Comments on: FanBox Is The New Plaxo http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:49:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Questioning FanBox - Journal by The Lightbeamers, MD. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2164583 Questioning FanBox - Journal by The Lightbeamers, MD. Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:54:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2164583 [...] you’ve been tricked into registering just as how I have, check out this article from TechCrunch and the comments given about the site’s holding company, SMS.ac. Seems like [...] [...] you’ve been tricked into registering just as how I have, check out this article from TechCrunch and the comments given about the site’s holding company, SMS.ac. Seems like [...]

]]> By: ex-koolaid drinker III http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2050112 ex-koolaid drinker III Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:56:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2050112 worked there for less than half a year. they treat their customers and employees like dirt. oh, and if any of you think i "didn't make the cut" i left voluntarily, and am now making double what i made at that sweatshtop called SMS.ac worked there for less than half a year. they treat their customers and employees like dirt. oh, and if any of you think i “didn’t make the cut” i left voluntarily, and am now making double what i made at that sweatshtop called SMS.ac

]]> By: Jared Tracy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2047783 Jared Tracy Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:59:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2047783 Fanbox is SPAM! They will phish your password and SPAM your friends. Don't do anything with them. I've blogged about them a couple of times already. Fanbox is SPAM, plain and simple Fanbox is SPAM! They will phish your password and SPAM your friends. Don’t do anything with them. I’ve blogged about them a couple of times already. Fanbox is SPAM, plain and simple

]]> By: wilson http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2045786 wilson Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:44:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2045786 Seriously! just look at this list of disgruntled workers http://jobgrades.com/company/show/52/sms_ac It's not just that working hard. That's a given for any startup. What seems awful is that fact that they take advantage of you. They don't make it rewarding at all. basically seems like a sweatshop! Seriously! just look at this list of disgruntled workers http://jobgrades.com/company/show/52/sms_ac

It’s not just that working hard. That’s a given for any startup. What seems awful is that fact that they take advantage of you. They don’t make it rewarding at all. basically seems like a sweatshop!

]]> By: FanBox Listens To TechCrunch Commenters http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2044851 FanBox Listens To TechCrunch Commenters Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:57:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2044851 [...] March 4 we wrote about FanBox being the new Plaxo in that the site regularly spammed users. Further the opt-out process for [...] [...] March 4 we wrote about FanBox being the new Plaxo in that the site regularly spammed users. Further the opt-out process for [...]

]]> By: Eun http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2044598 Eun Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:50:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2044598 I also interviewed and Pousti claimed to have a turnover rate that was "comparable to other companies in the industry." After working a couple days there I realized this was a lie, unless the "industry" is one with a 90% turnover rate. That little annecdote should speak volumes about the company and the way they are trying to deceive everyone including their own employees. I also interviewed and Pousti claimed to have a turnover rate that was “comparable to other companies in the industry.” After working a couple days there I realized this was a lie, unless the “industry” is one with a 90% turnover rate. That little annecdote should speak volumes about the company and the way they are trying to deceive everyone including their own employees.

]]> By: jpd http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2039585 jpd Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:19:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2039585 When trying to unsubscribe, you need to enter the 'fanbox experience' (their web desktop) and uncheck a million notification boxes. Hell, who knows if that will even work. Email addresses I am suddenly receiving Fanbox crap on were explicitly unsubscribed from the evil smc.ac -- apparently they feel that having a new app and brand makes it fair game to start spamming unsubbed addresses again - classy. Interestingly, when I first entered the 'fanbox experience' from the unsubscribe link, the web desktop was focused on an open IM applet of sorts, on the MSN tab (also present AIM, Yahoo, Google) by default and asking for username+password. These people are harvesting IM credentials now. Nice. Please dear lord, somebody send everyone involved in this bastard company to Siberia. When trying to unsubscribe, you need to enter the ‘fanbox experience’ (their web desktop) and uncheck a million notification boxes. Hell, who knows if that will even work. Email addresses I am suddenly receiving Fanbox crap on were explicitly unsubscribed from the evil smc.ac — apparently they feel that having a new app and brand makes it fair game to start spamming unsubbed addresses again - classy.

Interestingly, when I first entered the ‘fanbox experience’ from the unsubscribe link, the web desktop was focused on an open IM applet of sorts, on the MSN tab (also present AIM, Yahoo, Google) by default and asking for username+password. These people are harvesting IM credentials now. Nice. Please dear lord, somebody send everyone involved in this bastard company to Siberia.

]]> By: Rob http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2034958 Rob Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:46:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2034958 SMS.ac goes through many employees. They mass hire, seat all their employees in groups, as to promote communication, but it's really because they have no where else to put so many people. I think their latest product, fanbox, is getting too personal. As if leeching from your address book isn't enough... I could say much more, but plain and simple, like many have said, a bad company. SMS.ac goes through many employees. They mass hire, seat all their employees in groups, as to promote communication, but it’s really because they have no where else to put so many people.

I think their latest product, fanbox, is getting too personal. As if leeching from your address book isn’t enough…

I could say much more, but plain and simple, like many have said, a bad company.

]]> By: ex-Koolaid Drinker II http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2018995 ex-Koolaid Drinker II Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:41:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2018995 Ah, Roger...poor, naiive Roger. Ex-employees are not just being "bitter" about "not making the cut", but if anything are bitter about spending 60+ hours a week trying to be "superstars" and drinking the koolaid and working for that golden carrot, the day the company goes public and they all become millionaires. WTAWTAW and all that jazz. (Other former employees know what I'm talking about.) Everything everyone says is true. Plain and simple. Ah, Roger…poor, naiive Roger. Ex-employees are not just being “bitter” about “not making the cut”, but if anything are bitter about spending 60+ hours a week trying to be “superstars” and drinking the koolaid and working for that golden carrot, the day the company goes public and they all become millionaires. WTAWTAW and all that jazz. (Other former employees know what I’m talking about.) Everything everyone says is true. Plain and simple.

]]> By: Roger http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2017520 Roger Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:27:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2017520 I too went in for an interview and found it to be a really tough crowd to join. They make it clear that the vast majority of people hired dont make it a year, given how tough their projects are. Actually, for a bunch of spammers they seem to have amassed one of the most interesting web 2.0 products I have seen -- meebo (IM) meets webdesktop meets soc net (like facebook w/ developer APIs) meets thousands of installed apps. I didn't get the job but I am not bitter. The rest of the posters are probably ex-employees who didn't make the cut - I don't blame them, maybe I'd be bitter too if I worked there for months and was let go. I agree with cuzican - I don't think the world needs a webdesktop. I too went in for an interview and found it to be a really tough crowd to join. They make it clear that the vast majority of people hired dont make it a year, given how tough their projects are.

Actually, for a bunch of spammers they seem to have amassed one of the most interesting web 2.0 products I have seen — meebo (IM) meets webdesktop meets soc net (like facebook w/ developer APIs) meets thousands of installed apps.

I didn’t get the job but I am not bitter. The rest of the posters are probably ex-employees who didn’t make the cut - I don’t blame them, maybe I’d be bitter too if I worked there for months and was let go.

I agree with cuzican - I don’t think the world needs a webdesktop.

]]> By: Rod http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2017128 Rod Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:46:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2017128 It appears their latest method for harvesting emails is trolling craigslist. I got one of the "asked you a question" spams today -- sent to an email address that I only use to respond to job listings on craigslist. It appears their latest method for harvesting emails is trolling craigslist.

I got one of the “asked you a question” spams today — sent to an email address that I only use to respond to job listings on craigslist.

]]> By: cuzican54 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016958 cuzican54 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:55:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016958 I really don't think that we need a webdesktop (within a browser)... now, having our desktop somehow integrated with an online source is a different story... but I don't want to have to see my desktop through a browser. more of my input here: http://chide.it/post/50/ I really don’t think that we need a webdesktop (within a browser)… now, having our desktop somehow integrated with an online source is a different story… but I don’t want to have to see my desktop through a browser.

more of my input here: http://chide.it/post/50/

]]> By: Tom http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016532 Tom Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:20:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016532 The social network WhereAreYouNow.com ("WAYN") does something like this, too. A friend of mine signed up there and promptly never used it, but about once a year I would get an e-mail from WAYN that would say "so-and-so wants to be your friend" or "so-and-so has sent you a private message" (even though I had no account) and it would always tell me to register to see the message / become a friend / etc. Well, after noticing that after 2 years my friend's profile had never changed (and was apparently asking me to register or sending me messages or...), I asked her about it and she said she hadn't even visited there in that long. Mystery solved. The social network WhereAreYouNow.com (”WAYN”) does something like this, too. A friend of mine signed up there and promptly never used it, but about once a year I would get an e-mail from WAYN that would say “so-and-so wants to be your friend” or “so-and-so has sent you a private message” (even though I had no account) and it would always tell me to register to see the message / become a friend / etc. Well, after noticing that after 2 years my friend’s profile had never changed (and was apparently asking me to register or sending me messages or…), I asked her about it and she said she hadn’t even visited there in that long. Mystery solved.

]]> By: I Am Not Posting To Spam My Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016419 I Am Not Posting To Spam My Blog Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:52:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016419 I was signed up with them at one point (social networking had just taken off and I followed invites to three or four different sites that I never used again) and got exactly one text message per day purporting to be from a 20-something girl who wanted to talk to me. As pathetic as Facebook may be, at least all the friend requests I get from them are real people whom I genuinely know, and not people invented by the site in the hope I'm lonely and stupid enough to mistake them for real. And for the avoidance of doubt, if the firm of Sue, Grabbit and Runne are watching: yes, the company you represent are a bunch of thinly-disguised spammers preying on the sad. I was signed up with them at one point (social networking had just taken off and I followed invites to three or four different sites that I never used again) and got exactly one text message per day purporting to be from a 20-something girl who wanted to talk to me. As pathetic as Facebook may be, at least all the friend requests I get from them are real people whom I genuinely know, and not people invented by the site in the hope I’m lonely and stupid enough to mistake them for real.

And for the avoidance of doubt, if the firm of Sue, Grabbit and Runne are watching: yes, the company you represent are a bunch of thinly-disguised spammers preying on the sad.

]]> By: SanDiegan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016401 SanDiegan Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:30:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016401 Yeah, A while ago some kid that worked at sms.ac spammed a bunch of UCSD computer science majors via Facebook that encouraged "joining our Developer Network and making cash on your applications." Now, his "work info" seems to sum them up: Employer: SMS.ac Position: [redacted] Time Period: [redacted 6 month span] Description: Doing a bunch of bullshit that really doesn't amount to much and that there is no market for in the world. Oh, and making senior management very rich while working my ass off. Yeah,
A while ago some kid that worked at sms.ac spammed a bunch of UCSD computer science majors via Facebook that encouraged “joining our Developer Network and making cash on your applications.”

Now, his “work info” seems to sum them up:

Employer: SMS.ac
Position: [redacted]
Time Period: [redacted 6 month span]
Description: Doing a bunch of bullshit that really doesn’t amount to much and that there is no market for in the world. Oh, and making senior management very rich while working my ass off.

]]> By: Andrew J Scott http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016351 Andrew J Scott Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:47:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016351 Yep its all true - SMS.ac have been know as spammers for years and continue to be. Yep its all true - SMS.ac have been know as spammers for years and continue to be.

]]> By: Scott http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016301 Scott Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:09:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016301 Say no more, having been cut off by multiple service provider in multiple countries for on-going abuses of the local mobile guidelines over the years, they somehow continue to bump along. Say no more, having been cut off by multiple service provider in multiple countries for on-going abuses of the local mobile guidelines over the years, they somehow continue to bump along.

]]> By: Scott http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016298 Scott Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:07:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016298 SMS.ac is run by a bunch of crooks. Their CEO Mike Pousti has been convicted of mail fraud. http://www.usps.com/judicial/1990deci/err-1.htm They have been fined by UK Mobile regulators for mobile billing fraud. http://www.smstextnews.com/2008/02/smsac_fined_175000_pounds_by_uk_regulator.html They have a team of junior interns who generate "we're all happy"messages on all the websites that speak the truth about them. Its a massive cover-up. They generate fake SMS traffic to cause users to respond and thus incur more costs, for which they get a share of the Service Provider revenue. They play SMS termination games with the international wireless service providers, always running from one to the next as their bills pile up. They use lawyers to hide the truth because most people have neither the time,the money, nor the inclination to fight them. http://thomashawk.com/2006/02/smsac-tries-to-silence-and-bully-yahoo.html These guys are rotten to the core. Someone needs to stand up to them and expose them for what they are. TechCrunch??? SMS.ac is run by a bunch of crooks. Their CEO Mike Pousti has been convicted of mail fraud.
http://www.usps.com/judicial/1990deci/err-1.htm

They have been fined by UK Mobile regulators for mobile billing fraud.
http://www.smstextnews.com/200.....lator.html

They have a team of junior interns who generate “we’re all happy”messages on all the websites that speak the truth about them. Its a massive cover-up.

They generate fake SMS traffic to cause users to respond and thus incur more costs, for which they get a share of the Service Provider revenue.

They play SMS termination games with the international wireless service providers, always running from one to the next as their bills pile up.

They use lawyers to hide the truth because most people have neither the time,the money, nor the inclination to fight them.
http://thomashawk.com/2006/02/.....yahoo.html

These guys are rotten to the core. Someone needs to stand up to them and expose them for what they are. TechCrunch???

]]> By: ex koolaid drinker http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016271 ex koolaid drinker Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:01:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016271 As an ex sms.ac cult-member, I feel compelled to let everyone know that the company is rotten to the core and should not be trusted. They have a system of sending premium sms message spam from fake users to in order to keep the lights on and will screw their users the first opportunity they get. stay away. As an ex sms.ac cult-member, I feel compelled to let everyone know that the company is rotten to the core and should not be trusted. They have a system of sending premium sms message spam from fake users to in order to keep the lights on and will screw their users the first opportunity they get.

stay away.

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016228 Jimmy Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:09:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016228 Oh, this looks like web 1.0 time -- really old and annoying method. Oh, this looks like web 1.0 time — really old and annoying method.

]]> By: Kimmy Bjork http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016143 Kimmy Bjork Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:02:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016143 SMS.AC is a SCAM! They are crooks. Their CEO was found guilty of mail fraud in the early 90's. These guys are at it again, and it's the same scam as before! http://joi.ito.com/archives/2005/02/22/letter_from_kevin_b_jones_of_smsac.html http://www.google.com/search?q=sms.ac%20scam SMS.AC is a SCAM! They are crooks. Their CEO was found guilty of mail fraud in the early 90’s. These guys are at it again, and it’s the same scam as before!

http://joi.ito.com/archives/20.....smsac.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=sms.ac%20scam

]]> By: Kevin http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016055 Kevin Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:04:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016055 I had filled out a form on sms.ac several years ago after reading an article that they were looking for developers to partner with them for development of mobile applications. It seemed shady, so I didn't pursue it further. I started receiving the spam a couple of weeks ago. I would go to my "account" and mark it as disabled, but a week later, I would receive another spam and see that my "account" was marked as active. Thanks for covering these guys.... I had filled out a form on sms.ac several years ago after reading an article that they were looking for developers to partner with them for development of mobile applications. It seemed shady, so I didn’t pursue it further. I started receiving the spam a couple of weeks ago. I would go to my “account” and mark it as disabled, but a week later, I would receive another spam and see that my “account” was marked as active. Thanks for covering these guys….

]]> By: Joe http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016051 Joe Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:59:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016051 This type of spam practice should not be tolerated. All of you receiving unsolicited mail need to report it to the FTC, so they can take legal action against this company. There are hefty fines for such business practices. Personally, I am tired of hearing about this company and can't wait for the Feds to shut them down one day. http://www.ftc.gov/spam/ This type of spam practice should not be tolerated. All of you receiving unsolicited mail need to report it to the FTC, so they can take legal action against this company. There are hefty fines for such business practices. Personally, I am tired of hearing about this company and can’t wait for the Feds to shut them down one day.

http://www.ftc.gov/spam/

]]> By: exNinja http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016016 exNinja Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:02:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2016016 L. ron Hubbard is jealous at how effective sms.ac/fanbox.com is... groovy? 8) L. ron Hubbard is jealous at how effective sms.ac/fanbox.com is…

groovy? 8)

]]> By: Bukowski http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2015985 Bukowski Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:23:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/fanbox-is-the-new-plaxo/#comment-2015985 I second Aaron, I too interviewed with them in San Diego. Total sweatshop. They do have employees who scan the blogosphere daily for any mentioning of the company name and post "positive" comments. So just give it couple of hours and they will be posting on here. I second Aaron, I too interviewed with them in San Diego. Total sweatshop.

They do have employees who scan the blogosphere daily for any mentioning of the company name and post “positive” comments. So just give it couple of hours and they will be posting on here.

]]>