Home › News ›

Major Carriers Cut Off Location Aggregators After Abuse

Jan 16, 2019, 2:03 PM by Rich Brome @richbrome

Sprint this week became the last major US carrier to commit to ending its relationships with location aggregators, companies that resell phone location data, including real-time customer location. AT&T and T-Mobile last week pledged to cut off location aggregators in March, while Verizon has also told The Washington Post that it's working to end its location aggregator contracts. An investigation by Motherboard published last week found that loose regulation and oversight had led to location data being made available on an effective black market, with bounty hunters and other private citizens able to purchase real-time location data. Legitimate users of the data may be affected by the cutoffs, including roadside assistance services and banks that use customers' location to detect credit card fraud. Several members of congress have called for inquiries into the sharing and protection of location data.

Related

HMD Launches Barbie Phone in US

Aug 27, 2024
HMD has teamed up with Mattel for a Barbie Phone. The HMD Barbie Phone is a basic flip phone offering a simple, Barbie-themed interface (based on KaiOS).

Carriers Weigh in on FCC's Proposed Phone Unlocking Rule

Oct 22, 2024
T-Mobile and AT&T have submitted formal objections to the FCC over its proposed rule requiring carriers to unlock new phones after 60 days, regardless of whether the phone is fully paid off. (This type of unlocking would let customers use their phone with a different network.) T-Mobile and AT&T argue that — for their prepaid brands in particular — longer locking periods are necessary to ensure that phone subsidies are recovered.

T-Mobile Enables Text Via Satellite as Carriers Prepare for Hurricane Milton

Oct 9, 2024
T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T have put out detailed information on how they're preparing for Hurricane Milton and responding to Hurricane Helene. For the first time, T-Mobile is activating Starlink Direct-to-Cellular satellite SMS service for its customers, including the ability to text 911.

OpenSignal Rates Carrier's 5G Performance

Oct 3, 2024
OpenSignal has released its latest annual ranking of 5G networks worldwide. T-Mobile USA and Puerto Rico came in first in 5G availability among all 5G networks on the planet.

Verizon, T-Mobile Protest Allocation of 4.9 GHz Band to AT&T's FirstNet

Jul 15, 2024
The FCC has proposed that the 4.9 GHz band be managed by FirstNet, a 5G network dedicated to public safety and operated by AT&T. The 4.9 GHz band (4,940–4,990 MHz) has been set aside for local public safety use since 2002, but local agencies have found it challenging to make full use of it with modern technologies.

more news about:

Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

dougm

Jan 18, 2019, 8:28 AM

Won't last long

They'll just change the way sell and package location data to 3rd parties. Location data is a HIGHLY valuable commodity, people are willing to pay BIG $$$ for it. The telecom companies will eventually start monetizing it again somehow.

Page 1 of 1