Towards the end of 2013 news emerged that Cell C and MTN would finally be implementing double opt-in systems for wireless application service providers (WASPs).

Vodacom rolled out its double opt-in system two years prior. The double opt-in system cost it a 33% reduction in WASP revenue, according to Vodacom, but the operator said it was worth it for the dramatically reduced fraud complaints.

Along with the unveiling of its new double opt-in systems, Cell C and MTN also launched ways for their users to manage their content subscriptions.

Previously subscribers had no way to prevent a WASP from charging their cellular accounts, or to unsubscribe from premium content services without first contacting the WASP.

Vodacom also has a method to manage WASP subscriptions in the form of an SMS command to unsubscribe from everything.

The various WASP subscription management options of South Africa’s mobile operators are as follows:

Cell C

Using the USSD string *133*1# subscribers can block all existing and future content billing.

MTN

MTN also offers a USSD string (*141*5#) to manage premium content subscriptions, but unlike Cell C’s it doesn’t block all future subscriptions. Instead, users select which services to unsubscribe from.

Telkom Mobile

When asked about its self-service options for WASP subscriptions, Telkom Mobile said it does not offer an option for WASPs to charge for subscription services.

The operator previously told MyBroadband that it already has a double opt-in system in place, but has since said that it will be making an announcement involving its recently launched Event Billing soon.

Vodacom

Vodacom users can unsubcribe from all WASP services by sending “STOP ALL” to 30333.

Should you be subscribed to WASP services, you should receive the response “Your Vodacom request to delete all WASP service has been logged”. According to Vodacom, you should then receive messages of the format, “You have been unsubscribed from ‘SERVICE’ with effect from ‘DATE’”.

If you are not currently subscribed to any services you should receive the somewhat confusing response, “Your Vodacom request to delete all WASP services has been unsuccessful, Please call Vodacom Customer Care on 082111”.

Vodacom said that it is working on changing this message to say that you are currently not subscribed to any WASP services.

BEWARE OF WASPS TRICKING YOU OUT OF AIRTIME

While cellular users must now double opt-in to subscribe to wireless application services, the system was not without its flaws

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Mira Networks, a wireless application service provider (WASP) in South Africa, will be taken on by Vodacom for what its customer complaints division has described as a “misrepresentation” of one of its services.

This is according to an e-mail which was sent to a Vodacom user who had complained that they had been charged for a WASP service that they never subscribed to.

The service in question is Cellspice, a wireless application service that charged R7/day for access to adult content.

In the course of its investigation of the complaint, Vodacom, as a precaution, suspended Cellspice from operating on its network.

Mira Networks was asked about the suspension of Cellspice from Vodacom, but avoided answering questions on the topic.

A few days after the suspension was enacted, Vodacom’s WASP team found that the Cellspice opt-in prompt for web-based subscription requests was disguised to look like a so-called “age gate”.

Age gates are common on websites that contain age-restricted content such as certain movie or video game trailers, or pornography. One of the simpler forms an age gate can take is a prompt asking whether you’re aged 18 or over.

Vodacom’s double opt-in system

The web-based confirmation dialog is one of a number of methods Vodacom’s double opt-in system lets WASPs prompt users to subscribe to their services.

According to Vodacom, each opt-in mechanism applies under different circumstances

Follow the link to find out more.