1. Why do cell phone manufacturers
(Apple, Google, and BlackBerry) want to track where their customers go?
Cell phone manufacturers, Apple, Google and Blackberry, want
to track where their customers go due to various factors. Firstly,
location-based service provided in Apple, Google’s Android and BlackBerry
smartphones can be the tool for three of the cell phone manufacturers to earn
money. They can earn money by the location-based service in smartphones through
advertising. Apple and Google are advertising platforms, so this makes them
create the location-based service in their smartphones products.
This can be explained that mobile technologies based on the
smartphone make it possible to locate people who use smartphones. After that,
the location data of the users will be reported to the smartphone manufacturing
company databases, retained and analyzed. The analyzed location data will then
be sold to advertisers and others. When the advertising firms received the
location data of their customers, they will pay Apple, Google’s Android and
BlackBerry for the information of their customers’ location and for the
distributing of their mobile advertisements. Once the advertising firms know
where their customers are through mobile, they can send the customers
advertisements, coupons, and flash bargains based on where the customers are.
Next, Apple, Google and BlackBerry needs the location data
of their smartphones’ users as they want to use the information to identify the
location of cell phones for WIFI connected phones, and to improve the customer
experience of location based services. Furthermore, the location information of
users is also needed for them to improve their services.
Moreover, location-based service created in smartphone can
also build a strong and closed customer relationship to Apple, Google and
BlackBerry. For instance, Foursquare, a 2009 start-up, is a popular mobile
social application that allows users to check in to a restaurant or other
location, and the app automatically lets friends on Facebook and other programs
learn where you are. After starting up Foursquare on a smartphone, smartphone
users will see a list of local bars and restaurants based on their cell phones’
GPS position. Foursquare has a widely accepted loyalty program. Each check-in
awards users points and badges, which can be used later for discounts and at
various venues. Users of smartphones with Foursquare app are also awarded
to be “Mayors” of the venue based on how many times they have checked in over a
month’s time. Those who become Mayors will be given special offers. Thus, from
here, it is shown that Apple, Google’s Android and BlackBerry provide
location-based service in their smartphones can help them to create customers’
values.
2. Do you think cell phone customers should be able to turn
tracking off ? Should customers be informed when they are being tracked? Why or
why not?
In my opinion, I think that the cell
phone customers should be able to turn tracking off. They should also be
informed when they are being tracked. This is because if the systems of the
smartphones manufacturers do not have the action of that, they will violate
their customers’ privacy for certain scenarios. For example, it is sure that
most of the people do not like others from the public, who they do not know, to
have known their location and what they are doing. This will be especially when
they are enjoying their special occasions, such as, wedding ceremony and
dating. So, from here, it is encouraged that customers are informed when they
are being tracked.
Moreover, allowing smartphones users
to turn tracking off using their smartphones’ functions also acts as a respect
of the cell phone manufactures towards their customers. They can show their
respect to their customers by giving permission to their customers to choose to
check in their location areas or not through their phones’ location-based
services.
Last but not least, if there is no
awareness of being tracked among customers and customers cannot turn tracking
off, users will be scary to use smartphones with location-based services. This
may bring bad reputation to the cell phone manufactures and also the
smartphones products itself. It is owing to the bad treatment and customers’
services provided by the system of cell phones. Consequently, sales of cell
phones with location-based services may decrease.
3. Do you think cell phone tracking is a violation of a person’s
privacy?
Many privacy groups are calling for
legislation to gain user consent as a condition of cell phone tracking. Go to
the Internet to find out one of the privacy groups and summarize its stand and
viewpoint. We must support this group in its call for federal regulation cell
phone tracking. Because the Cell phone manufacturers (Apple, Google and
Blackberry) tracking is indeed an invasion of privacy. A privacy group is
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).The Electronic Privacy Information
Center (EPIC) was founded in 1993 and focuses public attention to emerging
civil liberties and to protect privacy, the first amendment, and constitutional
values. EPIC does not lobby for, consult, or advice companies, nor do we
endorse specific products or services. This list merely serves as a sampling of
available privacy-enhancing tools. I do support its calls for federal
regulation because it does need to be regulated, as this type of tracking is a
breach of privacy. Google and Apples position of cell phone tracking is to help
improve apps and service. Limitations of cell phone tracking can be specified
in the settings from accurate to city locations.
Well said..
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