In Brief: South Korea to cap cell-phone texting
South Korea plans to put a cap on the number of text messages that can be sent from cell phones in a move to clamp down on spam.
The Ministry of Information and Communication said Tuesday it would phase in the cap that would prohibit users from sending more than 1,000 text messages per day from their handsets.
Ministry Director Seo Seok-jin said more than 400 cell-phone users have been known to send more than 10,000 text messages every day -- a rate of one message every eight seconds.
The Korea Times said spam sent to wireless phones has started to overtake the volume of unwanted e-mails sent to PC users.
Seo said the ministry is working with Korea's three wireless carriers to develop a system that automatically suspends cell service after 1,000 text messages have been sent.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International