Vodafone NZ combats cyber bullies with free SMS blocking

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 02 November 2010 15:37

Your IT - Mobility

Vodafone New Zealand has taken steps to combat cyberbullying that Australian telcos would do well to emulate: it has launched a free service that allows its mobile customers to easily block text and multimedia messages from any mobile number they choose.

To block a number, Vodafone NZ customers simply send a text message with the words 'Blacklist Add [mobile number]' to 713 from their Vodafone mobile.

The technology underpinning the service comes from Ericsson and UK company, Telsis, selected by Vodafone NZ in 2005 to provide the SMS routing platform that is the foundation for its messaging network. Jeff Travers, managing director, Ericsson New Zealand, said: "In a global first, Ericsson and Telsis have developed an innovative solution that enables Vodafone NZ users to have full control over their SMS service."

According to Telsis, "The flexibility of the platform has enabled Vodafone to handle on-going organic growth in SMS volumes as well as seasonal peaks in demand. It now positions the operator to deploy advanced and innovative messaging services without the cost and disruption of major network changes."

Vodafone NZ says its contact centre receives 6,000 calls a year regarding TXT bullying and recognised a need to give customers the freedom to choose who they can be contacted by.

Vodafone's general manager of consumer marketing, Kursten Shalfoon, said: "We're proud to be the first in New Zealand to offer this service and we've made it free so that all our customers can access Vodafone Blacklist when and if they need to.

"This is the first phase in a plan to give Vodafone customers more control around who can contact them. A second phase of increased controls for parents will be launched in early 2011."