Jeff Kagan on Apple Changing the way iPhone Collects Data

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Atlanta, GA, April 27, 2011 — Comment from the desk of Jeff Kagan
Wireless, Telecom and HealthTech Analyst

~ RESEARCH NOTE ~

Why this is a surprise get’s me. Everyone knows there is no more privacy right? After all in order for your handy smart phone to have GPS navigation services built in, it has to know where you are all the time. Ah, you never thought of that did you. Its the other side of the coin. The dark side of all this brightness that captures our imagination.

This is a wake up call for all of us. We have to think. This is the other side of the coin. What you thought it was all with no worries? Think again.

The problem with Apple is not so much about knowing where you are for these navigation services to work. The bigger problem is that Apple kept this information, and transmitted it back to Apple for another reason.

That other reason is still not known. Perhaps there is no other reason yet. Perhaps this is for a future reason. The problem is any way you slice this it still stinks. What gives any one else the right to track us? Who gave them permission? Well, actually, we did. What? Yes. Whenever we buy some new technology and start it up we have to either agree to their terms and conditions or not. If not the device will not work. If we do, we agree to everything they have written there. What you don’t read everything written there? Join the club. No one does.

That is the problem. Saying it in the sign up page is not enough. No one reads the long sign up pages. This shows that we should. But we don’t.

This is apparently not just a problem with Apple. I have read Google Android and Microsoft are also doing something similar. Are they? I think we should just assume every device and every company is doing this.

So what is the answer? Embarrassment? Do we have to resort to embarrassing Apple or any company that ruffles our feathers? That’s where we are today. Is that enough? Probably not. Apple and other companies will find a way to keep ruffling our feathers.

The big lesson to learn here is we have no more privacy. I have said this for many years and will continue to say it. Of course even I forget that fact because we were born in different times. When privacy was respected. No more.

Some people care more than others. However this is just another step in the no-more-privacy direction we have been on during the last few decades.

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These comments may be quoted in news stories.

Comment from Jeff Kagan, Atlanta based Industry analyst, columnist, author and consultant.

If you would like to discuss call me at 770-579-5810 or send an email to jeff@JeffKAGAN.com

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Jeff KAGAN

Industry Analyst: Following Wireless, Telecom, HealthTech, CableTV and IPTV

Phone 770-579-5810 Web site www.JeffKAGAN.com

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