So how well do you know your phone? Your smartphone, that is. If you don’t have a smartphone or some other kind of mobile device that offers you location services, you can stop reading now.
Location has become a big feature in a host of connected devices. App developers and marketers alike have been feverishly exploring ways to capture and deliver information on user habits specifically based on their location. Examples of location-based services span industries like travel, weather, retail, and hospitality, and make sure that the information that users receive takes into account where they are located. Certainly, a good thing! All you have to do is enable the “location” feature of your smartphone to avail of these services.
What may not be that obvious to many users is that the geo-tracking capabilities of these devices clearly have to follow every move that you make while carrying your device. As long as you are connected to a network – Wi-Fi or 3G/4G – your location is recorded and made available to you as your location history.
If you are not familiar with the idea, the level of detail that is available can be spooky. Applications that track devices – for inventory and availability – in complex environments like hospitals and schools are becoming popular. Airports and malls are using location-based apps to help customers find their way around their premises.
All good.
Unless you do not want to have a digital record of where you were!
For instance, if you decide that you need a break from work, and take off to spend the afternoon on the golf course, you may want to let your boss know. Bring Your Own Device BYOD) configurations and mobile device management programs implemented in companies often require that you provide administrative access to your device to the IT team, especially on company-provided devices.
Not having paid a lot of attention to this until recently, I decided to run a quick location history of my activities for the past few days. The level of detail that was available did surprise me. So if you have not looked at your location setting on your smartphone, now would be a good time.
After all, do you want to take a chance that it may come down to your word against your phone’s?
