tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029501467787683847.post987545799552419171..comments2024-03-18T08:41:12.468-04:00Comments on Thoughts on Public & Digital History by Adam Crymble: Google Anti-Spam Policy Hurts Poor / Disabled MostUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029501467787683847.post-77521783898350471742009-12-02T02:55:40.490-05:002009-12-02T02:55:40.490-05:00I had to go through the mobile phone text message ...I had to go through the mobile phone text message verification thing too when I set up a new YouTube account. There has to be a better work-around than getting a friend to receive your text for you. I agree with Adam that this is an awkward and cumbersome system. I felt the same way when I needed a text message code to access the wi-fi service at the Library and Archives of Canada.<br /><br />Some landline services now offer text-to-voice (Telus offers it here in Vancouver). This solution would give non-mobile phone users access to the password and it would be useful for the blind. You should see if your local telephone service provider has text-to-voice functionality.<br /><br />I would also like to echo Bill's comment. Mobile phone usage and text messaging in some developing countries is far more extensive than North America or Western Europe. In fact, in most developing countries, mobile internet on phones is the dominant form of internet usage. BBC's Digital Planet podcast discusses this a lot in regard to countries like China, India, and Kenya.Sean Kherajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14310390665672886365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029501467787683847.post-28714986875338092182009-12-01T20:18:51.989-05:002009-12-01T20:18:51.989-05:00KLL, I have a feeling that like with most things b...KLL, I have a feeling that like with most things by Google, they phase them in slowly, randomly trying it on some users to see how it works.Adam Crymblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16729063535227511371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029501467787683847.post-73063038011882605582009-11-30T13:23:16.922-05:002009-11-30T13:23:16.922-05:00You know, I heard this last week. Seemed a little ...You know, I heard this last week. Seemed a little odd, so I clicked out of my email, then signed up for a new Gmail account to test it. <br /><br />There wasn't even a field to put in my cell phone number. I've seen horrified accounts of people it prompted for this information, but it didn't prompt me.<br /><br />Have they not rolled this out yet? Are they only doing it sometimes? Did it see that I had a cookie set, and thus decided I was somehow okay even without the cell phone verification?KLLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097853439585936828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029501467787683847.post-25416927188994363152009-11-30T07:56:37.747-05:002009-11-30T07:56:37.747-05:00Bill, the issue isn't whether there are cell p...Bill, the issue isn't whether there are cell phones in the third world, it's a matter of networks. The people who don't have cell phones are less likely to have friends or family with them either.<br />It takes what used to be a free service and adds an expensive, unrelated requirement as a terms of use so that, as Mike says, Google can have more information about you.Adam Crymblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16729063535227511371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029501467787683847.post-37755771950104704612009-11-30T05:42:12.284-05:002009-11-30T05:42:12.284-05:00It also means they have your cell number, linked t...It also means they have your cell number, linked to your gmail and other services in their database. Go fi$ure!Mike Cosgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00178757998486958756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029501467787683847.post-46529901016118026182009-11-29T17:36:32.554-05:002009-11-29T17:36:32.554-05:00Adam, about 60% of the people in the world have ce...Adam, about 60% of the people in the world have cell phones, many of them in developing countries. See, e.g., http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/worldwide-cellphone-use-hits-60-percent-developing-nations-larg/William J. Turkelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05033419379580138964noreply@blogger.com