Big Brother Says Hello...
While doing a rotation in Beijing China, I was able to purchase a local SIM card from China Mobile for local cell and email. As we traveled from city to city, I kept getting these strange text messages...
Same number with boxes every time. I asked a few locals what this meant...actually, China Mobile (Government owned company) is sending me a text message. If my phone supported Chinese characters (and I could read them) this message would say welcome to Zhongshan City. The message includes local information/tourism links. The point of interest here is that they know where I am at all times. I did a little research...I believe this is accomplished via Assisted GPS (see diagram below). Cell towers throughout China with GPS receivers...those receivers are constantly pulling down Satellite info and computing the data. Every unlocked phone has A-GPS capability.
http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/gps_vs_agps_a_quick_tutorial.html
At first, the notion of someone knowing where I am at all times is a bit unsettling...But, the commercial/consumer embedded mobile application possibilities are intriguing. For instance, emergency response units knowing someone's exact location would have a profound effect on their ability to save lives. I'm certainly not a mobility expert...so I welcome comments from those that can shed much more light on the subject. BTW, I've been told they can also listen in on your phone conversations...Let's not talk about that subject. :)
xie xie,
Ben
