Taping Business Mobile Phone Calls

Taping Business Mobile Phone Calls

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) consultation report, entitled "CP10/7 [PDF] Taping: Removing the mobile phone exemption" and published in March 2010, can be downloaded here:

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Policy/CP/2010/10_07.shtml

This informative consultation report identifies new regulation that is needed where financial transactions and contracts are organised on mobile telephones that are themselves not using recording mobile devices to capture mobile communications that take place on those mobile devices issued for business purposes and, equally, whether regulation should extend to recording mobile communications on private mobile phones where dealings might be conducted. Of course the consultation report is based upon dealings within the scope of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. It also makes short reference to RIPA and DPA.

The consultation period ends in June should you wish to respond.

Because there are a wide-range of issues I have included weblinks (below) for a range of topics regarding recording communications that you may find helpful on the laws and regulation involved when recording communications and what should be done if recordings are taking place.

Recording Calls in the Workplace:
Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice)(Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000 ("LBP Regulations")
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/coi_html/english/supplementary_guidance/monitoring_at_work_3.html

Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 2093:

The Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19992093.htm

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000023_en_1

Human Rights Act 1998:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/ukpga_19980042_en_1

Data Protection Act 1998:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/Acts1998/ukpga_19980029_en_1

OFCOM FAQs:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/consumer/advice/faqs/prvfaq3.htm

Discussion on recording calls:

http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2009/03/recording-telephone-calls.html

St George's Day 23rd April

St George's Day 23rd April

I was taken by surprise when I was asked recently why are we celebrating St George's Day? So rather than me stand on my soap box giving my version of events, I reproduce the information from St George's Day and LTH Hotels tourist information so that anyone not understanding why we celebrate the 23rd April every year in England will see the historical and cultural relevance. This day is in effect a proud day for English people.

St George is the patron saint of England. Saint George is celebrated on St. George's day which falls on 23 April every year. To celebrate St George's Day is to celebrate England itself: The history, culture and heritage that has created our nation. Patron saints are chosen as special protectors of life and culture. They're also a great excuse to have some fun!

Like England, every country in the UK has its own patron saint that in times of great threat is called upon to help save the country from its enemies. Legend says St George was a dragon-slaying knight and he was made patron saint of England in recognition of his great acts. St George is also a popular figure outside England in the countries: Portugal, Catalonia, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Macedonia and the Gora. His symbol, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. St George's symbol was originally adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century.

Very little is known about the real St George. He is thought to have been born into a noble Christian family in the late third century in Turkey. He followed in his father's military footsteps and became part of the retinue of the Emperor Diocletian. St George was a brave soldier in the Roman army who died for his beliefs. The emperor ordered the systematic persecution of Christians and George protested against the Romans' torture of Christians. For that he left the Roman army. For leaving, he was tortured, executed in Palestine, and finally beheaded, becoming an early Christian martyr in 303.

St George was also adopted as the Saint of Battles. This was not only he was a soldier, but also because he is said to have appeared to the Christian army before the Battle of Antioch.

According to the legend, later created about Saint George, a dragon is terrorising the villages near Silena, in Libya, making its home in a nearby swamp. Its fiery breath caused destruction whenever it went near the city, so the people gave the monster two sheep every day to satisfy its hunger and to keep the peace. When the sheep disastrous, he demands the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden and when all the young girls have been killed, The King's daughter alone remains for the dragon. The Princess was taken to the swamp. St. George was riding by on his horse, and heard about this story, he was determined to try and save the princess, so the good knight stayed, and when the dragon appeared, St. George bravely attacked it. He kills the dragon with a single blow from his lance and the people were all converted to Christianity. He left the city telling the King to take good care of the churches, and to be kind to the poor.

On the 23rd April 2010 in England celebrating National Day will include a big parade through high streets with floats, music and dancing to attend a special St George's Day service at their local church. By tradition, April 23rd is the day for a red rose in the button hole, the national flower. Shakespeare's birthday falls on the same date, and the Globe Theatre will be having its usual big celebrations. There will be stalls and entertainment at the theatre, and the chance to get onto the stage and deliver a few lines. This event gets bigger every year, with pubs and private homes a riot of red and white bunting on the day. Alongside all the official celebrations, there will be parties going on at various London venues.

Thanks to St Georges Day website and tourist information from LTH Hotels for the images and historical review of St George's history.

Mobile Telephone Examination Charges

Mobile Telephone Examination Charges

Given the changing economic climate I have now assembled a team of examiners, and with flexible charges starting from:

£15.00 per hour

With more complex handsets upto £80.00 per hour.

MTEB-Examiners - for all your mobile telephone examination needs.

Genuine enquiries to: MTEBmembers@gmail.com

Mobile Telephone Examination Charges

Mobile Telephone Examination Charges

Given the changing economic climate I have now assembled a team of examiners, and with flexible charges starting from:

£15.00 per hour

With more complex handsets upto £80.00 per hour.

MTEB-Examiners - for all your mobile telephone examination needs.

Genuine enquiries to: MTEBmembers@gmail.com

UTRAN & GERAN 3G Inter-PLMN Handover

UTRAN & GERAN 3G Inter-PLMN Handover

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The subscriber's home network is France. The visited network where the subscriber is registered in a VLR (Visitor Location Register) is Germany. The signalling connection between HLR (Home Location Register) and VLR is indicated by dotted lines. The calls for the subscriber are controlled by the MSC collocated to the VLR where the subscriber is registered. This MSC (Mobile Services switching Centre) is called "anchor MSC".
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Handover to a different MSC may occur if the cell serving the subscriber after handover is not controlled by the anchor MSC. This MSC is called the "serving MSC". Even after the call has been handed over to a different MSC, the call control function remains in the anchor MSC. The signalling connection and circuit switched connection established between anchor MSC and serving MSC are indicated by a solid line.
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When the French subscriber registered in a German network roams near the border to the Netherlands, inter-PLMN handover may occur. In this case a Dutch network is the target network. After handover, the anchor MSC located in a German network continues to control the call. The German network remains the visited network where the subscriber is registered. The subscriber's location information stored in the HLR remains unchanged. The signalling and circuit switched connections between the anchor MSC and the previously serving MSC in the German network will be released when the User Equipment (UE) is served by a cell within a Dutch network. The Dutch network becomes the serving network. From the Dutch network the subscriber may be handed over to a Belgian network (see Figure 1).
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It is noteworthy. A problem exists for mobile users when commuting across national borders. Whilst manual network selection may be used to ensure that the user can select the HPLMN (Home PLMN)/ EHPLMN (Equivalent Home-PLMN), many users use Automatic Selection mode; and the ME is only permitted to select PLMNs of a higher priority within the same country in automatic mode. This leads to the situation that, having crossed back into its home country and within HPLMN coverage, an ME might remain camped on the VPLMN in the adjacent territory.
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As a consequence, the user will be charged international roaming rates for all calls made or received until such time as an MS either:
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(a) moves out of VPLMN coverage or
(b) manually selects the HPLMN.
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Note: Power cycling the ME does not solve the problem because the mobile will look for the RPLMN (Roaming-PLMN). The reference to ME is infact a reference also to 3G UE (User Equiment).
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These matter can impact when considering Roaming Cell Site Analysis and Call/Billing Records. It is recommend therefore that reviewing the 3GPP Standards aid understanding how UTRAN and GERAN can function under certain UE conditions particularly when dealing with Network Selection Principles.
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Thanks to 3GPP for provision of information used in this discussion.
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More on Cell Site Analysis: http://cellsiteanalysis.blogspot.com

Seminar on GSM Standards Updated

Seminar on GSM Standards Updated

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Updated for Seminar on GSM Standards (previous link):

http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2010/03/seminar-on-gsm-standards.html
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It doesn't appear easy to take in the mobile telephone technical standards and that the numerous standards that are out there add an additional layer of perceived complexity.
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To address this particular matter and demonstrate that dealing with technical standards is far easier than is imagined, as part of the presentation at the Seminar on GSM Standards, diagrams will be shown that reference common elements dealt with during examination. The diagrams are to demonstrate that it is far easier to address technical issues starting with a GSM perspective than it is jumping in at the deep end trying to understand 3G and work backwards.
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One of the illustrations to be presented at the Seminar (shown below) relates to UICC with SIM and USIM environments. At the Seminar the illustration will be completed with identification of the relevant technical standards that should ease perceived complexity issues with UICC with SIM/USIM environment using this identification process.
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UICC with SIM/USIM environments there are over 80 standards that can be referred to, but an examiner only need start with knowing approximately 20 technical standards at first instance and then expand into the other standards. Be sure of what I am saying here. You need to know the standards that exist and have a copy. Reading standards is not though a matter the Seminar will be addressing, but some helpful tips will be provided.
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With GSM SIM there are over 40 standards that can be referred to, but knowing approximately 8 technical standards to start with can help kick start getting to the other standards and the realisation that dealing with technical standards need not be a daunting task at all, particularly as acquiring majority of the standards are free, as well.