FYI: Notice from Sprint regarding "marketing" information and Opt in/out options

[falconey]

Why is Sprint sending me this notice?
This notice is to inform you about two new programs at Sprint and your privacy choices. We want to tell you about 1) the policies we have in place to protect your privacy, 2) the ways we use information about our customers and 3) the choices you have regarding your account. Because it's your data and your choice. And Sprint will respect and protect your choice.
Mobile Advertising Program
We are now offering you the opportunity to receive mobile advertising relevant to you when you use your mobile device to access applications or go online. If you opt in to this program, we may deliver ads that are likely to be of more interest and greater value to you. Sprint will not share any information that identifies you personally.
If you would like to opt in to receive more relevant ads on your device, you can do so any time as described below.
Important note: Ads received on mobile devices are an everyday part of life. This program provides you the opportunity to allow ads and offers more tailored to your interests. Even if you choose not to opt in, you will still receive some general advertising depending on the applications you use. Further, providers of applications you access from your mobile device also may send you advertisements via your subscription.

What information is included in the Mobile Advertising Program?
Under our Mobile Advertising Program, we create anonymous (de-identified and aggregated) data sets that include:
Mobile Usage Information:

• Categories of websites visited when using our wireless service (e.g., sports sites, music sites)
• High-level location information (e.g., general location of cell tower serving your device)
• Applications and features used on our network and information about network traffic (e.g., number of users using particular category of applications, such as navigation applications)

Consumer Information:

• Information about use of Sprint products and services (such as data and calling use and features, device type, amount of use)
• Demographic information provided to us by other companies (e.g., gender, age range)

Your Choice:
If you would like to participate in our Mobile Advertising Program to receive ads and offers more relevant to you, you may opt in anytime by:

1. Visiting http://www.sprint.com/mychoices, or
2. Calling 1-855-596-2397 from your mobile device.

If you have a Sprint Family plan or multi-line account, you may indicate your choice for each line on your account at http://www.sprint.com/mychoices. If you add a line or change a telephone number, you will need to update your privacy choices.
Please note that if you don

 

[jasonacg]

Thanks! Just completed the opt-out for everything.

 

[IOWA]

Why is Sprint sending me this notice?
This notice is to inform you about two new programs at Sprint and your privacy choices. We want to tell you about 1) the policies we have in place to protect your privacy, 2) the ways we use information about our customers and 3) the choices you have regarding your account. Because it's your data and your choice. And Sprint will respect and protect your choice.
Mobile Advertising Program
We are now offering you the opportunity to receive mobile advertising relevant to you when you use your mobile device to access applications or go online. If you opt in to this program, we may deliver ads that are likely to be of more interest and greater value to you. Sprint will not share any information that identifies you personally.
If you would like to opt in to receive more relevant ads on your device, you can do so any time as described below.
Important note: Ads received on mobile devices are an everyday part of life. This program provides you the opportunity to allow ads and offers more tailored to your interests. Even if you choose not to opt in, you will still receive some general advertising depending on the applications you use. Further, providers of applications you access from your mobile device also may send you advertisements via your subscription.

What information is included in the Mobile Advertising Program?
Under our Mobile Advertising Program, we create anonymous (de-identified and aggregated) data sets that include:
Mobile Usage Information:

• Categories of websites visited when using our wireless service (e.g., sports sites, music sites)
• High-level location information (e.g., general location of cell tower serving your device)
• Applications and features used on our network and information about network traffic (e.g., number of users using particular category of applications, such as navigation applications)

Consumer Information:

• Information about use of Sprint products and services (such as data and calling use and features, device type, amount of use)
• Demographic information provided to us by other companies (e.g., gender, age range)

Your Choice:
If you would like to participate in our Mobile Advertising Program to receive ads and offers more relevant to you, you may opt in anytime by:

1. Visiting http://www.sprint.com/mychoices, or
2. Calling 1-855-596-2397 from your mobile device.

If you have a Sprint Family plan or multi-line account, you may indicate your choice for each line on your account at http://www.sprint.com/mychoices. If you add a line or change a telephone number, you will need to update your privacy choices.
Please note that if you don

 

[PyroSporker]

:tinfoil hat:
I've been wondering what the sprint.com/mychoices page has on it. I'm disappointed that one has to log in to view it. That is not right. I will not log in just to view that page to learn more. Making me log in seems very odd. (I guess I will try calling the phone number hotline tomorrow from my unrelated work land-line, though I'm sure the recorded voice prompts it offers no more info than I can read in their press release online)

I would like to read more about this "policy". What happens if you do neither, opt in nor opt out? Are you unknowingly opted in to this terrible program after a certain date? Or are you automatically opted out by default? Do they just leave some strange grey area in between? Is this grey area any different than right now, prior to this program?
If I'm opted out by default, why would I have to choose to opt out further? Does opting out put you on a different hook that leads back to the same source as the people delivering these evil targeted ads? I don't want them to have my personal data on file even if it is on an opt out list. Is opting out no better than opting in? Its just feels wrong all around.

---edit---
For fun: In an attempt to look up the phone number
The Stage Coach Bankers use the same number? Exhibit A
It appears The Big Red Machine possibly uses the same/similar agency? Exhibit B
(or could this be some new fangled 'DNC list')

The question becomes, what is the end game and who is the source?

 

[Mr. Ed]

You know the random ads that pop up on the borders of the web pages you visit and in some apps....that is all this is. It is targeted marketing. They are allowing that to happen by those parties like google and app developers (in app ads)

You ever notice while using Chrome on your pc the adds are creepily relevant to things you have searched etc.....how do you think they do that lol