Main operator apologizes, vows to block text messages; ad company 'sorry' for failing duties

China Mobile has apologized for management loopholes that allowed the spread of spam text messages to nearly half of the country's cell phone users. The country's largest mobile operator vowed to block short messages originating from seven online advertising firms on Wednesday.

The seven firms, which included NASDAQ-listed Focus Media, arbitrarily sent commercial text messages to more than 200 million cell phone users whose personal information was fully controlled by the companies, through two operators, China Mobile and China Unicom.

"As the mobile operator, we have the obligation to block spam text messages. We hold an unavoidable responsibility in this case," marketing operations manager Xu Ming said.