Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

GPS Meets PCS

Posted by timothy on from the big-brother-on-call-waiting-can-you-hold dept.

The Donald writes: "According to an article at News.com, Sprint PCS will be starting to implement E911 calls in Rhode Island sometime in October. The FCC required that all cell phone providers have an improved E911 system in place by October first. This is the first step in making the E911 a reality, with Sprint being the first major company to actually put a phone on the market that will work with E911; instead of just filing papers with the FCC saying the implementation is just to hard. The Samsung N300 phone will use GPS to track the people down. I like the idea, I just hope the phone will display the GPS information, and there is a way to opt-out for all of the location based advertisements you will get with your GPS enabled phone."

4 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. How very convenient by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 3, Funny
    "The Samsung N300 phone will use GPS to track the people down"

    ... and if you happen to have a name that doesn't sound quite right, such as Al-something or Ben-something, you won't even have to dial 911 for the authorities to know where you are and where you're headed at all time.

    Am I the only one to find the idea of mixing a wireless communication device and a very precise position locator undesirable ?

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  2. Spoof by Alsee · · Score: 1, Funny

    It'll be amusing to spoof your location - either by reprogramming the phone, or feeding it bogus GPS data.

    "Hi honey. I'm sorry I'm late. The car died again, so I'm taking the shuttle."
    "Ummm, ok dear" (Wife pulls up GPS data on the internet) "huh? HONEY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN ORBIT!?!"

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  3. Some information on MPS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    http://www.locategsm.com/

  4. Re:Opting out by J.C.B. · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's called tin foil, my good man. Tin foil will block the GPS signals, and as a bonus, it will prevent aliens from monitoring your calls.