October 27, 2007
Mobile phone firms plan to find out what you’re talking about . . . and tell advertisers
The Times Online claims that mobile phone companies have drawn up plans to monitor text messages and voice calls and pass the information to advertisers.
"Companies such as Motorola have developed technology to scan messages for information about where customers are and what they are doing.
They claim that the service would be used only with customers’ consent. But privacy groups had deep concerns about the technology and the potential for phone companies to abuse it.
Under the Motorola plans, software would be installed on mobile phones to search for related words in text messages. If the words “hungry” and “food” were picked up, for example, an advertisement for a local restaurant could be sent to that user.
... The technology is still under development and is currently based around searching text messages, but could also be applied to voice calls, Mr Keller said. Motorola has already started discussions with partners.
To avoid privacy issues the application would be based on an “opt-in” model in which a consumer could sign up in return for cheaper calls."
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2007/10/017753.htm