Cell phone extras

Advances in cellular technology as well as the proliferation of PDA's and other handheld devices have spurred the emergence of companies seeking to offer cell phone and PDA users an assortment of extra services. While most, if not all, of these added services are unnecessary, companies such as Jamster continue to increase their subscriber base quickly. This rapid expansion has resulted in both growing pains and a ferocious need to produce ever-increasing revenue numbers. In this article, you'll learn about Jamster, their services and the growing controversy that exists between the company and its legion of users.What Does Jamster Offer?Jamster, once a subsidiary of Verisign, Inc. and now owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., is an online warehouse of music, pictures, games and an assortment of community services. As a major content provider to millions of subscribers, Jamster is one of the largest companies in its field. Offering one of the biggest inventories of ringtones of popular music, Jamster has become a frontrunner in the race to build a base of subscribers. While its rise in popularity may be largely due to the adoption of ringtones amongst young users, Jamster also provides news, shopping services, information and other services.Their inventory of ringtones is divided into over 20 categories, making it easy to find and select your preferred tones. If you have trouble finding a particular song, game, wallpaper, or other service, Jamster offers a support staff to provide assistance. However, despite their attention to the organization of the content on their site and their willingness to provide support to their users, controversy surrounds Jamster and its services.The Dispute Between Jamster And Its UsersSeveral users have made claims of fraud against Jamster, alleging that the company engages in (and endorses) fraudulent advertising with the intention of bilking users of money. In a number of cases, users have claimed that ads promoting "free ringtones" are anything but free. In such cases, users register for the "free" ringtones only to discover charges on their wireless bill. In other cases, users claim that text messages from Jamster, alerting them of available content to download carried per message charges from their wireless carrier.The air of deception and stories of fraudulent billing practices that surround Jamster have cast a shadow over the company, causing many would-be users to avoid the company. Others are tentative about enjoying the company's services, leery of being victimized by practices experienced by those less-fortunate.Should You Use Jamster?In its defense, Jamster offers several services that can add value to your cell phone or mobile device. Subscriptions that provide news feeds and shopping services could make the decision to sign up for such subscriptions well-worth any perceived risk. In the end, your decision regarding whether to use Jamster should be based upon your goals. If you are aware of the cost structure behind its services and believe you can gain value from them, it may be worthwhile to explore them.