Wanna be a national hero? FTC contest offers $50,000 prize for solution to end annoying robocalls

A new contest launched this week asking for solutions to end annoying robocalls. Announcing the contest, David Vladeck of the Federal Trade Commission said that $50,000 in prize money was up for grabs, adding that the winner would be so popular they'd be certain to become a national hero.

If you have a phone, it’s a safe bet you’ve received plenty of robocalls, you know, those automated, pre-recorded commercial calls that seem to come at the most inopportune moments like when you’re settling down to dinner or stepping into the shower or about to watch a movie. Not only are they extremely annoying, they also happen to be illegal.

You’ve tried telling the caller never to call again, but these robots just won’t listen. You signed up to the National Do Not Call Registry but it might as well be called the Please Call Me Even More Registry for all its effectiveness.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) knows all too well that people are peeved. It’s been working with industry insiders and technical experts to try to find a way to put an end to the unwanted sales calls, but so far has been unable to come up with an effective answer. So now it’s turning to you for help. Yes, you. If you can come up with a workable solution that’s legal (ie. doesn’t involve a hit squad roaming towns and cities looking for the perpetrators), then you could bag yourself $50,000 in prize money.

David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection, launched the FTC Robocall Challenge on Thursday.

“The FTC is attacking illegal robocalls on all fronts, and one of the things that we can do as a government agency is to tap into the genius and technical expertise among the public,” Vladeck said. “We think this will be an effective approach in the case of robocalls because the winner of our challenge will become a national hero.”

The contest is free and open to all, with entries accepted from individuals, teams and corporations with fewer than 10 employees. According to the contest’s rules, the solution must fulfill the following criteria:

- it has to work (surely that goes without saying?)

- it has to be easy to use

- it has to be easy to roll out

Entries will be accepted from next week until January 17, 2013, with the winner(s) announced in April next year. If you fancy entering, be sure to take a moment to check out the full list of rules and frequently asked questions. Good luck.

[via TNW] [Image: Hypno Creative / Shutterstock]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

FTC Cracks Down on Fake Tech Support Firms

Credit: Peter Cade/Iconica/Getty Images

ABC News’ Scott Goldberg reports:

The Federal Trade Commission announced a worldwide crackdown on firms running bogus technical support scams that targeted  victims in the U.S. and five other countries.

“These scam artists we’re talking about today have taken ‘scareware’ to a new level,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, who estimates the schemes have cost consumers “tens of millions of dollars.”

The FTC said six operations based in India posed as legitimate computer companies, such as  Microsoft or Symantec, and  convinced people to use their credit cards to pay as much as $450  to fix problems that didn’t  even exist.

So-called representatives  from the phony companies used technology to disguise their phone numbers, making it look as if they were calling from the same countries as their victims, claiming to have found  viruses on the users’ home computers.  Leibowitz said the callers would point users to a standard Microsoft warning message and claim it was a virus posing a serious threat to their computers.

The FTC said  a trustworthy computer company would never “cold call” computer users, and anyone who receives  this type of call should hang up.

Although the exact number of victims stung by these scams is not yet known,  the FTC said it received 2,400 complaints from  the U.S. alone. The callers also targeted computer users in Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the U.K..

As part of the crackdown, Leibowitz said the FTC  got a federal restraining order that froze the assets of the six operations in India, and shut down the phone numbers that were used to make the calls.

 Leibowitz emphasized that the FTC was  not a law-enforcement agency and didn’tt have the power to make arrests.

For more information visit: www.onguardonline.gov.

Source : abcnews[dot]go[dot]com

Apple and Swiss Federal Railways to meet over clock design dispute

Swiss Federal Railways says it's "proud" Apple has used its iconic design for its new iOS 6 clock app, but nevertheless wants to talk with the company about its "unauthorized use."

The latest version of Apple’s iOS mobile operating system, rolled out to users last week, comes with more than 200 new features, the Cupertino company says.

It includes updates to Mail, Safari and Photos, as well as brand new features including Panorama, Passbook and Maps, though the less said about that, the better.

iPad users who’ve upgraded to iOS 6 will also have noticed a new clock app on their device. The new feature also caught the attention of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), who couldn’t help noticing how similar the app’s clock face looked to the iconic design of its own clock used at train stations across the country – a decades-old design that happens to be trademarked. In fact, “similar” is hardly an appropriate word here – it’s difficult to see any differences at all.

SBB evidently hadn’t been consulted about the design of Apple’s new time-telling app, and is seeking to resolve the issue with the tech giant.

“We enjoy the fact that the Swiss railway clock is being used by Apple,” SBB spokesperson Christian Ginsig said. “It once again proves that it’s a real piece of design. This act, however, is an unauthorized use [of the clock’s design] by Apple.”

Another SBB spokesperson, Patricia Claivaz, confirmed that a meeting has been requested with Apple’s legal team, though she dismissed reports that the state-owned train service was intent on securing a financial settlement, telling AFP that SBB did not want to “upset them by asking for money.”

She event went as far as to say that SBB was “proud” that its station clock face design – created by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker in 1944 – had been chosen “for 80 million iPads.”

Claivaz added, “There are a lot of brands that use the SBB logo, though nothing like Apple. It’s not just about exchanging money, rather drawing up a contract stating where the logo can be used, under what conditions and for how long.”

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of agreement or deal Apple makes with SBB, or whether they end up dumping the design for a completely different look. For its part, SBB seems pretty laid back about the affair, though one can’t help wondering if Apple would approach the matter in quite the same relaxed fashion if the situation was the other way around.

[Source: Cnet, Ars Technica] [Image: Apple/Mondaine]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Trouble ahead? 4G LTE Kindle Fire doesn’t yet have FCC approval for sale

Amazon is marketing its new 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD tablet despite the fact that it hasn't yet received approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The situation has been described as unusual by attorneys and analysts familiar with the FCC's procedures.

You’d hope Amazon knows exactly what it’s doing, but the fact that it announced its new high-end 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD tablet before receiving approval for sale from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) will strike some as a little odd, and has been described as unusual by attorneys and analysts with knowledge of the FCC’s procedures .

The FCC tests all new wireless communication devices to discover if they interfere with other signals. Once cleared, the product is allowed to go on sale. According to a Reuters report on Thursday, Amazon has yet to get the green light, despite promising to ship the product on November 20.

The report said that a confirmation email from the e-commerce giant in response to a pre-order for the 8.9-inch 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD said: “We will send you an email asking you to confirm your pre-order of Kindle Fire when it is approved for sale by the Federal Communications Commission.”

Speaking to Reuters about the situation, John Jackson, a wireless analyst at CCS Insight, said, “I can’t think of an instance where a device has been offered by a US carrier or an independent retailer that has not had FCC approval yet.”

Charles Golvin, a wireless analyst at Forrester Research, suggests that failure to get FCC approval prior putting the device on the market can probably be put down to Amazon’s lack of experience with wireless products.

It’s not just the selling of the device which is prohibited prior to FCC approval – marketing is also banned, unless a disclaimer is included in the promotional material.

Amazon is, however, clear about the situation with its new high-end tablet, stating on its website, “The 4G device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”

Mitchell Lazarus of law firm Fletcher told Reuters that in most cases companies with new wireless communication products go through the procedures with the FCC “so they don’t have to make these awkward disclaimers.”

It’s being suggested that approval may be taking a little longer than usual as the 4G wireless modem being used in Amazon’s tablet is of a new type, whereas many gadgets sent to the FCC for approval contain modems used in products previously passed by the FCC, and so go through the process more quickly.

The other Kindle Fires announced by Amazon on Thursday are Wi-Fi only devices and are fit for sale.

If the FCC does find some serious issues with Amazon’s priciest Kindle Fire, the company will have limited time to sort it out before the holiday season kicks off. Failure to have it on the shelves by then would be hugely damaging for the Seatlle-based company as it attempts to increase its share of a market still dominated by Apple with its popular iPad tablet. 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

US flight regulator to look again at in-flight use of electronics, may relax rules

The Federal Aviation Administration is planning to take a closer look at the use of electronics on passenger planes in a move that could ultimately see rules relaxed.

If you’ve ever flown, you’ll be more than a little familiar with the take-off and landing procedures, which include switching off all personal electronic devices (PEDs), a source of frustration among many nervous flyers who would rather listen to some calming tunes on their music player than the roar of the engines as they hurtle down the runway in an aluminum tube laden with highly inflammable fuel.

Likewise, taking a few photos of the landscape below with your digital camera as you come in to land will, if you get spotted, result in a few stern words from a member of the cabin crew.

Interference?

Can it really be the case that all PEDs have inner workings that, if switched on, are going to bring the plane down? Despite people discreetly using their iPods or e-readers during take-offs and landings, has there ever been a report of an aviation accident caused by a PED? Aren’t airplane crashes usually the result of pilot error or catastrophic mechanical failure rather than Mr. Smith in seat 43A using his music player?

With a Reuters report on Monday about Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to take a closer look at the use of PEDs on flights, perhaps things are about to change for the better for passengers with a bag of gadgets under the seat.

Study group

The report says that starting in the fall, a new study group will examine the procedures airlines use to discover whether a gadget or gizmo can be safely used during a flight, or parts of a flight. However, the group will not be considering whether to allow passengers to make calls using mobile phones.

As things currently stand, airlines have to show that a device doesn’t cause potentially dangerous radio interference before they can be given the green light for use during a flight.

Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said of the plans: “We’re looking for information to help air carriers and operators decide if they can allow more widespread use of electronic devices in today’s aircraft,” adding, “We also want solid safety data to make sure tomorrow’s aircraft designs are protected from interference.”

Speaking to Forbes about the FAA’s plans, Steve Lott, a spokesperson for industry trade group Airlines for America, said: “The safety of our passengers and crews remains our top priority and our members will work cooperatively with the FAA on opportunities to evaluate personal electronic devices to ensure customers can use these products safely during flight.”

Troublesome passengers

Though there have been reports of pilots suspecting PEDs as the cause of some mysterious happenings on the flight deck, no link has ever been proved.

Indeed, the biggest PED-related problem appears not to be interference with an aircraft’s flying instruments, but stubborn passengers who cause trouble by refusing to switch off their device – remember the incident late last year when actor Alec Baldwin was kicked off a plane for refusing to turn off his phone during what must have been a particularly exciting game of Words With Friends?

With more and more people dumping paper books in favor of e-readers, and with other PEDs gaining in popularity, it would be great if the airlines discovered that actually many of these devices are safe to use during any part of the flight. We await the study groups’s decision….

[Image: Dimitriy Shironosov / Shutterstock]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

FTC sues DISH Network for allegedly ignoring Do-Not-Call list

Attempting to punish DISH Network for annoying consumers, the FTC is seeking large penalties for disregarding the Do-Not-Call list.

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) earlier today, the government organization announced that DISH Network is facing a new lawsuit due to allegations that the company violated rules regarding the company’s internal Do-Not-Call list. According to the legal documentation, DISH Network telemarketers are required to avoid consumers on the national Do-Not-Call list in addition to halting all calls to consumers after the consumer specifically asks to be placed on the company’s internal Do-Not-Call list. The FTC filed this lawsuit in an Illinois district court and is alleging that DISH Network has continued to call millions of consumers around the United States that already asked to be placed on the company’s internal Do-Not-Call list.

When asked about the lawsuit, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said “We have vigorously enforced the Do Not Call rules and will continue to do so to protect consumers’ right to be left alone in the privacy of their own homes. It is particularly disappointing when a well-established, nationally known company, which ought to know better, appears to have flagrantly and illegally made millions of invasive calls to Americans who specifically told DISH Network to leave them alone.”

According to the filing, the FTC is asking for extensive civil penalties for each violation. For every violation prior to February 9th, 2009, the FTC is requesting $11,000. For every violation beyond that date, the FTC is seeking $16,000 in penalties. The FTC believes that DISH Network started violating these rules starting on September 1, 2007. According to Reuters, a DISH Network spokesperson said the company disagrees with the lawsuit and plans to prove that the company didn’t violate the regulations with the help of a “third-party industry expert.”

This isn’t the first time that DISH Network has run into trouble regarding the Do-Not-Call list. During 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit claiming that DISH Network violated rules regarding the national Do-Not-Call list by calling consumers listed within the registry as well as violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by assisting authorized dealers in setting up automated “robocalls” that use prerecorded messages in an attempt to sell more subscriptions to the satellite TV service.

In addition to that lawsuit, the FTC also settled with two authorized DISH Network dealers during 2009 for violating rules regarding the national Do-Not-Call list. The penalties for those two companies totaled approximately $1.25 million, but the penalties were suspended due to the inability of the defendants to pay based on financial constraints.

In a similar case, DirecTV settled with the FTC during 2005 and paid $5.3 million on penalties for violating the national Do-Not-Call list. At the time, that was the largest civil penalty that the FTC had announced for violating the rules dictated by the Do-Not-Call list. Regarding the $5.3 million penalty, former FTC chairman Deborah Platt Majoras stated “This multimillion dollar penalty drives home a simple point: Sellers are on the hook for calls placed on their behalf. The Do Not Call Rule applies to all players in the marketing chain, including retailers and their telemarketers.”

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Facebook-Instagram deal gets green light from FTC

The US Federal Trade Commission announced on Wednesday it had finished its investigation into Facebook's acquisition of Instagram and would not be taking any further action, paving the way for the deal to be sealed.

Facebook’s acquisition of photo-sharing app maker Instagram came another step closer on Wednesday when the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it had completed its antitrust investigation and would not be taking any further action.

Facebook said in a statement that it was “pleased” with the FTC’s decision though it gave no indication as to when the deal might be completed.

Back in April, a month before the social networking giant floated on the stock exchange, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it intended to buy Instagram for $1 billion. The deal struck between the two companies meant Instagram would receive $300 million in cash and just under 23 million shares.

Of course, Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom had been hoping to see the value of Facebook shares hit the roof after the company went public in May. However, it’s gone the other way, with shares in the social networking company currently worth just half of their original $38 IPO price. This means the Facebook-Instagram deal is currently valued at just over $747 million.

The news in April of Facebook striking a deal with Instagram came as a surprise to many, not least the Facebook board. Co-founder Mark Zuckerberg reportedly sorted the deal all by himself, meeting Systrom at his Palo Alto home over three days, whittling the Instagram boss down to $1 billion from his original asking price of $2 billion. It’s thought Zuckerberg wanted to act fast in order to stop another company getting in first, with Facebook keen to find ways to increase its presence in the mobile space.

Instagram is a hugely popular free photo-sharing app that allows users to make fast and stylish edits to their snaps before sharing them on the Web. It currently has 80 million users, a figure impressive by any standards, but even more so when you consider it launched less than two years ago.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com