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GPS Phone Tells Others Where You Are

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the twig-me dept.

An anonymous reader writes, "According to CNet, a company called Benefon has launched a cell phone with a built in GPS receiver — nothing new there. However, this particular GPS cell phone, called the Twig, does something extra. It can send your GPS coordinates to another Twig owner and then that person can navigate directly to you using the preloaded navigation software. Sounds like this could save a lot of time and effort when trying to explain to the in-laws where your new apartment is." The article says that the phone will cost £330 in the UK, or about $625.

5 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Just a thought..... by 8127972 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...... But what about the privacy issues that would surround this cell phone? Who would get access to this data? Under what circumstances? Can some law enforcement agency use the GPS data to prove that you did something illegal for example?

    --
    This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
  2. Put your tinfoil hat away by brunes69 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    RTFA - it says (hell even the summary says) you *can* send your co=ordinates to the other phone, not that the other phone can get them without your wanting to.

    Then again, anywhere with E911 service this is usually already enabled. But you can usually disable it on the handset if you want.

    1. Re:Put your tinfoil hat away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      RTFA - it says (hell even the summary says) you *can* send your co=ordinates to the other phone, not that the other phone can get them without your wanting to.

      Then again, anywhere with E911 service this is usually already enabled. But you can usually disable it on the handset if you want.

      Fuck TFA -- are you simpleminded enough to believe, in today's envionmment, that the cops won't have the capability to enable it at will? It took a decent amount of time before we found out that, with the Onstar bullshit, they could remotely open the mic in any car with it installed. The pigs will CALEA all over this as soon as deployment becomes widespread. If they haven't already. All they have to do is utter the magic phrase, "... deprive law enforcment of this important tool?" and it'll be in their hands before the echo dies out.

      If you don't believe it, you can just roll your tinfoil hat loosely and shove it up your ass.

  3. karma whores stop here by thelost · · Score: 2, Insightful
    ok before this gets out of hand it's a phone with GPS that allows you to send your location to other people, if you so decide.

    Please cram it with the Big Brother bullshit, the Nanny State clap trap and please remove your tin foil hats - unless you're after some free karma which you surely will, while saying nothing.

    The slashdot article headline is misleading, it suggests the phone is in control of your private details, rather than you. One quick glance at the article and you can see this paragraph which states:


    The Twig alert service lets you send your location to someone in an emergency at the touch of a button. Finally, you can log on to Twig's finder service online and search for friends who also own a Twig. If you're thinking about privacy, the service will only work if the other person consents -- in other words, you can control who has the opportunity to stalk you.


    It's a sodding phone with GPS and the ability to tell others where you are, that's all.
    --
    Promote Charity on Myspace, Show Your Colours!
  4. Re:How long until some overzealous employer by aeoo · · Score: 2, Insightful
    What kind of employer is ok with their employees choosing to sleep in once in a while?
    A compassionate employer? Yes, they do exist.

    You may have to win this kind of treatment though. Don't expect employers do just hand this over on a silver platter to you. They won't.

    Employers are often dispassionate about their employees, but expect employees to be passionate about their place of employment. It can't work that way. Either both don't care about each other, or both do care.

    Employment is like marriage. Would you want to be married to someone, who, the first time you forgot to throw away garbage, divorced you? No? I didn't think so. Then why do you believe it's OK for employers to behave like that? Don't forget though. You have to win good treatment. No one will volunteer to treat you well, because everyone is selfish. And you can't win anything if you're scared to lose.