New specs withhold wireless numbers from content companies.(News)

The Liberty Alliance standard group said it plans to develop specifications that would withhold users' phone numbers from wireless content providers. The group said its new interface specifications would protect mobile-phone users' privacy. "This business represents a large source of income for mobile operators and content providers alike,'' said Timo Skytta, vice president of the Liberty Alliance and director of Web services at Nokia Corp.

"But, it also represents a huge opportunity for privacy intrusion and increased spam since users are exposing their telephone numbers directly to the content providers, who can then easily give or sell this information to others. The Liberty team recognized an opportunity to create a powerful service interface...

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