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Class Action Suit in the Works Against Number-Harvesting iPhone Apps
Maximum PC all RSS Feed —
It's all fun and games, until that game you downloaded from the iTunes App Store turns out to be harvesting your cell phone number. That's what gaming developer Storm8 has been accused of doing.
"The wireless telephone numbers of users' phones are not used or necessary to play any of Storm8's games, yet Storm8 has written the software for all its games in such a way that it automatically accesses, collects, and transmits the wireless telephone number of each iPhone user who downloads any Storm8 game," states a lawsuit filed on behalf of Lynwood, Washington resident Michael Turner.
Storm8 first came under fire in late August when news ...
App Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers
Switched —
Filed under: Cell Phones, Video Games, iPhoneStorm8, the developer of popular (but terrible) iPhone games like 'Vampires Live' and 'iMobsters,' has found itself on the wrong end of a potential class-action lawsuit.
A lawsuit has been filed, on behalf of Washington resident Michael Turner, that alleges Storm8 built its games with a "feature" that automatically sends the phone number of each host iPhone to the developer. Turner is suing on the grounds that this practice is in violation of both the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California state law, and is pushing to turn it into a class-action suit, on behalf of ...
iPhone Game Company Sued for Harvesting Personal Data
AppScout —
Storm8, an independent game developer, has been sued for collecting the personal phone numbers of iPhone users, in violation of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act plus numerous California state laws, according to MediaPost. "The wireless telephone numbers of users' phones are not used or necessary to play any of Storm8's games, yet Storm8 has written the software for all its games in such a way that it automatically accesses, collects, and transmits the wireless telephone number of each iPhone user who downloads any Storm8 game," reads the lawsuit, filed on behalf of Lynwood, Wash. resident Michael Turner, the report said. The report said that the lawsuit's ...
Bing Partners With JiWire To Offer Users Free WiFi
WebProNews Feed —
Microsoft has plans to announce an advertising campaign with JiWire that will focus on enticing users to try out its search engine Bing in exchange for free WiFi where available.
The campaign is being supported by JiWire's mobile advertising network, which reaches about 20 million unique users monthly. The Bing campaign will run across WiFi hotpsots in airports and hotels nationwide.
"We're all creatures of habit, so giving away free Internet access in exchange for one search on Bing is a great way to change user behavior," David Blumenfeld, senior vice president of strategy and business development at JiWire told MediaPost.
The ...
Bing Offers Sponsored Wi-Fi after Searching
Wi-Fi Networking News —
Bing is underwriting free Wi-Fi at some hotspots if you perform a single Bing search: Microsoft's new search engine has gotten positive reviews--I quite like it, though I haven't become a regular user yet--and the company has teamed up with JiWire to push brand awareness through sponsored hotspot access. The program started in September, and incorporates thousands of hotspots--though JiWire is providing details about which one. JiWire says that 30 to 40 percent of visitors take Microsoft up on the offer.
[My usual disclosure: I own a vanishingly small number of shares in JiWire, a privately held company, from my time as an employee and consultant.] ...
JiWire Extends Wi-Fi Ads for Access Program
dailywireless.org —
JiWire, which claims to reache 20 million unique users per month through its Wi-Fi advertising channel, today announced that Microsoft’s Bing has launched a new advertising campaign with JiWire’s Ads for Access program.
JiWire’s Ads for Access program allows Wi-Fi users to perform a Bing search in exchange for free Wi-Fi. This nationwide campaign is running in premium Wi-Fi hotspots in airports and hotels reaching business travelers and affluent consumers. Hyatt, for example, offers 20 minutes of free Wi-Fi access in exchange for taking a virtual tour of their hotels. ...
Yahoo Joins The Free WiFi Marketing Bandwagon
paidContent —
Free WiFi is apparently the gift of choice this holiday season from big online companies to their users. Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) will provide free WiFi for an entire year in Times Square, starting tomorrow. A rep says it’s “the latest literal expression of Yahoo’s promise to be at the center of people’s online lives”—which is also a theme of the company’s $100 million ad campaign (As part of the effort, the company set up a ‘Yodel Studio’ in the square earlier this year).
This follows free WiFi promotions by both Google (NSDQ: ...
Microsoft to Give Away Free WiFi if You Search with Bing
Maximum PC all RSS Feed —
Microsoft's Bing and JiWire have a proposition for you. Free WiFi in exchange for using Bing. Interested? The promotion would give users free Internet access at participating hotspots if they do just one search with Bing. In conjunction with JiWire’s advertising network, Microsoft will be extending the offer to various hotels and airports.
The campaign was started in September at several thousand locations. It managed to attract between 30 and 40 percent of visitors to the hotspots. This is extremely high, as most ads only get interaction from 0.1 to 0.2 percent of people. Microsoft reportedly plans to continue with the promotion, which is a part of ...
Search Engines Vie for User’s Heart via Free WiFi
Search Engine Journal —
The order of business for the three major search engines this coming Holiday Season is none other than - Free Wi-Fi Internet access. Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have recently announced their respective strategies in providing free Internet access in various places. For both Yahoo and Google, it’s a totally free Wi-Fi Internet access while Microsoft will be offering it with a catch.
Yahoo will be providing free WiFi in Times Square starting tomorrow and will last until next year. This is part of Yahoo’s campaign to be at the center of people’s online lives.
Google on the other hand earlier announced that it will be offering free ...
Google Serves Up Free Wi-Fi at 47 Airports for the Holidays [Wi-Fi]
Gizmodo —
Holiday season air travel just got a little less crappy—freebie access starts today, and runs through to January 15. Read on for the full list of airports, and info on free Wi-Fi promos from Yahoo and Microsoft, too. You may also remember that Google already said it would foot the bill for Virgin America Wi-Fi during the same period. The catch? Once you log into the network, you'll be pestered if you want to set Google to your homepage or try Google Chrome. But that's it. I can deal with that. You'll also have the option to make a donation to Engineers Without Borders, the One Economy Corporation or the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. Meanwhile, ...
Google Makes Airport Wi-Fi Free During the Holidays [Free Wi-Fi]
Lifehacker —
[image] Delayed flights and hold-overs won't tempt you with $10-a-day Wi-Fi this holiday season. That's because Google has bought out web service at 47 airports through Jan. 15, 2010, and offers it free, assuming you don't mind a little soft advertising. As with Google's free Wi-Fi offering on Virgin America flights ...
Linkpost | 11.10.2009
TechBlog —
New update for Snow Leopard, 10.6.2, is out | Main November 10, 2009 Linkpost | 11.10.2009 • Google to buy mobile advertising network AdMob for $750 million and Facts about Google's acquisition of AdMob • Google's Purchase of Skype Rival Gizmo5 Could Benefit You - Google's been busy, also buying at VoIP firm. • Mobile Firefox has a new logo: Furry fetishists rejoice! - Pocket Fox! • Microsoft Bing Gives WiFi Users Free Search - Users get one free search on Bing at participating hotspots. • Rdio: First Screenshots Leaked of Skype Founders' New Music Service - Supposedly, will launch in 2010. • Sprint to cut 2,000 to ...
Google Offers Free Wi-Fi at Airports During the Holidays [Free Wi-Fi]
Lifehacker —
[image] Delayed flights and hold-overs won't tempt you with $10-a-day Wi-Fi this holiday season. That's because Google has bought out web service at 47 airports through Jan. 15, 2010, and offers it free, assuming you don't mind a little soft advertising. As with Google's free Wi-Fi offering on Virgin America flights ...
Free Wi-Fi for the Holidays
jkOnTheRun —
The holiday season is rapidly approaching and it’s always a delight when companies give back to us in the spirit of the season. Our friends at GottaBeMobile are pointing out not one company giving back, but three. It seems that Google is filling up 47 airports in the U. S. and flights on Virgin Air, with free Wi-Fi through January 15. Yahoo is lighting up Times Square all year in NYC with Wi-Fi action, and Microsoft is partnering with JiWire to give Wi-Fi in airports, as long as users make at least one search with Bing. ‘Tis the season to stay connected.
Rejoice, surfers! Bing it up with free WiFi access across the US
Download Squad —
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft, Search
In exchange for just one search on Bing, Microsoft's new search engine, Microsoft will grant you free WiFi access on hotspots nationwide (but mostly in airports and hotels).
Apparently the offer began in September but perhaps they've been steadily unrolling it across the country as they only just ...
Bing and get FREE WiFi access across the US
D' Technology Weblog —
Microsoft's Bing and JiWire rolled out an advertising campaign, that lets consumers gain free WiFi Internet access at participating hot spots in exchange for one search on the Bing engine. Supported by JiWire's mobile advertising network, which reaches about 20 million unique consumers monthly, Bing's nationwide campaign runs across WiFi hotspots in airports and hotels. The campaign aims to make more people aware of Bing and allow them to try the search engine, according to David Blumenfeld, senior vice president of strategy and business development at JiWire. "We're all creatures of habit, so giving away free Internet access in ...
Among search rivals, the holiday spirit of giving is in the air
GMSV —
There’s no question what the hottest gift item is for search engines looking to curry a little holiday favor with their customers this year and it’s not those Zhu Zhu hamsters (though that would certainly make a lot of desperate parents happy). Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have all settled on something a bit less tangible but always welcome: free Wi-Fi access. Google announced this morning that in cooperation with assorted wireless providers, it would provide free Wi-Fi for travelers passing through 47 U.S. airports , from Austin to West Palm Beach, now through Jan. 15. “We’re very happy to extend our Holiday Wi-Fi gift to the millions of people who will spend ...
Search on Bing, Get Some Free Wi-Fi
Alice Hill's Real Tech News - Independent Tech —
bing.jpg By Michael Santo Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews Microsoft has resorted to Bing bribery before, but now it’s using free wi-fi minutes instead of cashback on shopping. The program, which actually began in September, relies on users liking Bing after trying it once, and returning to use it. Bing and JiWire announced the program on Monday. Consumers gain free wi-fi access at participating hot spots in exchange for one search on Bing. The nationwide campaign is running in “premium” hotspots in airports and hotels to reach business travelers and affluent customers. Bing customized JiWire’s existing Ads for Access platform to create a “search for access” program. It’s unclear ...
Google offers free Wi-Fi in 47 airports over the holidays
Yahoo! Tech Advisors —
[image] Consider it an early Christmas present from the magnanimous and almighty Google: Free Wi-Fi for harried travelers in 47 airports nationwide . The "gift" begins November 16 and will run through January 15, 2010: Totally free Wi-Fi access in airports large and small, ranging from Austin to West Palm Beach. ( A complete list of participating airports can be found here .) Two of those airports -- Burbank and Seattle -- will extend the free Wi-Fi access offer indefinitely after the program runs its course. Google says the 47 airports involved will handle 500 million passengers over the course of a year, or 35 percent of U.S. air travelers. 100 million travelers should ...
Free Wi-Fi Abounds with Holiday Sponsorships
TidBITS: Mac News for the Rest of Us —
The twinkle of the holiday season is already upon us as companies are climbing over each other to pick up the tab for Wi-Fi access at hotspots that typically charge a fee, including two of the most expensive venues: on planes and at airports.
In unrelated sponsorship deals, eBay, Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are providing free access to various networks and services over the next few weeks and months.
Free airport Wi-Fi from Google. Google is sponsoring network access at 47 airports from 10 November 2009 to 15 January 2010, although a few of these airports already provide free service. On top of the sponsorship, Google offers a photo contest and up to ...
