Vodafone UK has set up a commission-free text donation number for customers wishing to donate to the Red Cross New Zealand earthquake appeal.

UK Vodafone customers can make a £5 donation to the Red Cross by texting NZQUAKE to 70801. The donation will be taken from the customer's 'pay as you talk' credit or added to their 'pay monthly' bill.

Digital security company Gemalto has announced a new service called Facebook for SIM. It embeds Facebook in a SIM card, enabling mobile network operators to offer the service to customers without a data connection.

Participating networks can offer the service free for a trial period before introducing a flat-rate subscription charge.

The GSMA has reported some of the findings from its Spam Reporting Service, which ran from March through December last year with support from AT&T, Bell Mobility, KT, Korean Internet & Security Agency, SFR, Sprint and Vodafone.

The service, run by Cloudmark, collected and analysed text messaging threats and misuse that were reported by mobile subscribers.

Anvil Mobile, a virtual network that uses Three UK, has created a new mobile service for children and vulnerable adults. It’s called ‘Simply Safe’ and it automatically scans every text message sent and received to identify potential risks.

The Simply Safe SIM sends a text message or email to a parent, guardian or carer if abusive language and possible bullying or predatory behaviour is detected.

Simone Orendain of voanews.com writes:

A new program offers rice farmers in the Philippines advice on fertilizer use via their cell phones.

International Rice Research Institute scientists have spent 18 years refining a computerized system to give farmers advice on just how much fertilizer to use...