Polaris Wireless announced carrier-grade reliability and
privacy safeguards of its OmniLocate universal location platform, which network
operators and government agencies rely on to enable public safety,
surveillance, and other location-based services.
The OmniLocate solution does not now, and has never,
enabled location information to be retained within the mobile device, where it
is subject to hacking and other potential compromise.”
This statement addresses recent industry speculation
following the revelation that Apple and Google have tracked user location
information, and those companies’ subsequent appearance (alongside Facebook)
last month at a hearing of the Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety and
Insurance Subcommittee focusing on “industry practices with respect to
online mobile data collection and usage.” Media and consumer advocacy
groups have expressed concerns that the practice of storing mobile subscriber
location information within a file residing on the device jeopardizes
subscriber privacy and exposes this information to hacking.
Because OmniLocate
is network-based and does not rely on any device-generated location method, all
sensitive subscriber location information resides in the wireless operator
network, where it is protected by carrier-grade security using standards-based
technology.
“Polaris Wireless has worked diligently to gain the
trust of our customers in the telecommunications industry and in government,
and boasts a 100 percent security record for subscriber mobile location
information we produce,” said Jan Johansson, director of product
management, Polaris Wireless
OmniLocate is a universal wireless location platform,
providing location capabilities across 2G (GSM/CDMA), 3G (UMTS/WCDMA), and
emerging 4G (LTE) air interfaces, as well as indoor technologies such as Wi-Fi,
DAS, and Femtocells. OmniLocate incorporates patented Polaris Wireless Location
Signatures (Polaris WLS) technology, which determines device location by
comparing radio measurements reported by the wireless device against those in a
comprehensive radio environment database.
The result is the most accurate, most reliable location
performance of its type. Polaris WLS can be deployed in conjunction with other
location methods, such as A-GPS, Enhanced Cell-ID, and Cell-ID, in both hybrid
and fallback scenarios, and thus is able to locate any device in any
environment, even in urban areas and indoors.
“OmniLocate is the only location platform wireless network operators will
ever need to deploy, as it meets their current and future needs for both
mission-critical applications like E911 as well as revenue-enhancing
location-based services such as mobile advertising,” added Johansson.
By telecomlead.com
Team
editor@telecomlead.com
