Focus denies SMS spam claim

Hong Kong - China's Focus Media has denied accusations its mobile subsidiary, Focus Media Wireless (FMW), has been sending millions of junk messages to mobile users.

Focus Media, China's largest outdoor media group, said FMW does not advertise products to mobile handsets without the explicit consent of mobile users.

CCTV has reported that Focus Media holds personal information about half of the Hong Kong's five million mobile-phone users.

"A computer connected to a messaging machine is able to send out about 600 short messages per hour," the CCTV report said.

But Focus Media denies the allegations.  

"Focus Media does not approve sending advertising messages to mobile users without user consent," the company said in a statement.

"[We] have established an internal policy to strictly prohibit sending SMS or MMS messages without the explicit consent of the receiving mobile user.

"If we find any employee using information obtained without user consent, we will take necessary action against such behavior including terminating his or her employment contract with Focus Media."

The news comes as Focus Media reports a 356% year-over-year increase in its mobile advertising division and a 14% jump in fourth quarter revenue increase to US$16.0 million.