Re: -probably_junk- Re: Here comes the cell phone ad disaster!

At 16 Jun 2008 18:44:33 -0400 George wrote:

> > Actually all my phones have been registered with DO NOT CALL.  I still
> > received a text message in a shopping center a month ago from some
> > local robot that sensed my nearby cellphone. I thought it was neat and
> > at the same time I was annoyed that they could do that.
> 
> Thinking it was "neat" wouldn't be my first thought...

Funny, MY first thought was "impossible."  How is the "local robot" going
to sniff out your phone number to text you by "sensing your phone"?  Like
many of 4phun's posts, this smells fishy.

As re****ted in the trades, advertisers have been testing "robots" that
attempt to connect with Bluetooth-enabled phones left in discoverable mode
with offers of free ringtones or wallpapers to promote movies, etc., but
the recipient has to permit the contact and pair with the sender, and
AFAIK, the tests have been less than impressive for the sponsors (few
people understand how to use their phone's BT other than using their
headset.)  

I fail to see how any "robot" could intercept a device's phone number to
text it unsolicited.  I think 4phun is having "phun" with us and passing
off apocryphal urban legend as a first hand account.  Next he'll tell us
you can pop corn with four iPhones...  ;-)