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Teleflip spams your friends

Email to cell phone service SMS launched a new product a while back that allows you to forward your incoming email to your mobile phone. They promise not to spam you, but they don’t say anything about spamming your friends.

I sent an email to someone who uses Teleflip. I got this back from them

Subject: Just got your email…
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 09:07:21 -0800
From: my friend’s email address

I just got your email on my cell phone through flipMail for free. Give it a try.

https://www.teleflip.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Email to cell phone delivery confirmation provided by Teleflip. You can opt-out https://www.teleflip.com/index.php/OptOut/xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nice.

Walter
November 21, 2007 4:39 PM

See, I just got into this space - and I was looking for a big difference between Teleflip, and Meemo, and I’ve decided to go with Meemo.

Firstly, to elaborate on what Adam says here, Teleflip says that it only lets through pre-established e-mails. Well, great. Meemo offers the same thing, but doesn’t have to advertise it, and I use it already (with the name restrictions), and it hasn’t spammed my friends.

Secondly, I’m a bit paranoid when it comes to the transfer of personal information. Now, I have been e-mailing tech support at Meemo to find out where their transactions go through - and it’s the same place that processes RIM’s information transactions. So, if it’s tight enough for corporations to use, then it’s good enough for me.

Meemo’s 5 bucks a month, and Teleflip is “Free”, but Meemo works with a higher percentage of cell phones, and it eats all the navigation costs of “surfing” to pictures, and to your inbox and all that. I don’t know who Teleflip is, or who’s running them - but they’ve gotta get a grip. Consumers are too smart these days.

Teleflip Team
December 12, 2007 10:24 AM

Hi Adam,

We noticed the posting on your blog regarding the Teleflip email campaign and would like to apologize for any inconvenience our email may have caused. We very quickly suspended this practice after receiving additional feedback similar to yours. Because our service is still in beta, our team is continually testing new service enhancements, most are good, but occasionally even we miss the mark.

We would like to assure you and your readers that this was a one-time incident. We greatly value having you as a Teleflip user and we hope you will continue with the service.

Teleflip Team

Jason
December 26, 2007 10:44 AM

Hey Adam. I guess the powers that be at Teleflip already responded. I signed up for FlipMail and have had no problems regarding spam. I also have not received any of the Google sponsored ads. You must have signed up when it was in Beta. Just thought I’d chime in.

Mark
February 4, 2008 7:24 PM

Damn, quick-ish response, eh Adam?

Hey Walter, I’ve heard of Meemo. A friend of mine was raving about it after a few drinks the other day. A friend of his from Canada said that they use Meemo because Teleflip doesn’t work up there. He said that he’s heard the same thing from Teleflip.

It’s technology, so there are bound to be bugs. I guess you just have to try. I’m trying Meemo now.

Jonathan
February 28, 2008 1:51 PM

I guess these people developed the software, made it known to the public, then ran out of money to complete it.

I signed up for an account. Then fumbled around, back and forth and found nowhere to import contacts. Obviously that feature was not available anywhere on the site though you can read about it in the product features. There are some other things that are missing, too.

I regretted signing up for it. What a waste of time.

Rob
March 7, 2008 8:03 PM

hi guys and girls,

Is there something like this that i can use in New Zealand? The only ones i can find over here are very expensive!

Cesar Iriarte
April 20, 2008 6:38 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am in New Zealand too and also looking for a cheaper alternative.


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