MANILA, Philippines — Seems like our jubilation over the major telcos’ decision to slash the fees they charge mobile subscribers for using their short messaging services was a bit premature.

Contrary to the press releases that mobile subscribers were fed on the previous weeks, it now looks like the National Telecommunications Commission and the country’s leading telecommunications companies were not on the same page regarding the 80-centavo texting scenario.

Recent events have instead shown us how politicized SMS has become on this banana archipelago. Only rice shortage, expensive pandesal, and even more expensive petroleum gasoline are more likely to topple an illegitimate government around here. In fact, more people are talking about the telcos’ refusal to obey the NTC’s rollback order for SMS than those who seem to care about the pro-administration legislators’ decision to impeach the chief justice.

Overall, however, I think that this incident only demonstrates government agencies are powerless when it comes to enforcing their own rules, especially when those who choose to ignore them are those big, powerful companies. Next time, it would behoove the NTC to either make sure its rules are enforceable or not make any of those telco-unfriendly regulations.

Things like this only tend to show who’s the boss and who’s funny without trying to be.

Android Security Woes

Of course, Google executives are expected to rebuff IT security experts’ assertion that the search giant’s Android platform comes with plenty of holes. Security holes, that is.

Nevertheless, media reports show an increasing number of Android users complaining of some Android apps that automatically send text messages to premium SMS services, padding their monthly bills.

The situation seems to be so bad that Internet security firm Kaspersky Lab saw a market for its Kaspersky Mobile Security Lite mobile security product for Android smartphones. KMS Lite offers data protection and anti-theft features.

Meanwhile, Google’s biggest rival Microsoft has announced a promo that offers five Windows Phone smartphones to Android users with the worst mobile security stories. Microsoft might have to ask its hardware partners to make more smartphones. Security firm McAfee said in November that Android malware reports rose 37 percent in the third quarter of 2011 from the previous quarter.

Apple Sets Another Record

It was expected to fetch some serious dough but never this serious.

I am referring to the paper signed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne to incorporate Apple Computer in April 1976. The hottest consumer IT company’s incorporation paper was sold last week for $1.6 million at an auction in New York City.

That anonymous buyer must either be a huge fanboy or a shrewd investor looking forward to make a huge killing at a future auction.

Also, according to media reports, Wayne sold his 10-percent Apple stake about a week after the company’s incorporation for about 800 bucks. Today, that stake could have made him a billionaire several times over.

Must have to do with his name not being Steve.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.