Verizon Wireless battles telemarketers

Verizon Wireless is taking the offensive in what could be early battle over consumer privacy over cellphones, one of the few communications realms that customers have been for the most spared from telemarketing.

Verizon Wireless today filed separate lawsuits against Intelligent Alternatives of San Diego and Resorting Marketing Trends of Coral Springs, Fla., two companies Verizon alleges used auto-dialing technology to deliver hundreds of thousand of pre-recorded marketing messages to its cellular subscribers. Verizon claims that those calls were not only in violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act but also several laws passed in states where the calls terminated.

Verizon said it is asking for injunctions against both companies as well as monetary damages, though it did specify an amount. The suit against Intelligent Alternatives was filed in state Superior Court in Sacramento, Calif., while the Resort Marketing Suit was filed in state Superior Court in Somerville, N.J. Verizon officials said they chose the venues based on the states where the most customers received the solicitations.

“Wireless users view cell phones as one of their last refuges from telemarketing intrusion and other unwanted, unsolicited calls and messages,” Verizon Wireless vice president of legal and external affairs Steven Zipperstein said in a statement. “We will vigorously defend the strong wall of customer privacy that we have fortified over the years through our aggressive pro-consumer policies and actions.”

Verizon Wireless last year successfully sued telemarketer using SMS to distribute spam, winning an injunction against a spammer sending text messages advertising mortgage loans and adult websites. Verizon’s wireless privacy efforts, however, haven’t always gelled with the interests of other carriers. Verizon was the lone Tier I standout among carriers supporting the national wireless phone directory.