The Communications Commission's 2003 Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Market Act, otherwise known as CAN-SPAM, says that unwanted commercial messages to wireless devices can’t be sent. Yet, because the cell phone transformed itself into an indispensable accessory, a major increase in text mail spam is expected in the near future.

According to Jeffrey Hank, attorney for the Consumer Law Center PLLC in Jackson, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act was designed to protect consumers from the unwelcome messages. Later, after including the cell phones too, was created the national Do Not Call Registry.

Hank added that if the received messages are unsolicited, the sum $500 can be requested, by suing, per violation.  Here are some of these cases: unwanted commercial messages sent to a wireless device, telephone solicitations made to wireless devices with the number registered on the Do Not Call list, auto-dialed text messages on a wireless device received from a telecommunications company or advertising.

Few tips for avoiding these inconveniences:

• Register yourself into the Do Not Call Registry
• Don’t show your wireless phone number or e-mail address
• Send stop to any unwanted message
• Tell your wireless or Internet service provider about the bad messages.  

For more details access www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.  

Although considered a minor inconvenience, the Verizon Wireless customers, receive144 billion text messages spam a year, hundred of millions a month and can cost them 20 to 30 cents each.

Tom Bowers, security expert with Kaspersky Lab, expects that the cell phone will turn into mini-computers, having the same problems regarding the security: "Three years from now, cell phones aren't going to be safe".

According to Ed Skoudis, senior security consultant for Intelguardians, more efficient programs such as instant messaging will be the substitute for the text messaging: "As phones become more powerful, text messages won't be used".
Yet, Skoudis warns that it shouldn’t come as a surprise that soon "you will need an anti-virus product for your cell phone".