Mobile Premium Services
Communications Alliance has developed a range of information about Mobile Premium Services for industry members and consumers including the
19sms website.
19 SMS Website
www.19sms.com.au provides a comprehensive consumer guide to Mobile Premium Services (MPS) including an explanation of what Mobile Premium Services are; how to access them; how to STOP them; useful links and a terminology guide; and the 19 Service Finder – a search tool that allows consumers to enter the short code of a service and find detailed information, including the name of the provider, an overview of the specific campaign, billing charges and a Helpline phone number.
Current Arrangements
The Mobile Premium Services Code (C637:2009) was registered by the ACMA under the Telecommunications Act (1997) on 14 May 2009 and took effect on 1 July 2009. The Code replaced the MPSI Scheme, which along with the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 was repealed by the ACMA on 1 July 2009. The Code applies to carriage service providers, aggregators and content providers and its objective is to establish appropriate community safeguards and customer service requirements for Mobile Premium Services.
This code was revised in 2011 and is currently pending registration by the ACMA.
C637:2009 Mobile Premium Services (MPS) Code
C637:2009 (.pdf, 512kb)
This Code contains service provider rules about:
- advertising of mobile premium services
- providing information about the service to customers
- supplying a service
- complaint handling procedures
- unsubscribe and opt out mechanisms
C637:2011 Mobile Premium Services Industry Code
C637:2011 (pdf 601kb)
This Code is a revision of the registered Mobile Premium Services (MPS) Industry Code (C637:2009).
This Code is to be submitted to the ACMA for registration and until this revised Code is registered, the Mobile Premium Services (MPS) Industry Code (C637:2009) above remains as the registered Code with which industry must comply.
Useful Links
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Further information about mobile premium services can be found from ACMA’s website.
Information on how mobile chat service providers can minimise the risk of mobile chat services being used to facilitate illegal contact between children and adults can be accessed in the ACMA’s Guide to the Implementation of Safety Measures in Mobile Chat Services.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
Guidance relating to the advertising of mobile premium services can be found at the ACCC’s website.
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is a free and independent alternative dispute resolution scheme for small business and residential consumers who have an unresolved complaint about their telephone or Internet service.
INMS
INMS (Industry Numbers Management Services Ltd.) allocates short-digit Premium Rate (191-199) numbers and 13/1300/1800 numbers on behalf of the Australian Communications and Media Authority to registered Carriage Service Providers (CSPs). The INMS system also facilitates the portability of 13/1300/1800 telephone services and the movement of Premium Rate (191-199) numbers.
SpamMATTERS
ACMA has implemented the SpamMATTERS reporting and forensic analysis system to help fight spam. If you have problems with mobile phone Spam or other types of Spam use the SpamMATTERS reporting system.
SCAMwatch

SCAMwatch provides detailed information and warnings on scams.
Consumers
Members of the general public should go to www.19sms.com.au to access a comprehensive suite of information about mobile premium services, including:
- an explanation of how mobile premium services work;
- how to access them;
- how to STOP them;
- useful industry, consumer and regulator links; and
- a 19 Service Finder tool which enables identification of the company supplying your mobile premium service.