China Mobile, the country's largest mobile phone operator, has released a free anti-spam text message software for filtering the rampant junk messages, a company official said Friday.

Cell phone users can download Text Message Manager at www.bj.chinamobile.com or wap.monternet.com, which can block junk messages and report the sources to the authorities, said Fan Yunjun, deputy general manager of China Mobile's Beijing branch.

Junk messages have long been a headache for the country's 649 million mobile phone users, who rely on text messages as an important way of communication.

Figures from Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed that cell phone users in China received 10 spam text messages each week as of the end of 2008, and the figure was 13 in 2007.

Junk messages always involve fraudulent messages, which are designed to trick people into giving out their financial information or remit money. It also includes advertisements and information on illegal selling of vehicles, weapons or fake diplomas.

A recent popular spam message reads: "Dad, I was injured in a traffic accident and was sent to a hospital. Please send 1,000 yuan ($146) to account number 6228 **** **** **** under the Agricultural Bank of China as soon as possible."

"Mobile phone operators, governments and the phone users should join together to fight against junk messages," Said Liu Baowei, a company manager in Beijing.

China Mobile's Beijing branch set up a hotline for users to report the spam text messages in March 2007, but it failed to stop them from spreading.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2009)