Article: Cell phones join e-mail inboxes as spam's new home.

Byline: Wendy Tanaka

No longer just the scourge of computer inboxes, spam has begun trickling into cell phones.

Sometimes it's a text message that pops up on your cell-phone screen, advertising lewd or dubious services, or new offers from your cell-phone provider. Other times it's a harmless message transmitted via the short-range technology known as Bluetooth, inviting passers-by into a nearby coffee shop.

So far, it seems to be mostly a minor annoyance. "I just delete them," said Colin Powers, 20, a student at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, who has received a few unsolicited text messages hawking "special offers" at Web sites.

...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!