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Bell Labs Demos Cell Phone Location Software

Posted by timothy on from the peekaboo-for-adults dept.

mateub writes "AP via Yahoo reports that Bell Labs will soon announce cell phone software to reveal the owner's location to interested parties. To alleviate privacy concerns they say the software will 'let cell users be as picky as they choose about disclosing their whereabouts' but the article goes on to mention 'the ability for restaurants and other businesses to send a solicitation by text message to a cell phone when its owner wanders within range of those merchants.' Oh, wonderful, cellular popups..."

16 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Minority Report? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    How long until we walk into stores that have electronic greetings personalized with our names?

  2. Re:Great for kids by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Which is why we need to begin with subdermal implants as soon as possible.

    Upon turning 21 or joining the military these implants can be removed at the host's discretion.

  3. Most /.ers Need Not Worry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Since most of us are not presentable enough to enter restuarants which can afford this type of advertising.
    There really isn't much for most to worry about.

  4. Make it interesting for me ... by Punctuated_Equilibri · · Score: 2, Funny

    by paying me to reveal my location and accept a certain number of ads and I might consider it. How about $50/month, for, say, Visa, who has a pretty good idea where I am from my charges anyway?

    --
    In group behavior: 'because they're evil/morons/sheep/crazy' is not 'insightful' it's 'oversimplified'
  5. cellular popups by Alien+Being · · Score: 5, Funny

    The day I have to take my phone out of pocket to discover that i've been "invited" into a nearby business establishment will be the day I chuck said phone thru the front window of said business establishment. Really, how often do you get the chance to kill two birds with one phone?

    1. Re:cellular popups by Scrameustache · · Score: 2, Funny

      Personally I would keep my phone, calmly walk in the buisness and politely yell my discontent as loudly as I can.

      HELLO! I GOT A CELL SPAM FROM YOUR PLACE! WHAT? WHY YES, I KNOW I'M DISTURBING YOUR CLIENTS...

      And keep calmly discussion the situation AS LOUDLY AS I CAN, politely awnsering their questions and voicing my dislike of spam. They'll get the picture.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    2. Re:cellular popups by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      If only there was a better way for a business to communicate with potential customers in their vicinity. It would have to be non-intrusive (CAN-CELL-SPAM?), relatively cheap, and even work for people when their phone was off (or they didn't have a phone).

      Thinking...thinking...(ding!) I've got it! Words can be displayed prominently somewhere on the business premesis that were large enough to be seen by people in the area. (Maybe some type of sign?) It's non-intrusive, cheap (no payment-per-view), and your customers don't need a phone. It's also location-based. Brilliant!

      Ok fellow Slashdotters (friends!), please promise me no one will steal my idea before I get a patent on it. Thanks!

  6. And for for just $4.99 per month. by blanks · · Score: 5, Funny

    For for just $4.99 per month you can keep these popups from showing up on my cellphone.

    They make money one way or another.

    --
    TruePunk | Games
  7. Can you see me now? by ir0b0t · · Score: 3, Funny

    No? Good.

    --
    I'm laughing at clouds.
  8. Popups by ksb · · Score: 5, Funny

    businesses to send a solicitation by text message to a cell phone when its owner wanders within range of those merchants.' Oh, wonderful, cellular popups..."

    Could be interesting when you pass that 'massage parlour' you never knew was there ;)

  9. Re:Yeah right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You obviously haven't visited a prison or know someone who works in one. My wife is a psychologist working in a prison and yes there are some stupid inmates, but there are a lot of brilliant ones in there who were caught. Luckily, these brilliant criminal types have a fatal flaw that allows law enforcement to eventually catch them.

    To make a blanket statement like the one you made makes you look stupid.

  10. Re:Hmm.... by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Funny
    Japan having a "personals" system on the phone. e.g it gives you a list of "singles" next to you on sidewalk.

    You are in Tokyo, standing next to a building, filled with 3,845 single women, would you like to list them?

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  11. Re:Hmm.... by pclminion · · Score: 2, Funny
    Sounds like a very good reason for me to remain cell-phone-free.

    In five years, that statement will sound a lot like, "Sounds like a very good reason for me to stay off this 'Internet' thing."

    Guess who'll be working at Burger King, flipping burger orders that people punched in on their cell phones...

  12. Re:You're right by uberdave · · Score: 2, Funny

    Exactly. And say goodbye to friendly fire accidents. Smart bullets would just read your tag and steer around you.

    --
    "I'm not impatient. I just hate waiting." - My Dad
  13. New business model. by ron_ivi · · Score: 4, Funny
    ... a courier service that will carry your phone to wherever you're supposed to be, while you leave the phone and go where you want to be....

    (At least I didn't say 3...profit)

  14. Beating-distance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Cool, a form of spam where the spammer is actually within beating-distance.

    Just remember to bring a club or a brick whenever you go near a restaurant.