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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."
Though it sounds a little bit "big-brothery" for my wireless device to know where I am at all times, I know that it is going to happen anyway. They can already triangulate the location of your cellphone. We might as well use it for location specific apps.
I can think of TONS of great apps that would be location specific. For instance, a GPS that would tell you where the nearest Pizza Hut is. A Or a two-way radio or other device that also told you WHERE the other person is. Paying tolls automatically is a good one too.
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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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.
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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.)
~ "When I'm of that age I'm just going to live up a tree."
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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Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Benefon has had a really cool phone, ESC that combines GPS location, GSM and a map application -- and the phone is just not selling...
I starts to seem that the whole location based service concept is going to be the next WAP: over hyped and under utilized.
"There is a terrorist behind every bush"