Privacy

This statement is effective as of October 09, 2007.

These are the privacy principles that we live by for hellotxt.com. You can see our full privacy policy by clicking here. Otherwise, here are our principles in plain English:

You control your data. If you don’t have a HelloTxt user account, we do not store your personal data like text logs, buddies, passwords, etc. If you opt to sign up for a HelloTxt account, we store your usernames and passwords to automatically log you into your stored service networks. Future HelloTxt features may require us to store additional data, but we will only do so to enable the features you choose.

We will not share, sell, or give away your data. Our friends use HelloTxt, too! We wouldn’t have any friends if we shared their private info with others! We hate spam (and spim) and don’t want you to get any more spam because of HelloTxt.

We are committed to security. At HelloTxt, we prioritize security over building new features. We also have a team of people focused on implementing best practices to ensure your personal information is as safe as can be. Our users’ privacy and security is always top of mind, front and center.

We will be a transparent and open company. We will communicate openly and freely with our users. We will be quick to relay news, both good and bad.

1. HelloTxt respects the privacy of its users. This document explains how HelloTxt will use the information that you provide to us via the Websites. Meebo may amend this privacy policy from time to time. If Meebo does so, the revised privacy policy will be posted on the Websites, and you will have the opportunity to modify your information on file with Meebo as explained below.
2. Information collected. You are not required to provide personally identifiable information to visit the Websites; however, in order to access your third party message accounts you are required to enter your applicable user name(s) and password(s). In order to use the basic services of the Websites, HelloTxt does not store your user name(s) or password(s) on our server. If you wish to utilize advanced features of the Websites, such as automatic sign-in, storage of your name(s) and password(s) may be necessary. HelloTxt will inform you by screen message and ask you to confirm your election to have your information stored on our servers before doing so. In addition, HelloTxt may collect usage data and other information on all users, but it is not personally identifiable except as described below under the IP Addresses section.
3. Posting. Users of the Websites may post messages regarding various topics in the posting areas of the Websites. Such messages may be saved on our servers and may be accessible to the public.
4. Cookies. HelloTxt may use Cookies on the Websites. Cookie are small text files that are placed on your computer’s hard drive by our servers to identify your computer to our servers. Except as provided in Section 5, below, no personally identifiable information stored in the HelloTxt cookies will be shared with outside companies for any purpose without your permission. You can also disable cookies or otherwise manage them through tools provided with your browser software and with third-party software packages, or not use the features that require Cookies.
   
   We and our advertisers may use third-party companies to serve ads when you visit the Websites. These third-party ad-serving companies may also place Cookies on your computer. Sometimes these Cookies may be used to provide targeted advertising to you. These advertising companies may also use web beacons to help manage and optimize our online advertising.
   
   To the extent that HelloTxt allows advertisers or other third parties to use cookies or web beacons on the Websites, HelloTxt will require that they agree to adopt a substantially similar privacy policy with respect to your information. Some third-party ad serving companies have agreed to allow users to opt-out of receiving targeted advertising. For more information see: http://www.networkadvertising.org/consumer/opt_out.asp.
5. IP Addresses. HelloTxt compiles logs of IP addresses of visitors to the Websites for administrative and analytical purposes. HelloTxt does not routinely collect any personally identifiable information through its compilation of IP address or the location of computers on the Internet. However, in cases of suspected abuse or service problems, HelloTxt may use an IP address in conjunction with other personally identifiable information to enforce our Terms of Use and/or to protect or troubleshoot the Websites, its users or others who may be affected. Except as provided in Section 6, below, HelloTxt will not share personally identifiable information associated with IP addresses with third parties without your permission.
   
   HelloTxt may share data about aggregate IP addresses, but such data does does not include personally identifiable information.
6. Sharing of Information. HelloTxt may share personally identifiable information with third parties in the following cases:
   
   a. to enable the normal course of functionality of the Websites (for example, your user name(s) and password(s) will be shared with your message services in order to permit you to send or receive massages). In some cases, HelloTxt may work with third parties that do analysis and development on our behalf. We may share your personally identifiable information with such a third party on the condition that the third party maintains the information as confidential and uses the information only to perform the services specified by HelloTxt;
   
   b. to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or legal process, to prevent fraud or imminent harm, or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims; and/or
   
   c. in the event that Meebo is acquired by or merged with another company, Meebo will transfer information about you to that other company. In this event, Meebo will notify you before information about you is transferred (and permit you to delete your account) and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
   
   HelloTxt reserves the right to send you certain communications relating to the Websites and the services offered thereby, such as service announcements and administrative messages, but we plan on doing so sparingly, if ever. In any case, we reserve the right to contact you regarding violation of this privacy policy, the Terms of Use, and any other violation of law or applicable regulations and policies.
7. Notification of Changes. Any changes to this policy will be posted on the Websites in this location.
8. Links to Other Sites. The Websites contain links to and media and other content from other sites. In addition, such third-party media and content may also contain external links. Because of the dynamic media capabilities of the Websites, it may not be clear to you which links are embedded in the Websites and which are embedded in third-party media and/or content. Although HelloTxt requires our business partners and advertisers to adopt privacy policies similar to this privacy policy with respect to any information collected on the Websites, HelloTxt cannot and does not guarantee the privacy policies and practices of any third party. HelloTxt does not control, operate or endorse any information, products or services of any third-party websites that may be reached through links from the Websites. The use of any personal information provided to such a third party will be governed by that party’s privacy policy.
9. Acceptance. This privacy policy is incorporated into and subject to the terms and conditions of HelloTxt’s Terms of Use, available on the Websites. Use of the Websites and the services offered thereby is subject to your compliance with the Terms of Use, which constitutes a legal agreement between you and HelloTxt. Each time you use the Websites and the services offered thereby you signify that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by the Terms of Use, which incorporates the privacy policy, and the applicable posted guidelines. USE OF THE WEBSITES AND THE SERVICES OFFERED THEREBY SIGNIFIES THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS OF USE AND THE PRIVACY POLICY. If you do not agree with the terms of either of these documents, please do not provide HelloTxt with any information and do not use the Websites and the services offered thereby. Your continued use of the Websites and the services offered thereby in light of changes to this privacy policy, the Terms of Use, or to the relevant principles thereof will signify your acceptance of the changes.

Comments and Questions. If you have any comments or questions you may address them to our customer service department at comments@hellotxt.com