It?s an open secret that operators are likely losing a sizeable sum because they lack the systems to charge users for all the content they consume. It?s the dark downside of off-portal. But it?s interesting when companies try to pin a number on revenue leakage. This article quotes a vendor that estimates ?as much as one to two per cent of traffic fails to get billed.? It adds up ? but there isn?t a dollar number for total losses. However, there are a few ideas on how this can happen. It seems users ? particularly those in France ? are clever when it comes to getting content for free. When they download content ? such as a ring tone ? they switch the phone off. After about 12 hours the network stops trying to send the premium rate message which is a kind of proof of payment for ringtone.

?Consequently then the handset is powered up again ? hey presto ? there?s no premium SMS so the user has effectively downloaded the ring tone for free.? Makes you wonder the impact when more users get wise!