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Mobile Premium Services Guideline and Standard Industry Arrangements: Pre-Public Comment Draft

The Pre-Public Comment Draft version of the Mobile Premium Services Guideline and Standard Industry Arrangements (GSIA) can be located here.

Please note that the Guideline is a Draft only and may undergo further revision prior to publication.

Role of Scheme Custodian

Communications Alliance is the body nominated by the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme to undertake the role and functions of Scheme Custodian. In its role as Scheme Custodian, Communications Alliance will manage and facilitate the policy and administrative related duties associated with the Scheme, including the requirements for amendment of the Scheme as set out in Section 14 of the Scheme. In addition, Communications Alliance will maintain a list of Scheme members.

Communications Alliance Mobile Premium Services Groups

List of Groups

Regulation of Premium Services

Premium services that involve sending an SMS to a number starting with 191, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197 or 199 or accessing a mobile carrier 'portal' are regulated under rules set out in the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 (No.1).

Premium mobile services provide content via SMS, MMS or 'walled garden' mobile portals, with the cost of the content added to customer's phone bills.

The Determination makes provision for Mobile Carriage Service Providers and Content Service Providers to develop a self-regulatory scheme that contains rules about providing mobile customers with clear and transparent information about the costs and terms and conditions on which mobile premium services are offered, and about the handling of complaints about mobile premium services.

The Scheme, known as the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme was approved by ACMA on 28 September 2006.

The Determination also establishes a Default Scheme which applies to any carriage service provider and content service provider which is not a member of an ACMA approved self-regulatory scheme.

The Schemes came into effect on the 29 October 2006.

Information about the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme

Scheme Documentation

Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme

Guideline to the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme

This set of Guidelines is a companion document to the Scheme. It has been produced so that when followed it will help ensure the safe and responsible delivery of premium mobile services, informed and satisfied customers, and a sustainable marketplace for all.

Scheme Members
This alphabetical list contains the names of companies who have nominated to be members of the Scheme and who have agreed to be bound by the Scheme.

Communicator Interactive

Dialect Interactive

Dialogue Communications Pty Ltd

Ericsson Australia Pty Ltd

Finance News Network

Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Limited

Iguana2 Pty Ltd

Informatel Pty Ltd

Information Dialling Services Pty Ltd

InPho Interactive

iTouch Australia Pty Ltd

Legion Interactive (Belong Pty Ltd)

mBlox Australia

m.Net Corporation Ltd

Optus Mobile Pty Limited

Sybase Pty Ltd

Telstra Corporation Limited

TigerSpike Pty Ltd

Virgin Mobile (Australia) Pty Limited

Vodafone

Weathernews Australia Pty Ltd

XY InterAct

Membership Eligibility and Representation
Scheme membership is open to all Carriage Service Providers, Content Service Providers, and Content Providers supplying services to the Australian mobile content market.

To become a member of the Scheme please complete the following online application form.

Online Scheme Membership Application Form

Default Scheme

A Default Scheme applies to any carriage service provider and content service provider which is not a member of the ACMA approved Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme.

Information about the Default Scheme is available from the Australian Communications and Media Authority�s (ACMA) website.

Legislation

Introduction
On 29 June 2005, the Australian Communications Authority (ACA, now ACMA) made the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 No.1 (the Determination) under section 99 of the Telecommunications Act. This Determination specifies the minimum obligations on Carriage Service Providers and Content Service Providers intending to supply mobile premium services to the Australian marketplace.

Click here to access a copy of the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 (No.1).
Click here to access a copy of the Explanatory Statement to the Determination.

Safety in Mobile Chat Services
On 11 May 2006, ACMA published its Guide to the Implementation of Safety Measures in Mobile Chat Services which provides 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.

Useful links

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Further information about mobile premium services can be found from ACMA�s website.

NetAlert
NetAlert is part of the Australian Government's ongoing commitment to providing a safe online environment for all families, especially children. NetAlert is the Australian Government�s internet safety initiative which consists of a wide range of activities. Together, these activities provide a comprehensive response to the needs of the Australian community in protecting their families online.

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.

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 a complaint about their telephone or Internet service.

The TIO is also the �Escalated Complaints Handling Body� nominated under the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme.

Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC)
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) is an Australian Government agency that provides administrative support to the Classification Board and the Classification Review Board. The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Classification Act) establishes the Board, the Classification Review Board, and the classification system. The Classification Act is the basis on which premium content is to be assessed by members of the Scheme.

The OFLC�s website has a dedicated section for the Telecommunications sector, which provides important industry information about content regulation and classification training, including:

How is telecommunications content regulated?
What classification requirements apply to telecommunications content?
What compliance requirements apply to telecommunications content?
How can I get classification training to assess telecommunications content?