How To Stop Pesky Calls And SMSes

Don't want to be annoyed by unwanted commercial calls and SMSes? Here's all that you should know about Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's  (TRAI) new regulations to give your mobile phone a little rest.

 

The new guidelines set by TRAI was supposed to be effective on February 1, 2011. The initial deadline of January 1 was extended by a month. Now TRAI has further pushed it to March 1.

A new set of guidelines became necessary due to the limited success of TRAI's earlier initiatives. The National Do Not Call Registry was somewhat effective in reducing the number of unsolicited calls but indirectly led to an increase in the number of unsolicited SMSes landing in consumers' inboxes.

Under the new guidelines consumers can choose their preference to receive or not to receive commercial communication from seven pre-defined categories. Users also have the option to either block all commercial calls and SMSes or to block only commercial calls while receiving SMSes of their choice.

Consumers have two choices, they can register in one of the two categories:
1. Fully blocked category: Consumers will not receive any commercial communication on their phones either as voice calls or SMSes.
2. Partially blocked category: Consumer will not receive any voice calls, but can choose to receive SMSes on any or some or all from seven pre-defined subjects:
a. Banking/insurance/financial products/credit cards
b. Real estate
c. Education
d. Health
e. Consumer goods and automobiles
f. Communication/broadcasting/entertainment/IT
g. Tourism and leisure

with thanks : IBNLIVE.in : link above for more details.