The ill-fated T-Mobile G1 phone, that features the Google Android operating system, has had its latest bug fixed. The bug caused commands to be executed when a user typed a text message. For example, if you typed “reboot”, then your handset would do exactly that.

Although not exactly a security problem, t certainly is a pretty dumb issue, that you would hope Google would have got covered during the development. All this shows is that there was nowhere near enough testing done on the operating system.

However, in fairness to Google, not many people would use the word “reboot” in a text message, but could you imagine the carnage if you typed “bang!” into the device – goodbye eyebrows.
To the search engine giants credit, they have addressed the issue, and a bug fix was dealt, but to be honest, its shocking that the phone ever got released. This phone seemed to skip the beta phase entirely.
From one phone related story to another.

UK telecoms regulator has completed an investigation in to mobile phone seller Phones4U. If anyone has ever been into one of these stores, and if you have a solid knowledge of mobiles, it’s utterly astonishing the amount of nonsense the company’s sales assistants spout in an effort to make a sale.

The regulator found, to no-ones great surprise, that Phones4U had created terms and conditions that were considered illegal, as well as giving bad advice to customers.

The investigation began in May in response to public complaints about the company to Trading Standards. Phones4U claimed innocence, but said they would “act accordingly” to anything that showed them doing wrong.

Ofcom has said that the company was in breach of the Sales of Goods Act 1979 – failing to replace and/or repair handsets – as well as the Unfair Contract Terms Acts of 1977, and he Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 – for the small print in their returns policy and ‘chequeback’ promotional scheme.

The company also got it in the neck for making “misleading, false or deceptive representations or omissions to consumers in breach of the Control of Misleading Advertising Regulations 1988.”

Ofcom’s duty is to protect consumer rights, not to deal out punishments, so Phones4U will have to comply with all of the above points, including changes to small print, and some staff training for the sleazy sales assistants, so they stop the “making of representations and omissions to consumers regarding network coverage, contract buy out offers, mobile plan characteristics, ‘unlimited’ internet usage, cancellation rights and upgrades”.

Staffordshire Trading Standards will make sure that Phones4U comply with the ordered, so as far as Ofcom is concerned its case closed.