Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Reviews

    Carrier IQ: Scandal or Not?

    By
    P. J. Connolly
    -
    December 6, 2011
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      logo_carrieriq

      As the Carrier IQ story unfolds, I’m kind of glad that I’ve had other things on my mind for the last couple of weeks; thankfully, my preoccupations have kept me from shooting off my mouth before I have a better sense of what’s happening.

      The question I have is: what data was actually sent by the software, and to whom? I’m pretty sure that most carriers’ terms of service allow them to capture diagnostic information, but how far does that actually go in practice?

      [WP_IMAGE]

      I’m fine with a certain level of data going back to the carrier or even the handset maker, when it helps to make the product better. I want that data anonymized, of course, and although I don’t like the idea of my location being sent to “whomever” in real time, applications such as “Find My iPhone” already do that.The difference, of course, is that I deliberately enabled Find My iPhone, whereas Carrier IQ runs at such a low level that the ordinary end user isn’t likely to notice it without digging for it. Another difference is that with apps such as Find My iPhone or NextBus, I’m choosing to use a service and I can stop using whenever I choose to do so. With Carrier IQ, I’m at the mercy of AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile (Verizon claims that its phones do not use Carrier IQ) and I have to trust in the sheer amount of noise I generate to keep abuse of the technology to a minimum.

      Here’s the thing: analytics tools such as Carrier IQ are invaluable when it comes to improving customer satisfaction. Since the first complaints that you’re likely to hear from people about their mobile phones are failure to connect and failure in mid-call, there’s a need for some kind of diagnostics and logging. My beef with this kind of technology is that the user has to be informed and given the choice of opting in or out; by supplying this kind of tool as part of the basic software distribution, carriers and those handset makers such as Apple, HTC and Samsung that provide it as part of the build are taking it upon themselves to use the information gleaned from it responsibly.

      I haven’t heard of any carriers being accused of mishandling data gleaned through Carrier IQ, nor have I heard of any information being leaked by Carrier IQ itself. Of course, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened; rather, nobody’s been caught yet. I’m looking forward to any Senate subcommittee hearings that might take place as a result of this contretemps, even if I have to wait for next year for them to take place.

      P. J. Connolly
      P. J. Connolly began writing for IT publications in 1997 and has a lengthy track record in both news and reviews. Since then, he's built two test labs from scratch and earned a reputation as the nicest skeptic you'll ever meet. Before taking up journalism, P. J. was an IT manager and consultant in San Francisco with a knack for networking the Apple Macintosh, and his love for technology is exceeded only by his contempt for the flavor of the month. Speaking of which, you can follow P. J. on Twitter at pjc415, or drop him an email at pjc@eweek.com.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×