The phone you have knows where you are. Not in a sentient way, but … in a data driven way. And that knowledge is being sent to Apple, or Google, or for all we know, to HTC, Nokia, and AT&T et al. Why? Well, that’s a fine question. It’s one Senator Al Franken (I know, I know) asked Apple just yesterday. Why? Well, let me ask it another way. Why not?! After all, it’s damn valuable data, and it’s training the next evolution of services, ain’t it? Might we be at a magical societal moment where, finally, we start to ask what’s in it for us? Probably not, but it’s a comin….to the Links:
Senator Asks Apple About Location-Tracking Issues as Experts Weigh In (MacRumors) Fact is, Apple and Google both are snarfing down location data, and for good reason. They know what I’ve said: Location is the most important signal since search.
Nielsen: U.S. Smartphone Users Concerned About Privacy and Location Data (RWW) It’s one thing to be “concerned.” It’s quite another to “give up your iPhone.”
Gap Partners With Visa to Send Location-Based Offers to Your Phone (ATD) It’s a half step to the Gap Scenario, but it’s a step!
Amazon gets ‘black eye’ from cloud outage (ComputerWorld) If this is all Skynet can do on the first day of its live beta, we’re all gonna be OK. For now.
Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain (Google) I have deep, abiding respect for a company that does what Google is doing in energy.
Why Social Media Falls Short of True Web Personalization (Mashable) “…these measures are roughly-hewn at best. They’re not adaptive, and they’re not granular.” Yep.
Google Offers Taking Signups In New York City, Bay Area & Portland (SEL) Well, that took a year or so – Google is copying Groupon, no, Living Social, no, DailyDeals.com, no wait, Facebook. Anyway.
Amex And Facebook’s ‘Boot Camp’ Contest Targets SMBs (ClickZ) I am a judge. So BE NICE TO ME.
Top Tech Brands of 2011: Verizon, Motorola, Sony, and HP (MarketingProfs) Is your brand here?
You Are the Ad (Facebook) A mostly predictable, not particularly deep thinking but still worthy piece on Facebook’s ad ambitions.
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What does the “I know, I know” after Franken’s name mean? You know what?
Just that it still sounds funny to me, “Senator Al Franken…”