kathryn's dashboard

Thanks for the quick updates to the iPhone Loopt application, as well as the invitation SMS itself (which now tells recipients how to opt out of Loopt).

Basically, what I am hearing from Loopt is that Loopt is complying with the standard "double opt-in" or "confirmation opt-in" requirement because Loopt is not sending text messages out, it is rather other users who are triggering these messages.

The double opt-in for Loopt is working in this fashion:

1. User A registers for Loopt and gets instructions to wait for an SMS from Loopt to complete registration.
2. User A receives opt-in invitation message via SMS (part one of the double opt-in).
3. User A confirms participation in Loopt, thus completing the double opt-in.
4. User A then invites user B to join Loopt via SMS.
5. User B gets the Loop opt-in invitation message via SMS (part one of the double opt-in).
6. User B can then stop all Loopt messages by replying STOP, thus opting out of Loopt. User B will then only ever receive one message from Loopt.

However user B may be unhappy because a) they're paying for each SMS b) they've never even heard of Loopt c) they may not want to join Loopt and d) they may not like/know the person who invited them to Loopt but somehow that person has their phone number.

What's to prevent a malicious user from inviting a user like user B over and over? What if 50 different people try to invite user B to Loopt at once? What if I'm on Loopt, I deny someone's friend request, can they keep inviting me over and over again (triggering lots of text messages)? What safeguards are in place so that someone doesn't abuse the SMS invitation functionality?

I just signed into Loopt.com and was presented with the Invite Friends screen. I don't currently see:
- any explanation of what typing in a friend's mobile number will do (trigger an SMS invitation)
- any message preview of the SMS invitation my friend will receive (though there's a preview of the email invitation)
- any disclaimer that standard text messaging rates will apply (and my friend will be charged)
- any disclaimer that someone who opted out of Loopt will not receive the SMS
- any limits to how many times/how often I can invite someone to Loopt

For example, I just logged into Loopt using another account, and from the home screen, invited my myself. Then I went to the Invite Friends page and invited myself again. Then I went back home and invited myself to Loop. Then I went to the Invite Friends page and invited myself again.

On my phone I soon received 4 invitation text messages to Loopt within the space of two minutes.

Hmmm, perhaps first line AT&T customer support isn't the best, although they should be able to tell you something in regards to SMS spam. Odd.

Oh, and you can contact the CSCA via the following channels: CSCA Customer Support at 1- 866-623-2272 or send an email to support@USshortcodes.com.

I couldn't find a easy way to specifically report abuse of a shortcode though.

Additionally, I found that some carriers allow you to block PC-to-mobile phone SMS spam, but not SMS spam coming from an approved short code.

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/0...

All SMSes from Loopt come from the Loopt shortcode 56678.

If Loopt does not have an opt-in/opt-out policy, that shortcode can be revoked.

In order to receive a shortcode from the CSCA, the entity that wants the short code needs to agree to the following (from usshortcodes.com):

Opt-in/Opt-out Policy for Carriers, Content Providers, Application Providers
As a registrant of a common short code, you must also ensure that your common short code partners have and abide by an Opt-in/Opt-out Policy. This policy must

* State that there must be a mechanism for end users to Opt-in, or assent to participating in your CSC program. All services and applications offered through a CSC must be on an opt-in basis.
* State that, once having agreed to participate in a common short code program, end users must be provided the opportunity to easily request that their participation in an application or service offered through a Common Short Code end at their discretion.
* Provide mechanisms for enforcement by you of the Opt-in and Opt-out provisions.

The Registry reserves the right to deny, limit, or terminate the lease of any CSC whose registrant does not have an Opt-in/Opt-out policy or does not enforce this policy.

From http://www.mmaglobal.com/shortcodepri..., page 13

Opt-out verbiage: Reply STOP to opt out must be included in all messages. If a user opt outs, an opt-out confirmation must sent to the user and include help verbiage.
a. Opt-in All Contacts: All contacts must receive an opt-in message and be required to reply with specified opt-in text in order to be added to the contact list for the campaign. Sending messages to contacts that have not opted in is considered Spam. Spam will not be tolerated and will result in immediate termination of the campaign.

However, in addition to a shortcode agreement with the CSCA, each entity that wants to use a shortcode also needs to negotiate a separate agreement with each provider (Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, etc). From what I can tell, if you as a customer of a cellular provider receive SMS spam you should report this directly to your operator's customer support in addition to complaining to the CSCA and FCC.

Call 800-331-0500 to reach AT&T customer service.

Your experience inviting friends to Loopt doesn't reflect a lot of earlier users because Loopt modified their application yesterday. It no longer auto-selects current users of Loopt from your address book when you hit "Invite Friends."

This auto-selection of people during the invitation process is what caused a lot of problems a few days ago. Any social networking application that pre-selects contacts from your address book is asking for trouble, as people will accidentally invite contacts they didn't mean to invite. Technically it is user error, sure, but it doesn't mean services shouldn't provide ways to prevent or recover from errors. That's what a well-designed service does.

Loopt announcement about functionality modifications:
http://loopt.typepad.com/loopt/2008/0... – kathryn, on July 15, 2008 19:45

nbr -- thanks for the tip on how to remove a previous-public-now-private user! This was driving me insane.

I do agree with motownmutt. This is a really sucky design decision.

Nope.

This person was previously a public user, then switched to private. Their profile just says "my updates are protected" and now I can't unfollow them.

I'm viewing their profile and there is no icon/button that says "Following" under their profile icon, whereas I see that on my other friends' profiles.

I found out how to unfollow this user -- do a search on the user name, and there is a "remove" button on the search results page. But I should be able to unfollow that person from THEIR OWN profile page!

If you send fewer than 200 text messages a month, then you don't need the $10/month add-on for more text messages.

And don't forget the one-time activation fee of $36 that AT&T also tacks on. There are also other miscellaneous fees.

For me, in New York City, I pay these extra fees:

Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee
$1.25
Federal Universal Service Fund
3.1%
State Universal Service Fund
$0.00
Other Government Surcharges
6.095%

It will be different dependent upon where you live. If you have a current cellular plan, your bill should state what you are paying right now in terms of extra fees, which should give a good ballpark figure.

You can go cheaper if you can do a family plan and split the total cost with someone else. This only works if you are willing to share minutes and text messages from a pool, and none of you go over.

See here:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/easysetup...