Wireless locating business booms

Next year, federal law mandates that all cell phones sold in the US contain tracking capabilities. Internationally, location services are a growth industry estimated to be worth $5 billion in three years. Wireless vehicle tracking systems are particularly successful.

Just before the beginning of 2001, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, representing hundreds of wireless companies, proposed privacy guidelines for location-based wireless services to the US Federal Communications Commission. The industry was reportedly motivated by the fear that the explosive spread of the ability to locate anybody carrying a tiny transmitter or a global positioning system (GPS) enabled cell phone would be viewed as a conspiracy unless it took a public stance in favor of full locating disclosure. Privacy advocates have not been comforted.

For an overview and a case study from the Philippines, read newyorktimes.yahoo and newsBytes.yahoo.