I registered a piece of software today by typing in the registration code provided by the developer.
A few hours later, my N9210 reported that a message had been sent. Not being aware that I had sent a message, I checked the log and saw, in the log, a message had been sent with the reigstration code I had just entered, to a number I don't recognise.
All of a sudden, I don't feel so happy to use this software.
What else will it send?
How many developers do this?
What does the message contain (there's nothing in my out box, I only have the first few characters in my log)?
Where does my message go, WITHOUT my permission? It cost me 10p. Not a lot, but the principle is important; would you mind if someone sent messages from your phone without permission?
I think I may uninstall this at once....
And what software did it???
The registration code that was sent was the code for TimeTool.
I think that it may be illegal for developers to make that kind of registrations.
Imagine what else ther could be sent out as well this way.And I wonder what info was sent about your phone....It�s a perfect Trojan Horse !
This is bound to be on the edge of the law.
Move to America then you can sue them regardless of where they come from and who they are....
Seriously though, that is a major bad on their behalf and I really hope that that is a bug otherwise I wouldn't want to register that software, I'd also want the cost re-imbursed as they hadn't informed you that the software wasn't going to do that in advance.
BTW, I'm fairly sure that's very illegal in the UK if you can justifiably show it as an invasion of privacy, because by doing that it's just given them your mobile number.
/me worries that he looks at these things from extreme angles, then dismisses the thought.
Flipside<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by Flipside on 2002-01-18 2159 ]</font>
Dear friend
I'm a buyer of this program and i have read on this link http//www.timetool.de/tt9210/english.html that Important The most people have used the testversion of TimeTool before purchasing the full version. This is one of the reasons why the WAV-files are not delivered by ShareIt or Handango. If you don't have loaded the WAV-files before, please do it now with this link -> tt2waven.sis
After purchasing "TimeTool for N9210" the installation file timetool.sis and a personalized registration key will be delivered to you. As part of the registration procedure a registration SMS will be sent automatically to the program author .
You don't read before you buy ?
Regards
Chrys
Having bought the software from Nokia Marketplace, I wouldn't have seen that message....
I think I shall be going to developers' sites to buy my software from now on though 
I hang my head in shame and retract all I thought and said about the developer of this software 
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by TANKERx on 2002-01-18 2230 ]</font>
Either way it would have been nice if you been made aware of it regardless of where you bought the software from. Nor would it hurt to have the program tell you it was doing it.
Rafe
Surely it would be sensible for the author to have pointed this out on the screen where you enter your registration code, or on the disclaimer shown when installing the .sis file.
Still with that thought though, it is possible for someone to misuse the PDA/phone connection if they want to and this software highlights this. It may be well and good for the americans for dial-home porn, but in the whole I think the phone should be able to warn you that software is trying to send an SMS/make a call, and allow you to prevent it.
http//www.thesoundlab.co.uk<IMG SRC="http//www.soundlab.freeserve.co.uk/gfx/flipside.png" ALT="Flipside"></A><font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by Flipside on 2002-01-18 2349 ]</font>
Hello all !
My name is Dirk Lausecker and I'm the programmer of "TimeTool f. N9110" and "TimeTool f. N9210".
Please execuse, my english is not the best but I will try to explain the reason and the content of the registration SMS.
1. content
The registration SMS has the following format
//nrg21627/Txxxxx/350149xxxxxxxxx/TT9210-EN/1.x.x.x/05/
nrg216427 = Header
Txxxxx = TimeTool registration number without checksum
350149xxxxxxxxx = IMEI
TT9210-EN = Productcode
1.x.x.x = program version
05 = registration state
With this registration-SMS, send to my mobile phone, I can follow how often a registration key was used to install the software on more than one device.
An asian TimeTool customer has installed TimeTool on more than 20 devices illegal.
I'm not happy about that, but I know that I don't must give him support for any problem 
Currently I'm working on a IMEI-based code for installing the full version of TimeTool. In the future the full version of TimeTool will be personalized to the device of the customer.
This will bring some drawbacks for the users, but its more the legal way to protect the software against piracy.
BTW Every TimeTool customer can contact me over [email protected].[email protected].</a> (for example to ask for the content of the registration SMS)
I agree that you use a good method for tracking the installation of your software. Although a quick note from the software telling you that it's about to send the SMS before use would be slightly more polite.
Hi all,
I'm very very sorry but if developers start using this way of tracking their soft i will sell my Nokia immediately!!!!!! To the developer You ever thought about machine-swaps??? The imei changes if you get a swapped machine from Nokia. What will you tell the buyer in this situation??? This is wrong, sorry.
Regards,
Jan
I'm with Jan here. I do not approve of IMEI registrations, although obviously an authr is free to do what he chooses.
UID registrations (the same but for ER5) always got very bad press. The thing is you have to trust the user a little. To be honest if he's dishonest enough to use a copy or more than one machine he wont buy more or he'll find a way round the IMEI altogther.
Rafe
Hi all,
To me it's very simple. It's my phone and it needs to send sms or it needs to call whenever I want, not somebody else! I was planning to buy Timetool later as it is no real priority to me, but this all changes my plans of buying radicaly.
Jan
<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2002-01-28 1628, Rafe wrote
To be honest if he's dishonest enough to use a copy or more than one machine he wont buy more or he'll find a way round the IMEI altogther.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
There are already ways of hacking the IMEI numbers on Nokia phones, and I'm guessing they work with the 9210 too so it does defeat the point of IMEI registered software (although it's not easy to change the IMEI (apparently)).
What you have to remember when writing an anti-piracy system for your software is that the majority of people who pirate software either can't afford it, or wouldn't be interested in buying it. How many people here run pirate copies of windoze/office, would you *really* pay for that, I know I wouldn't... (although my copies are legal, tentatively, and unpaid for....)
Problem is, the idea is sound (for the most part), but the methodology is a bit too big brother like, but then when we all have internet connections, our windoze based pcs will do the same thing no doubt, courtesy of the beast.
I'm happy that the author has posted what it is that is sent and, I suppose, if it is stated on the author's web page, that an SMS will be sent, I shouldn't complain.
However, IMHO, it does cross a line, in particular in that it doesn't make it clear when the message is being sent.
Maybe if the software offered to send the registration details via e-mail, your average customer could then check to see what is being sent?
in any way, no matter what was the reason, nothing should be sent to the programmer without me knowing it !!
even IMEI software are crackable
<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2002-01-29 0557, Anonymous wrote
in any way, no matter what was the reason, nothing should be sent to the programmer without me knowing it !!
even IMEI software are crackable
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
Indeed, every software is crackable.
But, with some barriers the illegal use can be limited.
Please understand me. I have spend a lot of time to create the software.
Dirk Lausecker