Hi guys,
I just had an idea for a new iPhone feature, and wanted your feedback.
Feature: GPS CallerID
How it Works: When you make a call, the iPhone takes your GPS coordinates (through A-GPS or triangulation), and stores it temporarily on Apple's servers. The person receiving the call send a lookup request to Apple's servers, which passes the GPS information to you, and displays a small GoogleMap on the incoming call screen, with your callers location. Tapping it opens the Maps application, centered around the caller.
Alternatively, your phone may send the data through the data channel (3G only)
Uses: Say you're meeting with a friend - being able to see their exact location will allow you to give them better directions if they're lost, allow you to know exactly where to meet them, or judge how long you'll have to wait.
Security: Obviously, it should be possible to disable this feature through the Location Services switch. Another potential concern is that people other than people you're calling can track your location by requesting the data from Apple's servers. This potential vulnerability could be closed by either using a P2P connection between iPhones through the 3G network, or using some form of encryption based on the information normally available through CallerID (using the exact time of call starting, phone number, and if the receiver gets information such as the IMEI, using that as well).
Another approach would be to have the data stored on servers belonging to the official iPhone carrier, and having them validate that a call exists between the two people before granting the request for GPS coordinates.
This would limit access to your co-ordinates to those people you are calling only.
So, what do you think? Would this be a useful feature for you? Have you seen this anywhere else?
I just had an idea for a new iPhone feature, and wanted your feedback.
Feature: GPS CallerID
How it Works: When you make a call, the iPhone takes your GPS coordinates (through A-GPS or triangulation), and stores it temporarily on Apple's servers. The person receiving the call send a lookup request to Apple's servers, which passes the GPS information to you, and displays a small GoogleMap on the incoming call screen, with your callers location. Tapping it opens the Maps application, centered around the caller.
Alternatively, your phone may send the data through the data channel (3G only)
Uses: Say you're meeting with a friend - being able to see their exact location will allow you to give them better directions if they're lost, allow you to know exactly where to meet them, or judge how long you'll have to wait.
Security: Obviously, it should be possible to disable this feature through the Location Services switch. Another potential concern is that people other than people you're calling can track your location by requesting the data from Apple's servers. This potential vulnerability could be closed by either using a P2P connection between iPhones through the 3G network, or using some form of encryption based on the information normally available through CallerID (using the exact time of call starting, phone number, and if the receiver gets information such as the IMEI, using that as well).
Another approach would be to have the data stored on servers belonging to the official iPhone carrier, and having them validate that a call exists between the two people before granting the request for GPS coordinates.
This would limit access to your co-ordinates to those people you are calling only.
So, what do you think? Would this be a useful feature for you? Have you seen this anywhere else?
