Cell Phone Privacy Issues

Filed in archive Technology on November 29, 2006

I just read an article about the future of cell phones and I'm curious to know how you feel.

Just like our PC tracks the sites we visit and remembers our zip code for local weather and movie listings, our cell phones also have the capability of tracking our every wish and desire, including WHERE WE ARE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.

As a parent, I like the idea of knowing that when my child has his cell phone on his person that I'll be able to know where he is. Think of the blessings this knowledge gives when a child goes missing, presuming the abductor doesn't immediately locate the cell phone on the child.

As an adult, I gotta say - I'm not too sure I like this feature. As an employer with remote employees - this feature takes the worry out of knowing if your employees are where they say they are. But hopefully you have a greater trust in your employees than that.

But the time to decide how you feel is now!

Two weeks ago Helio announced the "Buddy Beacon" in its newest phone called the Drift which retails for $225.

Buddy Beacon

Buddy Beacon is the new way for Helio members to synchronize their social lives and tell friends where the fun is. Rather than calling or texting, Helio members can switch on their Buddy Beacon and use satellite technology to broadcast their location to the friends they add to their Buddy List. When they turn on Buddy Beacon, their Buddy List friends can see their location on a map along with a nearby address. Members can add up to 25 Buddies to their Buddy List. When members change locations and want to let everyone know the party is on the move, one simple command refreshes the location. Want to hide out? Just leave Buddy Beacon off to enjoy a night of privacy or to slip out the back of the club into the VIP room.

So what do you think? How much farther are we from someone typing in our phone number and an instant video appearing of where we are, what we are wearing and what we are doing?

And we thought The Jetsons was just a silly cartoon.