A team of researchers have found that your location can be spoofed on the Apple iPhone. This was bound to happen considering the technology being used (Skyhook’s WiFi Positioning System). You can read the full article at cellular news.
The use of sky-hooks system is a useful addition to the iPhone and makes sense when you consider that the iPod Touch does not have GSM capabilities. Though this is not the best and most reliable solution for the iPhone considering the GSM capabilities.
Location based services(LBS) on GSM have been around for many years with the GSM association, a global trade body for GSM, publishing reference documentation as far back as 2001. A number of operators launched LBS but the services failed to deliver the ROI. With the increase of social networking and social networks based on the location this should soon change.
How does all of this affect Apple and the iPhone? Apple should start taking advantage of currently implemented LBS architecture that has already been rolled out by some operators to offer a more consistent and better experience to customers.
Just recently Symbian has announced "Enhanced Location based services" as part of their leading mobile OS. The new architecture covers A-GPS, network-based and WiFI positioning. Expect a number of LBS enabled devices & applications from the Symbian crowd.
Considering Apple's current business model with the iPhone being offered by a single operator it would be beneficial for Apple and their customers if they implemented these additional methods. It would be much more reliable and accurate at the same time allowing Apple to offer this feature in countries where Sky-hook do not have a DB of mapped out WiFi spots. If the operator has already invested in LBS infrastructure it would make a deal with Apple much more attractive, the operator gaining a higher ROI.
And then maybe.... just maybe we will finally see a real uptake of location based services.
buzz 2.0
