HK poll points to concerns over unsolicited SMS

HONG KONG: A study has found that 45 per cent of SMS users surveyed are 'somewhat concerned' or 'very concerned' about unsolicited messages received by SMS.

The survey also found more than three-quarters of Hong Kong's SMS users have, as yet, no plans to increase their SMS usage, despite a recent announcement that SMS services have finally become interoperable in Hong Kong.

The NFO WorldGroup surveyed 250 mobile-phone users in Hong Kong, and found that less than one in five had used SMS services. Of these, more than half sent no more than one message per month and 80 per cent sent 10 messages per month or fewer.

Steve Yap, director at NFO WorldGroup Hong Kong, added: "Database marketers should also take heed of the fact that 45 per cent of all survey respondents indicated that they were 'somewhat concerned' or 'very concerned' about unsolicited messages received via SMS."