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Location-based Security for Wireless Apps

developerWorks writes "Studies by industry analysts forecast even greater demand for wireless and mobile devices, creating substantial opportunities for wireless device application and service providers. Faced with an increasingly difficult challenge in raising both average revenue per user (ARPU) and numbers of subscribers, wireless carriers and their partners are developing a host of new products, services, and business models based on data services. This article looks at location-based services, security, and how they boost both service and revenue."

6 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. gonna take more than that... by Slack0ff · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wireless security is still many inovations away fomr being as secure as a land line. I personally would never do anything over wireless that I would not do on a public computer, the idea of truly securing wireless is easier said then done.

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  2. Hrmm by acehole · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Shouldnt there be a 802.11b/wireless topic?

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    Be you Admins? nay, we are but lusers!
  3. So basically, by sawilson · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What I'm reading is that they are trying to figure
    out a way to stuff more features into wireless
    computing so they can charge more for those features.
    Also, (as mentioned by an earlier poster) they'll
    have the ability to figure out where you are at
    all times so they can specifically target you with
    information that they think you'll need. Sounds like
    doubleclick.net would love to get in on this. It would
    be the next level in geek fetish toys. The ezpass
    thing, (as said earlier) is cool though. Not to
    mention:

    Ads popping up as you drive by places telling you
    what you should buy there. Example - You just passed Dick Monalds and our McRib is only a buck
    today!

    Or, Playing at the theatre today, this movie, that
    movie. This cool one starts in 5 minutes!

    As long as there are serious user controls, this
    could be a cool thing. The interface is going to
    have to be freaking stellar and unobtrusive to
    keep people from sending their SUV's through
    krogers when their cellphone, pager, and pda all
    go off at once.

  4. Honestly... by Undaar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How much do we really need to be in constant communication with the rest of the world? Don't people want to be able to get away from work? Do we really need yet *another* place to see ads? I'm starting to understand what my grandfather used to say (see my sig.)

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    ~ "When I'm of that age I'm just going to live up a tree."
  5. How does this make it more secure? by sifi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can see that location information can be very useful, but how does it make it secure?

    It is almost impossible to replicate location information and use it elsewhere to gain unauthorized entry. Even if the information is intercepted during communications, an intruder cannot replicate that data from some other place...

    Why not? if I'm that bothered to gain access, surely I can cripple a device to generate bogus location information?

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  6. Location-based security? by Woogiemonger · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So now we have a security system that encourages tresspassing? I'd think GPS information can't be THAT accurate, so there might very well be a thief with a PDA outside your window, stealing your corporate secrets.