Internet Diallers - Maltacom Information Release

click here for Maltese Version

Maltacom is offering free code-controlled barring facilities to help Internet users avoid direct calling to sites bypassing local Internet Service Providers.

The action, in collaboration with local Internet Service Providers, is being taken after the Company received complaints of inflated telephone bills as a result of international calls of data nature, which customers are claiming in their contestations of not being aware of.

In effect, however, these calls are actually being made since it has been ascertained that internet users, whilst browsing the world wide web are clicking on banner headlines which download a dialler (executable file) to the machine connected to the Maltacom line. Once this is activated by the user, the latter is immediately disconnected from the Internet as the executable file redials as international number for connection to a private server at international telephone rates. The service accessed is very likely to be of an adult nature or of a commercial aspect, although not necessarily so.

It should be observed that foreign telecom operators require that, before the Internet user can activate the dialler he is asked to agree to the terms of access, that is, to give consent to the connection in full knowledge of the service being accessed.

He should also be made aware that the telephone line being used is to be disconnected from the local Internet Provider and that the customer will incur international phone charges for connection time to the Private Server. In general the user is asked to click a button or a number of buttons, agreeing to the terms and conditions before the dialler is activated.

Unfortunately, what generally happens is that users do not read thoroughly the terms and conditions imposed since the information is normally found in a scrollable window.

These occurrences can be minimised through code-controlled barring facilities. This means that the user may bar or debar one's telephone line at one's convenience by activating the code-controlled barring / debarring star service. It is therefore being recommended that prior to logging onto the Internet the telephone line to be used for connection should be barred for international calls if the user does not intend to effect such calls.

Moreover it is also advisable not to download and install any software received from unknown or questionable origins.

Maltacom reminds its customers that they are ultimately responsible for payment for the calls effected from their telephone service.

Maltacom is receiving applications for free code-controlled barring through its website at www.maltacom.com. Internet subscribers are being notified by their Service Providers, through e-mail, of this facility. The applicant must be the person on whose name the telephone line is registered. Once the application is received and processed, the registered telephone subscriber will receive confirmation by mail that the code-controlled barring service has been activated. The letter will also contain instructions how to activate and de-activate the service.

Maltacom has made arrangements for top priority to be given to such applications.

Internet users may phone free call 150 for necessary explanations.

Maltese Version

click here for English Version

Maltacom qed toffri s-servizz tal-code-control barring b'xejn biex tghin lil dawk li juzaw l-Internet jevitaw li jcemplu lil sites billi jaqbzu lill-Internet Service Providers lokali.

Din l-azzjoni, li l-Maltacom qed tiehu flimkien ma' l-Internet Service Providers lokali, qed tittiehed wara li l-kumpanija rceviet ilmenti ta' kontijiet tat- telefon gholjin permezz ta' telefonati nternazzjonali (data), li l-konsumaturi qed jikkontestawhom ghax jallegaw li m'ghamluhomx.

Madankollu, fil-fatt, dawn it-telefonati ghal barra jkunu qed isiru ghax gie accertat li waqt li persuna tkun qed tibbrowzja fuq l-Internet, issib ghadd ta' offerti fuq dawk li jghidulhom banner headlines li jiddownlowdjaw dialler (executable file) fil-kompjuter li jkun imqabbad mal-linja tat-telefon tal-Maltacom.

Malli dan il-file jigi attivat, min ikun qed jibbrowzja jinqata' minn ma' l-Internet hekk kif l-executable file icempel numru nternazzjonali biex iqabbadhom ma' server privat. Konsegwentament, ir-rata tat-telefon li jkunu qed ihallsu ma tibqax dik ghal sejha lokali, izda ssir b'rata ta sejha internazzjonali. Is-servizz li wiehed jaccessa aktarx li jkun wiehed ta natura adulta jew ta' aspett kummercjali, ghalkemm mhux bil-fors li jkun hekk.

Ta' min jinnota li l-operaturi tat-telekomunikazzjoni nternazzjonali jesigu li qabel ma dawk li jkunu qed juzaw l-Internet jattivaw dan id-dialler, jintalbu jaghtu l-kunsens taghhom li jaccettaw il-kundizzjonijiet biex issir din il-connection, halli hekk ikun jafu ghal xhix dehlin.

Jesigu li jkun jafu wkoll li se jigu maqtghuha minn mal-Internet Service Provider lokali u li l-klijenti se jintalbu jhallsu rati ghal sejhiet internazzjonali biex jigu kkonettjati mas-server privat.

Bhala regola generali, min ikun qed juza l-Internet jintalab jaghfas buttuna jew izjed biex juri li jaccetta l-kundizzjonijiet, qabel ma d-dialler jigi attivat. Sfortunatament, dak li generalment jigri huwa li dawk li jkunu qed juzaw l-Internet ma jaqrawx sewwa l-kundizzjonijiet imposti ghax din l-informazzjoni tkun fi scrollable window.

Kazi bhal dawn jistghu jitnaqqsu jekk il-klijenti jkollhom il-facilitajiet tal-code control barring li jippermettu lis-subscribers jifthu l-linja jekk ikollhom bzonn icemplu barra minn Malta u jaghlquha meta ma jkunux qed juzawha.
Ghalhekk, Maltacom qed taghti parir lil min juza l-Internet biex qabel ma jidhlu fl-Internet, jattivaw il-code control barring jekk mhix l-intenzjoni taghhom li jidhlu f'siti bhal dawk spjegati qabel. Barra minn hekk, tajjeb li min ikun qed juza l-Internet ma jaghmilx access f'Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) li ma jkunx jaf l-origini taghhom.

Maltacom tfakkar lill-klijenti taghha li finalment huma responsabbli biex ihallsu ghas-sejhiet li jsiru permezz tal-linji tat-telefon taghhom.

Maltacom qed tircievi applikazzjonijiet ghal code-controlled barring fuq il-website taghha (www.maltacom.com). Dawk li ghandhom is-servizz ta' l- Internet qed jigu notifikati b'din il-facilita', permezz ta' e-mail mill-ISP taghhomm. Dawk li japplikaw ghal din il-facilita jridu l-persuna jew persuni li fuqhom hija registrata l-linja tat-telefon.

Darba l-Maltacom tircievi din l-applikazzjoni u tipprocessha, is-subscriber registrat se jircievi konferma bil-posta li s-servizz tal-code control barring gie attivat. L-ittra se jkun fiha wkoll kif jigi attivat is-servizz.

Maltacom ghamlet l-arrangamenti kollha mehtiega biex tinghata prijorita' lil dawn l-applikazzjonijiet.

Dawk li juzaw l-Internet jistghu jiksbu aktar taghrif billi jcemplu fuq Freephone 150.