December 14, 2006
Cameraphones disabled over the air
This is wild. According to The Inquirer, new software which enables network operators to disable the camera function inside mobile handsets has been installed by leading operators in both Europe and North America.
"... Basically, the system can turn off (or turn on) any application which runs inside the handset. This includes the camera function as well as picture messaging (MMS), Bluetooth and WiFi.
One major benefit for an organisation where photos snatched by a cameraphone can be commercially dangerous, is that regular employees will no longer have to surrender their handsets on entering a building.
The mobile network will sense the employee's location and then temporarily disable the camera's functionality via an OTA (Over-The-Air) message.
The software can drill deep into a handset's capabilities – even going as far as blocking certain kinds of content. Normally, this function would be used to block users from downloading games onto their work handsets."
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