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 smart phones can be the tool for three of the cell phone
manufacturers to earn money. They can earn money by the location-based service
in smart phones through advertising. Apple and Google are advertising
platforms, so this makes them create the location-based service in their smart
phones products.
This can be explained that mobile technologies based
on the smart phone make it possible to locate people who use smart phones.
After that, the location data of the users will be reported to the smart phone
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 smart phones’ 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 smart
phone 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 smart phone, smart phone 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 smart phones 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 smart phones 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 smart phones users to turn tracking
off using their smart phones’ 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 smart phones 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.
