Poll: Will Carrier IQ influence your next handset purchase?
Although the story is still developing, it’s clear that some phones on certain carriers have app called Carrier IQ pre-installed. The software has been demonstrated to capture nearly every action you take on a smartphone and view textual data, such as SMS messages and web searches. How much of that data is being sent to carriers and handset makers is still an open question, but clearly, there’s the potential for a total disregard of consumer privacy.
The situation might be different if the Carrier IQ software was more transparent. Unlike other services that can collect data, there’s no opt-in or opt-out choice with Carrier IQ. Instead, it runs silently in the background on a phone and can’t easily be disabled. Consumers effectively don’t even know if their phone has the Carrier IQ software installed, although we found a way to check on a rooted Android handset.
What we know and don’t know (yet)
We do know that Apple’s iOS did have Carrier IQ hooks in the past, but the company told AllThingsD that it stopped using Carrier IQ with iOS 5. Verizon Wireless has already said that it doesn’t use Carrier IQ. Meanwhile, Sprint has publicly admitted using the software for network monitoring and performance reasons, although it’s not clear which phones do or don’t use Carrier IQ on Sprint’s network. AT&T is now copping to using Carrier IQ data as well.
Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore has come forth to tweet that the Windows Phone platform doesn’t use it Carrier IQ at all. HTC and Samsung are two handset makers that have been found to use it, while Nokia and RIM both deny using the software on their devices. Again, more details will likely come forth over the next few days.
Will this modify buying behaviors?
Regardless, the situation has me wondering: Will the Carrier IQ situation cause people to think harder about their choice of smartphone or carrier? Might you shift your next handset purchase away from Samsung or HTC, for example?
We’ll keep this simple in the poll with a basic yes or no response, but don’t hesitate to sound off in the comments. As for me, I’m glad I just bought a new Galaxy Nexus because Google has said it doesn’t put Carrier IQ on any of its Nexus devices.
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It would have, if I didn’t just get this Galaxy Nexus this morning (which doesn’t have it). Thanks for the link to that store, Kevin, it’s a great phone!
Shrug, who cares? I’m flattered someone wants to know what I’m doing and where I’m going.
I hope that you’re also flattered that they log your keystrokes. I’m assuming that anyone who users their device to do banking or log onto accounts with private and personal info. probably care a great deal. If I wanted my private info. and accounts available to people, I would make all my passwords easy to figure out and post all my personal data for the world to see.
I hate when fools get on forums and post about how their privacy means nothing. If your privacy really means nothing than feel free to let us all know your SSN, driver’s license #, credit card #s, bank account, etc. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Now shut up about how you could care less, because you’re fooling no one.
Heh. I was being a bit facetious but let’s explore your angle. Do you own a TV or an EZPass or use Itunes or the internet to purchase goods and services? Is your workplace computer connected to the internet? We’ve covered all of your points above, we’re being tracked whether we like it or not. If this crap will help Sprint put an LTE tower near my home or keep me from dropping a call in the middle of America’s largest cities or keep Pandora from crashing when I switch from 3G to Wi-Fi, then so be it. I’m just as comfortable with Carrier IQ as I am with handing my credit card to the girl at Wendy’s. Which is not really, but it’s today’s price for convenience.
I hate to say “everybody’s doing it”, but that’s the best way to say everybody’s doing it. AT&T, Verizon, and Google aren’t using Carrier IQ, but that’s not saying they don’t use something else. Is it cold up there on that pedestal?
Really Kevin – the question should be – do you Sprint and AT&T (and maybe TMobile) customers have the spine to leave the carrier tomorrow?
If Bell Canada was in the back list – I would have moved tomorrow morning. There is no price to my privacy and when we loose sight of that we loose sight of freedom.
Its hard to wake up to the sound of this alarm, but this is a red red flag, which with some yellow stars might have fit another nation.
Tal, that’s a good question that we discussed internally at GOM this afternoon. The consensus was that a few might leave their carrier or dump their handset, but only a very few. It’s too expensive to switch smartphones or carriers if under contract. Agree or no?
Is it more the “not telling”, I can tape anyone I notify without that I am in legal hot water, so why are they not. Also, the laws in UK must really must have folks upset…if it is on their phones, way to many laws being broken over on the other side of the pond…so maybe something will happen as the “special Interest groups control the U.S. not the “WE The People” as the founding folks started with.
I would consider this a ground for breaking contract and not paying ETF.
Again we put a price on our freedom…
I tend to agree though that it will not happen beyond those few that you mention. America of today is not the one that created the bill of rights and the constitution.
I am usually taking it even further Kevin. I never commit to carrier plans. I pay in advance and obtain my freedom by right. On the other hand not everyone can do that.
The law needs to be the dominant factor here. Someone needs to pass a decision in court that people can leave their curr plans without penalties due to the violation in privacy. The contract they signed is null.
In a free country – and this is my main argument – people with less means ($) should be protected against a situation where their born rights are deprived of them.
Why would I buy a phone that already has spyware on it? That seems rather stupid to me.
I recently purchased a BB Bold 9930 from Verizon. I realize Verizon collects information, but I also have the option to opt out of that process (I do read the TOS). If I owned a phone with CarrierIQ or was with a carrier which authorized it, I would leave the carrier and manufacturer. I would also file a class action lawsuit against both of them.