AT&T spams subscribers with "Idol" text message

Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:22AM EST

See Comments (27)

I pay my AT&T bill on time, every month, and what do I get in return (besides a flurry of dropped calls)? This lousy SMS spam shilling "American Idol."

My iPhone's SMS inbox is still blessedly spam-free, for the most part (and believe me, it's not that spammers aren't trying), so I sat up and noticed when my iPhone buzzed yesterday afternoon with what was clearly a spam blast—from my own carrier:

AT&T Free Msg: Get ready for American Idol! AI 8 starts this Tues (1/13) at 8pm on FOX. Check out AT&T's official AI web site from your PC – www.att.com/idol for the latest info on our $1MM sweepstakes, test your AI IQ by playing the trivia game, and much more. Reply stop to end mktg msgs


You bet I replied "stop"—and I'm sure many fellow AT&T subscribers did so as well, judging from the angry response on Twitter and elsewhere. (Example tweets: "Really AT&T? I'm paying U over $100 a month & U still think its cool 2 send me text messages advertising American Idol?" … "If AT&T wants to waive my $95 monthly mobile bill, it can send me unsolicited American Idol ads. Otherwise, bad form today folks.")

AT&T Wireless spokesman Mark Siegel told the New York Times that the message was merely a "friendly reminder," and that "it makes perfect sense to use texting to tell people about a show built on texting."

Well, "American Idol" is build on calling too, right? So how about hitting us with a barrage of robocalls while you're at it?

Yeah ... didn't think so.

As the Times story points out (via an interview with a Federal Trade Commission rep), there's nothing illegal about AT&T's Idol spam: It isn't a deceptive ad, and there's a clearly stated "opt-out" at the end. And no—the Idol text didn't ruin my day, nor did it take more than a second to delete.

That said, I'm plenty annoyed that my carrier—the one I'm paying $95 a month to—thinks nothing of using my iPhone as a billboard, whenever it needs to squeeze in a little more revenue. (The least they could do is give us a piece of the action.)

What do you think: Should carriers be allowed to spam its subscribers as it pleases? Or would you be fine with SMS spam if, say, your carrier knocked a buck or two off your monthly bill?

Related:
A Text Arrives. Oh, It’s Just an ‘Idol’ Ad. [NY Times]

Comments on AT&T spams subscribers with "Idol" text message

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 6 Posted by stan_slaughter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    You got one. Count it one, text msg which you stopped with a click of 2 or 3 buttons. Get a life. Stop whining.

  • 7 Posted by stephenjenkins11 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    Stan_slaughter your indifference is why AT&T will send more and more txt msgs. Dont you see that this is the beginning of a slippery slope. Next month you will have 5 txt then 10, soon 20. As G4 tv said "AT&T is the erectile dysfunction of cell phone providers"

  • 8 Posted by guitarmunkey05 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought the iphone, paid a huge ETF to sprint, just to join AT&T. I ended up paying another huge ETF because AT&T is the worst phone service i've ever had. I love the iphone, i hate ATT. I'm with verizon now, and i've yet to have a single "lost" text message or dropped call.

  • 9 Posted by tayyat10 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't see why it is so bad for them to txt us- it says it is "free" But one question I have is: when you reply. Stop. Do you get charged for that one message? From, An iPhone user who pays 150 bucks a month. :)

  • 10 Posted by donfritz99 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm afraid such advertising tactics will gain a foothold and we will be with phone ads. Let's get outraged right now!

  • 11 Posted by silverarena on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am sick to death of these phone companies that make you pay more and still manage to screw u over with their advertising so that THEY can make even more money. That's why I dropped At&T. Yes, it's a free country, but its not a free phone, and since when does anyone have the right to make money off my phone, that I AM PAYING FOR! I don't care if it's only one or two hundred text's. It's my phone, stay out of it! Do I pay you to bother me or to connect me???? It's the principal of it all that gets to me. "Let's **** them for all its worth!" appears to be their motto. I challenge any new upcoming company to sell me a contract without the bother. I will switch to you in a heartbeat. Sick of the BS, Arena PS. You're service really bites!

  • 12 Posted by godlykid3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    First of all I have never had a dropped call through AT&T. Also stop complaining.

  • 13 Posted by somefatguy7 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with donfritz99, once one phone company decides to do it, others may follow.

  • 14 Posted by working98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I work graveyard. If my phone rang (I leave it on for legit purposes. My friends and family aren't on my horrible shift.) with a text, waking me up to an unsolicited advertisement, I'd end my contract as soon as possible. It is poor form to market indiscriminantly. We are bombarded with constant and unending enticements to purchase purchase purchase. Is it possible that no one views their intrusive marketing from the receiver's side? Has no one any shame left in pursuit of cash? Someone show me some INTEGRITY and I will be a loyal customer going forward. (Newman's Own? Trader Joe's anyone??)

  • 15 Posted by dj92108 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    I left ATT in Dec after being close to a 15 yr customer. Back when they were LA Cellular and AirTouch, etc......I finally had it and now I am with Verizon, but I wanted the STORM vs the iPhone. SO the switch was needed. Yet, I was very unhappy with ATT for years now leading up to this....part of it was receiving spam texts, poor customer service and rude sales people in their stores. BYE BYE ATT. Ill take the STORM over the iPhone any day of the week. Better camera, better virtual keyboard, replaceable battery, and more.....

  • 16 Posted by tomdashiell@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    To me that is a form of harrasment, unsolicted msgs. Whatif you are in the middle of conducting important business & you get the stupid msg.? I'm having 2nd thouughts about AT&T now. Maybe i'll stick with Sprint. I don't need text msgs about Idol, don't watch it, never have, never will. In fact i can't stand it.

  • 17 Posted by godlykid3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well if you have conducting important business... PUT YOUR PHONE ON SILENT!!!! Thank you. I have never had problems with AT&T/Cingular

  • 18 Posted by tdrinnon@rocketmail.com on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    the biggest question i have is are they charging you for the recieved message? i personally have trac fone and the only spam i get is "deals"on there phone cards which p's me off. near as i can figger they don't charge me for reading it or even getting it.there should be a yes or no setting for this kinda stuff!and also if they make money from the advertisers they should pay us or give a discount/rebate for everyone they send!

  • 19 Posted by somebodys_here on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    That's why I use Verizon... AT&T is horrible in my area, though.

  • 20 Posted by sky.gene on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    AT&T can go the way of Circuit City. AT&T is the lowest of the low .

  • 21 Posted by ducktail1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    i really would care if they don't charge me. i don't go through att and my carrerier sends me messageses to by extra stuff, and they charge me for opening it.

  • 22 Posted by drichardson007 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Get over it. This is no different than a credit card company including an advertisment for a watch in your billing statement. If you are not interested, just delete it and move on. End of story.

  • 23 Posted by pjweberjr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    AT&T should give you a way to permanently remove yourself from their SMS SPAM list, just like email. Do you hear that godlykid3? I know your the VP of marketing for AT&T or something like that so make the suggestion at you next brainstorming session.

  • 24 Posted by drhnsd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    AT&T sells phone service - they need to stick to that and not become a forced advertising company. I dropped them and I made sure they knew why. I don't want to keep my phone on "silent" just to stop advertising from my service provider. Godlykid3: what's your cell number? Since you agree with this type of advertising - (excuse me, you called it "reminding") - I can help you get more SMS any time. Maybe the rest of us that don't like this practice can send you some too - think of all the new friends you'd have and you could cancel your TV Guide subscription because you wouldn't need it!

  • 25 Posted by thisjukeboxplays33rpm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    The problem with AT&T "getting it" has always been that just as soon as they get it somebody takes them over and IDIOTS: THE NEXT GENERATION come aboard.

More Posts: First Prev 1 2 3 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.