Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Facebook-Direct Phones — and Facebook Right On the SIM

Posted by timothy on from the how-far-can-this-go? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Gemalto, a Dutch digital security company, has announced Facebook for SIM at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company's software development team has effectively shrunk Facebook down so that it fits onto a standard SIM card, enabling anyone with a GSM phone to enjoy the service even if without a data plan. In fact, the company is claiming the Facebook application is compatible with 100 percent of SIM-compliant mobile phones. As a result, it works on prepaid as well as on subscription-based mobile plans. In doing so, Gemalto is offering Facebook to millions of mobile phone users regardless of their handset type. Facebook for SIM doesn't require a data connection because it taps into a handset's SMS connectivity to allow the user to interact with the service; users can sign up for Facebook, log in directly, and even check out friend requests, status updates, wall posts, and messages, all via the dedicated SIM application." And if that's just a bit too Facebook-centric for you, a notch down are two phones from HTC just announced in Barcelona, the Salsa and the ChaCha, with dedicated Facebook buttons.

18 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Ow, ow ow. by Anonymous+Freak · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This article makes my head hurt...

    shrunk Facebook down so that it fits onto a standard SIM card

    What? What does that even mean?

    --
    Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
    The purpose of that site was not known.
    1. Re:Ow, ow ow. by devxo · · Score: 2

      It means that Facebook functionality is added to the sim cards own menu. Usually it's used by the operator to have things like checking balance or ordering extra services. Since it's simple text menu it works on both normal phones and smart phones.

    2. Re:Ow, ow ow. by dakameleon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It probably should read:

      "shrunk [a program to access to the] Facebook [API via SMS] down so that it fits on a SIM" ... but I guess it's pitched towards non-technical users?

      --
      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
  2. Hardcoded idiocy by jewelises · · Score: 2

    What's the difference between this and the SMS service already offered by Facebook? Facebook's service works even if you don't have a special SIM card, and the last time I checked (several years ago) it had lots of useful features.

  3. Already been done? by CtownNighrider · · Score: 2

    I believe there is already a method for texting status updates to facebook. Oh there it is

  4. Facebook on your phone by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What could possibly go wrong... Next, your phone's contact list is automatically forwarded to facebook.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:Facebook on your phone by Anachragnome · · Score: 3, Informative

      "...Next, your phone's contact list is automatically forwarded to facebook."

      Seriously, dude.

      As well as the contents of their schedulers, alarm settings, GPS coordinates...

      And from that, one can determine actual sleep schedule (from the times the GPS location remains idle), the stores in which one shops at (GPS locations), the routes one takes to friends houses (GPS locations, frequency of visits)...fuck dude, the list goes on. Just think of all the possible connections Facebook can deduce from that data provided, in REAL TIME. What is wrong with these people (and by that I mean both the users and Facebook)?

      This is people paying for virtual Verichips. Doesn't anyone see this besides me? Does anyone REALLY expect Facebook to apply any real morality to the usage of such data? It will be sold to anyone that can pay. That is what Facebook does, sells data.

      And I thought the government having this sort of data on so many people was spine-chilling, but corporations?

      Where is Howard Beale when you need him?

  5. The difference? by EdIII · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well I don't know how it is in the EU and other countries, but here in the US the consumer gets shafted on SMS fees. Last time I checked it was still $19.99 at a minimum for unlimited SMS messages for most carriers (with fine print stating that out of network messages are priced differently). It's the most ridiculous markup I have ever seen and the sheep continue to pay it. The markup is not infinite of course, but I would claim that it is at *least* five 9's.

    The data plan for my BB is $29.99. Verizon's minimum plan with unlimited mobile to mobile messaging is $10 (which more than likely does not apply to Facebook's SMS), and $19.99 for 5,000 texts and unlimited mobile to mobile SMS.

    The tone of the article would seem to suggest that Facebook on SIM would allow a person to bypass a data plan and save money bringing Facebook to a wider audience.

    What blows me away is that it would seemingly generate a large volume of messages and where I live would ultimately cost more than the data plan, in addition... to you not having a data plan.

    1. Re:The difference? by DanTheStone · · Score: 2

      Unlimited domestic text messages are a difference of $10 on my T-Mobile (yes, US) plan.

    2. Re:The difference? by icebraining · · Score: 3, Informative

      In the EU people don't pay to receive SMS. I also pay 0.09E to send them to every national carrier from a prepaid plan with no monthly fees.

      I could get better deals if I agreed to recharge it periodically, but I'm not a heavy user so I wouldn't spend it all and it would just accumulate for nothing.

      --
      Dilbert RSS feed
  6. More data for Zoidberg, er Zuckerberg by Caerdwyn · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So the proposal is to embed into my phone functionality that can report to Facebook every number I dial, every contact I have, every app I have installed, every text message or email I send or receive, everywhere I go via the GPS receiver, every web page I visit, every photo I take. Tracking is full and absolute. Add that info would then be sold to any advertiser with enough cash and given free to any government with a desire to monitor its citizenry, or to any app developer that pinkie-swears to be ethical.

    All this without permission, or in stark contrast to denial of permission, automatically and silently. Assuming there is an opt-out (via the most arcane possible method), what is the likelihood that opt-out would even be honored?

    "But that's paranoid! Facebook would never do that!"

    Facebook's record on matters of privacy and security strongly suggests otherwise.

    Under no circumstances will I buy a smartphone with hardware-level or operating-system-level integration, regardless of anything Facebook or the phone vendor has to say. I would rather do without a smartphone altogether than trust Facebook with... well, anything, really.

    --
    Everybody gets what the majority deserves.
    1. Re:More data for Zoidberg, er Zuckerberg by Charliemopps · · Score: 2

      The funny thing is, you think the phone company hasn't already been doing everything you mention for years.

    2. Re:More data for Zoidberg, er Zuckerberg by LordLucless · · Score: 5, Insightful

      every number I dial, every contact I have, every app I have installed, every text message or email I send or receive, everywhere I go via the GPS receiver, every web page I visit, every photo I take

      Might want to read the article, buddy. It's an implementation of Facebook's SMS API at a SIM level. It doesn't report anything, unless you, the user, uses it to explicitly send a message to Facebook.

      "But that's paranoid! Facebook would never do that!"

      Last I looked "Gemalto, a Dutch digital security company", wasn't Facebook.

      All this without permission, or in stark contrast to denial of permission, automatically and silently.

      Now you're just pulling things out of your arse.

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  7. in the usa SMS with out a plan costs more then dat by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 2

    in the usa SMS with out a plan costs more then data (with out a data plan) is it about $1,300 per MEG.

  8. HTTPS is now available: Let's use SMS instead! by gnapster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... access to the world’s most popular social network, wherever you are and without an Internet connection, could prove very appealing. I think protesters in Egypt would agree.

    If I had been a protester in Egypt or Tunisia recently, I would not want my facebook messages going over the wire by SMS.

  9. Hey, Everyone! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2

    I have an evil plan: if this "facebook over SMS" nonsense takes off, there will be loads of poor suckers paying per-sms for the drivel that accumulates there.

    Please ensure that all status updates, wall scrawls, and similar communications are greater than 140 octets long...

  10. Re:So they figured out how to make money with FB by mirix · · Score: 2

    Why did you think handset manufacturers and telcos have been putting facebook type apps on phones? So you get a data plan, so they can stick it to you.

    --
    Sent from my PDP-11
  11. How about getting Facebook off my phone? by garnetlion · · Score: 2

    My Android phone came with the Facebook app preinstalled and requires rooting to uninstall. At this point I'd be much more interesred in a phone incapable of running Facebook.