It has come to our attention that a fraudulent email has been sent to a number of industry participants from an unknown source suggesting the resignation of PhonepayPlus’s Acting Chief Executive. This is not true.
For more details please read the statement given by PhonepayPlus this afternoon: http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/News-And-Events/News/2015/1/Fraudulent-email.aspx
As a result of the Emergency Procedures that PhonepayPlus deployed in 2013 and prior to the instigation of this legal challenge, AIME Executive and Board worked extensively with PhonepayPlus to develop guidance for the premium rate industry that utilise digital marketing, particularly with affiliates.
AIME also collaboratively developed an early warning system for reporting instances of mobile malware, misleading affiliate practices and other tactics that would damage advertisers and create risk for consumers. This enabled responsible advertisers to investigate and deal with affiliate and other digital marketing fraud aimed at themselves, but affecting consumers in process. This tool is being actively used by industry.
The area of affiliate marketing as a promotion tool for connecting with mobile consumers exploded in 2012/13 and the risks to advertisers from affiliates who set out to mislead consumers or create malware was little understood by all parties. AIMEs role in assembling industry collaboration has resulted in a marked reduction in rogue affiliate issues affecting premium rate service marketing and we continue to monitor and react to the issue.
AIME also engaged extensively with senior representatives of PhonepayPlus to encourage and support a review of their enforcement procedures, the skill and independence of the code compliance panel and the robustness of adjudication case preparation in light of new technology and new ways for consumers to utilise premium rate services via the burgeoning growth in smartphones.
PhonepayPlus has demonstrated willingness to engage with industry on these matters while still prioritising its consumer protection remit and remaining independent.
AIMEs Chairman Edward Boddington said “It is vital for the premium rate industry that we have an effective regulator to ensure a stable operating environment for the companies that wish to provide consumers with great products, transparent pricing and honest marketing and the regulator should keep at bay the miscreants who are determined to wreck the industry and remove consumer confidence. AIMEs objective for its members is to ensure that PhonepayPlus has robust mechanisms to remove harmful products while applying efficient and precise procedures that will survive any legal challenge. Maintaining that balance is a tough role to play and AIME has encouraged and will continue to support PhonepayPlus.
This legal case reached conclusion today and news is starting to spread about the outcome of the case. AIME is currently analysing the potential impact of the case on PhonepayPlus and its procedures and will report directly to AIME Members.
A summary of the Judicial Review outcome is available here:
PhonepayPlus have also released a press statement after today’s results here: http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/News-And-Events/News/2015/1/Ruling-on-Ordanduu-GmbH-and-Optimus-Mobile-GmbH-v-PhonepayPlus.aspx
Telemedia News commentary on the outcome can be found here: http://www.telemedia-news.com/newsitem.aspx?id=5093
The workshops, which are running every hour from 10:00 to 16:00 will assist apps and game developers to develop monetisation strategies for their future projects that include full population coverage and are virtually device agnostic.
See how other companies introduced 60% revenue uplift virtually overnight and managed to attract new audiences to their product ranges.
There will be an opportunity to quiz the Mobile Network Operators about enabling your specific requirements.
If you are a developer, consultant or decision maker and in or near Shoreditch on 19th January, simply register your interest in one of the Monetising through Charge to Mobile workshops by using our Eventbrite page: https://eventbrite.co.uk/event/15219865026/
London Mobile Games Week is a week long series of industry wide events throughout London for professionals in the tech, creative and entertainment sectors, with a core focus on mobile games.
The purpose of London Mobile Games Week is to drive investment and growth in the mobile games sector, in the UK
All of the events are individually and independently hosted by leading associations, the gaming community and professional events companies.
The events will take place in a diverse range of locations and settings in the UK’s capital and range from everything from informal meet-ups and networking activities, to workshops and seminars, to awards ceremonies and full scale conference and exhibitions.
Visit the website for full details:www.mobilegamesweek.london
A study commissioned by PhonepayPlus shows that there is potential for mobile operator billing for digital content and services to grow to c. £500 million and gain a 4% UK market share of micropayments.
Non-Adult entertainment products account for over 80% of digital products and services sold in the UK. Major App stores and operating system platforms such as iOS and Android have a strong influence over how digital content is monetised and consumed, but the study identifies opportunities for mobile operators who wish to play a significant part in the micropayments eco-system.
The study shows that strategic positioning and development of operator billing, operating under the generic name of charge to mobile in the UK is required to ensure that it has a key role to play by bringing in digital inclusion of consumers and through its low friction interfaces such as Payforit.
The report is available from PhonepayPlus on this link
