Mobile phone users based in Yekaterinburg started receiving text messages that encourage them to use a certain United Taxi Service. One of these mobile subscribers informed UrBC he never agreed to receive any mobile advertising.

Utel’s information center did admit to UrBC that the mobile phone number used for sending out these text messages was registered with their company, in Perm Territory. The taxi service refused to provide any comments.

Illegal m-advertising is practiced increasingly often in Sverdlovsk Region these days. For one, Sverdlovsk Region’s division of the Federal Antimonopoly Service has already handled similar cases involving OAO Bank24.ru, L’Etoile cosmetics chain store, Limerence Shopping Center, and Extreme Fitness Athletics gym chain.