To explore the real-name registration system for mobile phones in the United States, one must first understand how mobile communication services are billed. Based on payment methods, U.S. mobile users are divided into contract-based and prepaid categories. Contracts are generally signed for two years, and the monthly fee includes basic service charges and taxes, with different plans offering a certain amount of free talk time.
Contract users account for the vast majority of mobile users in the United States. According to statistics, by the end of 2009, there were approximately 285 million mobile users in the U.S., with contract users accounting for 81%. Especially with the hot sales of smartphones like the iPhone and BlackBerry in the U.S., the proportion of contract users is still rising. By joining a corresponding rate plan, users can obtain mobile phones at a lower price or even for free; without joining a rate plan, the price of purchasing a mobile phone separately is much higher.
Signing a mobile phone contract in the United States requires providing the account holder's Social Security Number, real name, address, credit card information, etc. The U.S. credit system is very comprehensive; everyone's Social Security Number contains information such as their name, employer, address, credit history, insurance, debt, and tax status, which is equivalent to an identity card number. Therefore, contract users, who make up the vast majority of U.S. mobile users, are effectively real-name users.
As for prepaid users, when inquiring at mobile phone stores on the streets of New York City, it was found that major U.S. mobile communication operators, such as AT&T and Verizon, also require users to present documents that can prove their identity, such as a Social Security Number, passport, driver's license, or credit/debit card. There are also individual operators looking to expand their market that allow users to purchase SIM cards directly with cash, but relatively speaking, the number of such users is small.
In that year, the U.S. Congress passed relevant legislation aimed at reducing spam. Based on this, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission stipulated that no one may send commercial messages that the recipient does not wish to receive to wireless devices without permission. The act officially took effect in March 2005.
In addition to this, according to the law, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission have jointly established a "Do Not Call" list. Mobile users can choose to add their numbers to this list, and it is illegal for anyone to call or send commercial text messages to mobile numbers on this list without a legitimate reason.