Vodafone launches mobile eavesdropping

22nd Apr 2010 07:24

Mobile phone giant Vodafone has introduced a new service designed to close a security gap in the monitoring procedures of regulated financial firms.The new service, called Vodafone Mobile Recording, will enable companies to record all incoming and outgoing mobile calls and texts made on a company mobile phone.Vodafone says the service will protect companies against losses from disputes, support mobile working practices, and deliver improved compliance and risk management capabilities.The service will be made available across Europe.The timing of the release is propitious, coming as it does in the wake of a number of high profile investigations by the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA).Regulated financial firms already record conversations on fixed line phones as part of their regulatory requirements but tracking mobile phone calls has proved more difficult. Vodafone's solution routes all mobile phone calls through the company's existing in-house voice recording platforms, using software on the user's handset that communicates with computer servers on the customer's premises.The FSA is currently investigating whether the scope of monitoring employee' activities at regulated firms should be extended to include the recording of mobile phone calls and SMS (texts). The EU is also assessing compliance requirements for regulated companies under its MiFID review.