Quote:
Originally Posted by Florence
Notice Talktalk are starting in June this year to use phorm and webwise.
So that seems to show that this isn't going to be that easy sadly, they are trying to force customers to conphorm to their idea..
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TalkTalk have heard customers' feedback as discussed at
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03...hares_plummet/
(emboldening is mine)
"Company representatives have told users in forums that they are working on a way to ensure that traffic from people who opt out will never enter the Phorm system. "We had a meeting yesterday and based on customer opinion we decided to use a different method, yet to be decided, to split the traffic so it doesn't hit a Webwise server at all for those that opt out," one wrote.
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In an email to a customer seen by The Register, Carphone Warehouse CEO Charles Dunstone confirmed that Webwise will be
opt-in only on his firm's network. He wrote: "We have never stated what our policy was. This is the first clarification given. We are still many months before the system is meant to go live."
A post from TalkTalk admin "Matt"
here adds more details. He writes: "There is no Phorm equipment in our network. We have never run any trials, nor implemented any aspect of this nor any of Phorm's previous systems in our network.
"By making the service opt-in, we feel the onus remains firmly with Phorm to make the service useful and compelling enough that subscribers will choose to join it. If it fails to do this, it will itself fail."
TalkTalk are listening to their customers and have made a public statement.
---------- Post added at 15:16 ---------- Previous post was at 14:56 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja
136 pages and people still dont get it, they dont care about you, all they care about is the money it will generate, they will fobb you off until they finally get their way and release it.
If you want to fight back - move ISP and tell them WHY your moving - simple, if that happens Phorm has NO chance.
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You might be prepared to do nothing about Phorm. Others, like people here, are doing more than debating it here, they are actively protesting, informing and educating people in positions of regulation, government and influence to what Phorm is and what Phorm stands for.
What have
you done?
I said it would probably be about the start of the month when Ian Woodham's reply arrived. I came home to find a white envelope on the floor. On it was written in the top right hand corner "COMPLIANCE".
The reply itself was a bit disappointing but again is something we can use if Virgin Media start to behave like BT. Again it is hand signed. I've put some bold in where points we can capitalise on are relevant.
"Dear CaptHunter
I write in response to your letter dated 19th March 2008.
Whilst I understand your concerns and would like to thank you for your feedback, I must stress that although Virgin Media have
signed a provisional agreement with Phorm, we still have a lot of work to do in evaluating various
aspects of a possible deployment. As a result it may be some months before we are in a position to confirm how and when the solution will be implemented. However, to reiterate my letter of 14th March 2008,
currently no Phorm solution has been implemented on Virgin Media's network and will not until we are confident that it is compliant to do so.
We will of course be communicating our intentions openly and transparently and will let all our customers know before rolling out the Phorm solution and we'll clearly explain how the system works. Ultimately customers will not be forced to use the system and will be able to keep their internet experience just as it is now should they wish.
With regard to customer's [sic] opinions, I can confirm that consumer concerns around privacy are (and will remain) an important element in our deliberations. Similarly
we are fully aware of the adverse impact on Virgin Media's reputation, and again this forms an important part of our deliberations.
Whilst I appreciate that this letter may not provide the level of detail you require, we still have a lot of work to do in evaluating various aspects of any possible deployment and as such until this work is complete I am unable to provide this level of detail."
Points we can use:
Provisional agreement. The more information that reaches Virgin Media about Phorm - The Guardian's rejection, the BT & Phorm illegal trials - and the more people who tell them, the more Virgin Media will realise Phorm isn't a good brand to be associated with.
Possible deployment. That suggests to me that there is no definite commitment to implement Phorm yet. If we keep up the pressure then we can reduce the chances of the possible deployment to make it an unlikely deployment and then perhaps a non-existent deployment. Something to aim for.
"Currently no Phorm solution has been implemented on Virgin Media's network" - Ian Woodham has repeated this to me in the knowledge he will be quoted. That doesn't mean we must blindly accept his word as to VM's future conduct. If Phorm is found on the VM network in any way, shape or form before any announcement they need to scream like Bruce Dickinson here and to The Register.
"We are fully aware of the adverse impact on Virgin Media's reputation" - that means we are really making a difference. Again we need to keep spreading awareness and ensuring people realise what VM is looking to do. Something else to aim for - VM's brand becoming a byword for intrusiveness, invasiveness and inability to listen to and act on customers' feedback.
Grateful for anyone else's reading of the letter.