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From: China.org.cn

“China’s mobile phone users might send more than 18 billion text messages during the week-long Spring Festival that runs until January 31, telecom operators said Monday.

Many of this year’s messages feature a play on words. Under the lunar calendar, 2009 is the year of the Ox, or “niu” in Chinese. So millions of people have gotten greetings saying “Happy Niu Year.”

Text messaging has become increasingly popular during the festival, the biggest holiday in China. Last Lunar New Year, 17 billion messages were sent, compared with 15.2 billion in 2007, 12.6 billion in 2006 and 11 billion in 2005.”

The article fails to mention how many of these might be virus induced.

From: 022net.com

Do you send text messages to your friends, colleagues and customers wishing them well or a Happy New Year?  The answer for the majority of people is, definitely.  Recently, I’ve received many text messages, all in regards to wishing me well and Happy New Year.

With the New Year approaching, the cell phone virus has entered a period of “extreme danger,” so remind your friends to be on the lookout for spam text messages.

Fortunately all you have to do with spam text messages is delete them but they are no joke.  A viral outbreak can cause the cell phone to stop working,  data loss, spread junk mail and dial out to other phones.  It can also destroy hardware such as the SIM card and chip.

(In here how to defend against viral text messages, not translated.  Skipped to more interesting portion of the article)

Capital media reports that cell phone user Mr. Zhang received a pornographic text message from an unknown number, after opening the text, his cell phone continuously sent messages to people stored in his contact list.  The text message harmed the reputation of over 700 people.  Victims sent their cell phones to the service center in order to remove the virus, costing over 200 yuan.  A security expert said the virus contained a website address and transmitter virus.   After the virus is installed, there is no immediate abnormal behavior but after 30 minutes the virus links to the net and transmits text messages every 10 seconds.  Sending out text messages at this high rate can run up user fees.  It is possible the virus is also able to subscribe users to certain unwanted services, driving up charges.

According to China Mobile, the company blocked over 4 billion pieces of junk mail in the first half of 2008.

Cnet News reports on North Korea restricting the use of cell phones in order to keep news of developing food crisis from getting outside the country:

Vitit Muntarbhorn, the UN investigator from Thailand, claims the clampdown on cell phone and long-distance telephone calls was to prevent people from reporting on food shortages, the Web site reported.

The site also said that recent visitors to the country have reported that the North Korean government has been confiscating cell phones.