Location Feature?

While exploring some of my phone settings I found something called
"Location", which I could select for ON orOFF.
The hint on the phone as to what this did was that it allowed someone one
with the "proper application" to track your physical location. In the OFF
mode, only "911" could track your position it said. Mine was by default set
in the ON position. I immediately shut that off.

Thus I found out what the little blue circle with the cross hairs was on my
phone's screen. In the off mode, it has a red diagnol bar through it.

Put in a call to Sprint to find out where I go about getting the "proper
application" so I can see where my phone is if I turn it back on. (Or
anybody else's phone with that feature for that matter)

C/S answer was as follows:

"That tower is not up yet"

I asked, there is only going to be one tower that will be used track the
physical location of all of Sprint's cell phone customers?

Answer: ""That tower is not up yet"

Right then, so then I asked how do I get the "proper application", and what
does that run on (pc? another phone?) so when they do finsh THE tower, I can
access this feature.

Answer:"You can't. You will have to contact us and then we will tell you".

OK. Question, when will they finish building the THE tower?.

Answer: "sometime next year"

My interview with c/s ended with some assurances that ONor OFF, I was to be
assured that my cell phone was not broadcasting my location to anyone with
the "proper application" because this was not set up yet.

Well. That leaves a host of unanswered questions. Only ONE Tower? I don't
think so. What is Sprint going to do with all of the information they
collect about where you go? Build a profile of your travel patterns and
sell it to marketers? Build a profile and send it to John Ashcroft? And
we have to call in to get location information? "Hi, this is so and so,
look, my wife was supposed to meet me at 3, she's not here yet and she
doesn't answer my calls, where's her phone? At the Holiday Inn off the
Interstate? Thanks Sprint!"

Anyone else notice this feature, note the blue cross hairs on your phone
screen before and find out what it is?

---

› See More: Location Feature?

I wondered what that little symbol was, and you are right, my location was
on.


"mcdgi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: While exploring some of my phone settings I found something called
: "Location", which I could select for ON orOFF.
: The hint on the phone as to what this did was that it allowed someone one
: with the "proper application" to track your physical location. In the OFF
: mode, only "911" could track your position it said. Mine was by default
set
: in the ON position. I immediately shut that off.
:
: Thus I found out what the little blue circle with the cross hairs was on
my
: phone's screen. In the off mode, it has a red diagnol bar through it.
:
: Put in a call to Sprint to find out where I go about getting the "proper
: application" so I can see where my phone is if I turn it back on. (Or
: anybody else's phone with that feature for that matter)
:
: C/S answer was as follows:
:
: "That tower is not up yet"
:
: I asked, there is only going to be one tower that will be used track the
: physical location of all of Sprint's cell phone customers?
:
: Answer: ""That tower is not up yet"
:
: Right then, so then I asked how do I get the "proper application", and
what
: does that run on (pc? another phone?) so when they do finsh THE tower, I
can
: access this feature.
:
: Answer:"You can't. You will have to contact us and then we will tell
you".
:
: OK. Question, when will they finish building the THE tower?.
:
: Answer: "sometime next year"
:
: My interview with c/s ended with some assurances that ONor OFF, I was to
be
: assured that my cell phone was not broadcasting my location to anyone with
: the "proper application" because this was not set up yet.
:
: Well. That leaves a host of unanswered questions. Only ONE Tower? I
don't
: think so. What is Sprint going to do with all of the information they
: collect about where you go? Build a profile of your travel patterns and
: sell it to marketers? Build a profile and send it to John Ashcroft? And
: we have to call in to get location information? "Hi, this is so and so,
: look, my wife was supposed to meet me at 3, she's not here yet and she
: doesn't answer my calls, where's her phone? At the Holiday Inn off the
: Interstate? Thanks Sprint!"
:
: Anyone else notice this feature, note the blue cross hairs on your phone
: screen before and find out what it is?
:
:

It is not a tower. It is the same info as the E911 location stuff, but when
activated will allow the phone to locate its own location so you won't have
to enter a zip code even when traveling.


"mcdgi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> While exploring some of my phone settings I found something called
> "Location", which I could select for ON orOFF.
> The hint on the phone as to what this did was that it allowed someone one
> with the "proper application" to track your physical location. In the OFF
> mode, only "911" could track your position it said. Mine was by default
set
> in the ON position. I immediately shut that off.
>
> Thus I found out what the little blue circle with the cross hairs was on
my
> phone's screen. In the off mode, it has a red diagnol bar through it.
>
> Put in a call to Sprint to find out where I go about getting the "proper
> application" so I can see where my phone is if I turn it back on. (Or
> anybody else's phone with that feature for that matter)
>
> C/S answer was as follows:
>
> "That tower is not up yet"
>
> I asked, there is only going to be one tower that will be used track the
> physical location of all of Sprint's cell phone customers?
>
> Answer: ""That tower is not up yet"
>
> Right then, so then I asked how do I get the "proper application", and
what
> does that run on (pc? another phone?) so when they do finsh THE tower, I
can
> access this feature.
>
> Answer:"You can't. You will have to contact us and then we will tell
you".
>
> OK. Question, when will they finish building the THE tower?.
>
> Answer: "sometime next year"
>
> My interview with c/s ended with some assurances that ONor OFF, I was to
be
> assured that my cell phone was not broadcasting my location to anyone with
> the "proper application" because this was not set up yet.
>
> Well. That leaves a host of unanswered questions. Only ONE Tower? I
don't
> think so. What is Sprint going to do with all of the information they
> collect about where you go? Build a profile of your travel patterns and
> sell it to marketers? Build a profile and send it to John Ashcroft? And
> we have to call in to get location information? "Hi, this is so and so,
> look, my wife was supposed to meet me at 3, she's not here yet and she
> doesn't answer my calls, where's her phone? At the Holiday Inn off the
> Interstate? Thanks Sprint!"
>
> Anyone else notice this feature, note the blue cross hairs on your phone
> screen before and find out what it is?
>
>

mcdgi wrote:

> While exploring some of my phone settings I found something called
> "Location", which I could select for ON orOFF.
> The hint on the phone as to what this did was that it allowed someone one
> with the "proper application" to track your physical location. In the OFF
> mode, only "911" could track your position it said.

Its the start of a $32 Billion dirent marketing industry. I forgot
where I saw that dollar figure.

"We know you're in a 2000 Mercedes and we have a great special on
trading that in for new vehicle. The dealership is just ahead on the right."

"We know you have pasted seven McDonalds already. Aren't you hungry yet?
There's one at the next exit"

From a future Sprint newsletter:
"Dear Joe,
We have built new towers and look forward to you embracing the new
marketing concept that will enhance your Sprint PCS experience! Of
course you can opt out for this service by renewing with a two year
commitment on a new plan."

"mcdgi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> While exploring some of my phone settings I found something called
> "Location", which I could select for ON orOFF.

Isn't it the GPS that's built into many phones now? Isn't it in the
manual?

"Markeau" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
> "mcdgi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
> > While exploring some of my phone settings I found something called
> > "Location", which I could select for ON orOFF.
>=20
> Isn't it the GPS that's built into many phones now? Isn't it in the
> manual?
>=20

As if you expect people to read a manual? :-/
---JRC---

Markeau wrote:

> Isn't it the GPS that's built into many phones now? Isn't it in the
> manual?

http://www.ulocate.com/
http://www.gadgeteer.org/

In article <[email protected]>,=20
[email protected] says...
> While exploring some of my phone settings I found something called
> "Location", which I could select for ON orOFF.
> The hint on the phone as to what this did was that it allowed someone one
> with the "proper application" to track your physical location. In the OFF
> mode, only "911" could track your position it said. Mine was by default =
set
> in the ON position. I immediately shut that off.
>=20
> Thus I found out what the little blue circle with the cross hairs was on =
my
> phone's screen. In the off mode, it has a red diagnol bar through it.
>=20
> Put in a call to Sprint to find out where I go about getting the "proper
> application" so I can see where my phone is if I turn it back on. (Or
> anybody else's phone with that feature for that matter)
>=20
> C/S answer was as follows:
>=20
> "That tower is not up yet"
>=20
> I asked, there is only going to be one tower that will be used track the
> physical location of all of Sprint's cell phone customers?
>=20
> Answer: ""That tower is not up yet"
>=20
> Right then, so then I asked how do I get the "proper application", and wh=
at
> does that run on (pc? another phone?) so when they do finsh THE tower, I =
can
> access this feature.
>=20
> Answer:"You can't. You will have to contact us and then we will tell you=
".
>=20
> OK. Question, when will they finish building the THE tower?.
>=20
> Answer: "sometime next year"
>=20
> My interview with c/s ended with some assurances that ONor OFF, I was to=
be
> assured that my cell phone was not broadcasting my location to anyone wit=
h
> the "proper application" because this was not set up yet.

Holy cow, did we really say that? The LBS (Location-Based Services) are st=
ill=20
a ways away yet, but it's not "the tower" that is holding us up. There's a=
lot=20
of testing to be done. Software testing, load testing, commercial agreemen=
ts=20
with the companies that will provide certain enhanced services with it, and=
so=20
on. At least they got the time right.

The towers are capable of this service right now. It was put into place to=
=20
comply with E911 directives, and the only thing holding E911 up now is the =
911=20
call centers themselves. States and counties just need to install the prop=
er=20
upgrades, and we're ready for them.

>=20
> Well. That leaves a host of unanswered questions. Only ONE Tower? I do=
n't
> think so. =20

You think correctly.

> What is Sprint going to do with all of the information they
> collect about where you go? Build a profile of your travel patterns and
> sell it to marketers? Build a profile and send it to John Ashcroft? =20

We won't be building *any* profiles. Right now, the "applications" in the=
=20
works are things like a Roadside Assistance service that knows where you're=
at=20
just because you called on your cell phone. "Enhanced Directory Assistance=
" so=20
that you can literally ask for "The nearest Chinese restaurant" and it'll=
=20
provide location, directions, and perhaps even make reservations. And a=20
"Points of interest" feature that'll work for you on the road to let you kn=
ow=20
when you're passing within, say, 5 miles of the world's largest rutabaga :=
)

We're still fleshing out the details of these services. But "profile-
building"? Nothing I've come up with so far.

> And
> we have to call in to get location information? "Hi, this is so and so,
> look, my wife was supposed to meet me at 3, she's not here yet and she
> doesn't answer my calls, where's her phone? At the Holiday Inn off the
> Interstate? Thanks Sprint!"

Perhaps. But one thing to note about things like that is that the one bein=
g=20
located actually has to opt in to BE located. The opt-in may occur by virt=
ue=20
of accessing the service, or it may be explicit. But it won't be automatic=
..

>=20
> Anyone else notice this feature, note the blue cross hairs on your phone
> screen before and find out what it is?

Actually, it's red on mine. But yeah, I found out

--=20
-+-
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for SprintPCS
I *don't* speak for them.

That's amazing! Rob wasn't just kidding.
Google gave me five hits on "World's Largest Rutabaga".
---JRC---

"O/Siris" <robjvargas@spr=EEntpcs.c=F4m> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
We won't be building *any* profiles. Right now, the "applications" in =
the=20
works are things like a Roadside Assistance service that knows where =
you're at=20
just because you called on your cell phone. "Enhanced Directory =
Assistance" so=20
that you can literally ask for "The nearest Chinese restaurant" and =
it'll=20
provide location, directions, and perhaps even make reservations. And a =

"Points of interest" feature that'll work for you on the road to let you =
know=20
when you're passing within, say, 5 miles of the world's largest rutabaga =


R=D8=DF
O/Siris
..