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TPM Security Chip For Your Cell Phone
pete314 writes "The Trusted Computing Group has unveiled that it is working on a mobile version of its TPM security chip. It should prevent the phone world from being hit by the same virus and hacking issues that face computers. However, the EFF is not amused, stating that the chip will be used for DRM, and could even limit which software the owner installs on his cell phone."
They already limit cell phones. At my last job we got Motorola T720 cellphones form Alltel. One of the features that wow'd everyone was the ability to play MIDIs for ringtones. So they all wanted custom ringtones (I personally just use a phone ring sound). They also wanted custom backgrounds (it only had a few). So one guy got a data cable so everyone could upload stuff. Er, wrong. None of that kind of stuff was accessable. It was basically only useful for transfering numbers and using it as a modem if you had a data package. You had to purchase new wallpaper and ringtones via the store. Same for games,
Ended up having to search the net and find some utilities to hack it. Even if you got a utility to directly access the file system and added something, it wouldn't be usable on the phone, you had to alter data files. It was quite clearly a deliberate lockout.
With this sort of thing, they'll just step it up to the next level.
This is what Verizon does with all of its phones. It cripples them so it can make the maximum amount of money selling the same functionality back to the customer. Case in point - the Motorola V710.
The death of DRM is imminent. It might take some time... but it'll come for sure.
Picture this - all mobile manufacturers will start shipping DRM enabled phones. Manufacturers will tie-up with content providers, and most of the content being provided will be DRMed.
After a sizeable number of consumers are stuck with DRMed schmuck which makes them pay $$$ for every time they press a button on the phone... there'll be a HUGE demand for a non-DRMed phone.
At that point of time if any company comes up with a non-DRMed phone with enough non-DRMed content to make the consumer moderately happy - it will strike gold!
For this to work - consumers need to unhappy about DRM... that's almost like a social revolution - and revolutions take time!
Nandz.
In response to this, and everyone stating "I just want to phone and SMS/MMS" But, the fact that thrird-party software works like crap if at all and integrates not-so-nicely, is the very thing allowing the operators to charge insane prizes for SMS and MMS. The same information could be sent just as easily, for a fraction of the cost (think GPRS). However, applications that allow replacement of SMS and MMS are seen as the great big enemy by the operators, which is why they are doing what they can to stop such foolishness. If API:s and platforms becomes stable enough, 3pp could replace SMS and MMS. With DRM, the operators can stop that for good, and users will just have to settle for paying ridiculous prices for simple messaging. Using expensive GPRS (no data agreement) where I live, a 'MMS' of 30K cost less than $0.1, and a 'SMS' less than $0.0001, including overhead.