and pre-paid cards get smaller in denomination with the market for cellular phones nearing saturation, especially in Metro Manila.

Under SBl 1138, network companies are prohibited from sending unsolicited materials such as advertisements, offerings, promotions, subscriptions and other notifications to their subscribers via text. The only exception is legitimate notifications of past due accounts.

Companies found to have violated this prohibition will be punished with a fine of P20,000 to P100,000 per violation.

Any director, officer or employee found to have authorized or otherwise permitted the prohibited act shall likewise be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense and P3,000 for the third offense. For the fourth and subsequent offense, the violator shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one month.

Pimentel echoed the common complaint of cellphone users that telecommunication network firms indiscriminately send unsolicited materials to subscribers, jacking up phone bills.

“More often than not, unknowing customers have been victimized by such offerings sent by cellphone companies via text or short message service, only to realize later that such contests and subscriptions have jacked up their monthly bills or consumed all of their pre-paid credit,” he said

Tougher bills filed on cellphone sale

TWO senators yesterday declared war on criminal syndicates using cellular phones in their nefarious activities.

Sen. Richard Gordon filed Senate Bill No. 289 proposing the registration of prepaid subscriber identity Module or SIM cards to trace errant users. He earlier proposed a jail term of from 12 to 29 years for cellphone snatching.

“While mobile phones have brought us speed and efficiency in our transaction, there are individuals who take advantage of these modern technology to commit crimes with greater facility. Lawless elements must not be granted the privilege of using mobile phones to achieve their crimes,” Gordon said.

Opposition Sen.Panfilo Lacson meanwhile filed Senate Bill No.191 which seeks to regulate the sale of prepaid SIM cards by requiring buyers to register information into a database the telecommunication providers will maintain.

“Not only is this pre-paid subscriber identity module card easily accessible, i.e., it can be bought almost everywhere. The owners thereof can likewise easily evade detection since prepaid SIMs are virtually undetectable,” he said, adding: “Due to this, unscrupulous individuals almost always take advantage of the same in the pursuit of their criminal activities to the detriment not only of a particular interest but that of the whole nation.”

Gordon wants every mobile company to register its subscribers — both prepaid and postpaid — and maintain a directory indicating the SIM card serial number, mobile phone number, name and address of the subscriber.

“This will promote responsibility and accountability in the use of SIM Cards in mobile phones as well as provide better law enforcement in protecting the public,” he said.

Gordon said information on SIM Card registration shall be treated as absolutely confidential, unless otherwise specified by the subscriber.

Under Gordon’s bill, every cellphone seller shall require his SIM card buyer to present valid identification with picture to ascertain his identity. The seller also requires the buyer to accomplish a registration form issued by the mobile phone company of the SIM Card being purchased.

Lacson meanwhile proposed a fine of P25,000 for first-time violators, P50,000 for the second, and P100,000 for third- time violators.