2.OH NO!: GPS and the BlackBerry

But the fact of the matter is, if an employer has access to your GPS location, that means you’re on a BES, which, chance are, means you’re on a company-issued device, which, chances are, means you should be using your device while you’re at work. Not the “rippers” (just turn the GPS off while you’re “slipping ones”).

Believe it or not, there are actually some industries out there that could benefit from the inclusion of the technology in the 8800. Any company that has workers deployed out in the field can give their customers better reaction time to problems, knowing that a tech is just minutes away from the repair site. Delivery companies have an obvious advantage, too – and the list could really go on and on and on.

I know that this column is all about advancement and over-connectivity of technology in society, but we’re not at the point of paranoia just yet (about GPS, at least). Unless you’re (insert celebrity name here), you really shouldn’t have anything to worry about regarding people following you and tracking you. And I know you’re not, because you’re reading a web site about BlackBerrys.

Am I being naive? Maybe. Maybe there is a little need to be worried. But knowing RIM and how ontop of the trends they are, if this really does become a major issue, they’ll be sure to have a fix for it.

I want to hear your folks’ thoughts on the matter. I know my thoughts are all over the map, I just find it really ridiculous that people are actually pulling collars over this. Are you worried about being tracked? Would you want to track someone?

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Thought

Steve: I agree…any worries about GPS tracking are way overblown. Aside from all of the points you mentioned, let’s also add this one: consider the resources it takes to actually track a large group of people. Companies are not going to dedicate those resources unless there is a good reason to…among them, those you listed…techs out in the field, delivery personnel, etc. It’s not as if a business is going to dedicate a large budget simply because the boss is nosy.

As for govt tracking, again, govts. don’t have the resources to keep that kind of attention on all of their citizens, even if they should want to.

I remember a friend of mine once had the same fears regarding going through toll booths on toll roads with an electronic pass…he actually was worried that the govt would use that to track his movements. His girlfriend at that time thought it all foolish and came up with a great response: if the govt wanted to track her movements and see her going from home to work, to the grocery store, to the school to pick up her kids, all of the aspects of her rather ordinary life,..well, then let them. As she said so eloquently, who gives a rats a**?
Thought

Steve: I agree…any worries about GPS tracking are way overblown. Aside from all of the points you mentioned, let’s also add this one: consider the resources it takes to actually track a large group of people. Companies are not going to dedicate those resources unless there is a good reason to…among them, those you listed…techs out in the field, delivery personnel, etc. It’s not as if a business is going to dedicate a large budget simply because the boss is nosy.

As for govt tracking, again, govts. don’t have the resources to keep that kind of attention on all of their citizens, even if they should want to.

I remember a friend of mine once had the same fears regarding going through toll booths on toll roads with an electronic pass…he actually was worried that the govt would use that to track his movements. His girlfriend at that time thought it all foolish and came up with a great response: if the govt wanted to track her movements and see her going from home to work, to the grocery store, to the school to pick up her kids, all of the aspects of her rather ordinary life,..well, then let them. As she said so eloquently, who gives a rats a**?
http://blackberryinsight.com/ k

I agree with you 100%!

GPS is best feature that can be in a mobile device! There is nothing to worry about. Those who worry just switch it off. It’s so easy!
http://blackberryinsight.com k

I agree with you 100%!

GPS is best feature that can be in a mobile device! There is nothing to worry about. Those who worry just switch it off. It’s so easy!
John Smith

I have a question. My company is dead set on getting all of it’s outside personel one of these blackberry phones. We will be required to log our calls at the time the call is made, which will then be uploaded into the company computer system. They then will take this data to a:See what time we first made the call. b:How long we stayed at the call. c: It is a requirment of your employment with the company. My question is this. Will they also be able to track us where we are at all times using this type of system? And, will there be a way to turn off that part of the system without interupting the other part, that being the actual upload of the call? I am one that does my job, but I do not like somebody looking over my shoulder. Your input would be helpful. And, yes, my name really is John Smith. Thanks.
John Smith

I have a question. My company is dead set on getting all of it’s outside personel one of these blackberry phones. We will be required to log our calls at the time the call is made, which will then be uploaded into the company computer system. They then will take this data to a:See what time we first made the call. b:How long we stayed at the call. c: It is a requirment of your employment with the company. My question is this. Will they also be able to track us where we are at all times using this type of system? And, will there be a way to turn off that part of the system without interupting the other part, that being the actual upload of the call? I am one that does my job, but I do not like somebody looking over my shoulder. Your input would be helpful. And, yes, my name really is John Smith. Thanks.

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