Connecting People

This post has been conceptualized for IndiBlogger’s “Share Life Blogger Contest” in collaboration with Tata Docomo. Tata DOCOMO has launched Alcatel OneTouch Net phone to help you share life as you live it. Go check it out !! I present an idea for a new Smartphone App.

We live in a World of uncertainties; you never know what will happen in the next few moments. People tend to take all kind of precautions to be able to counter or more realistically, face these uncertainties. Natural Calamities, Accidents, Crimes are some examples of these uncertainties and they have direct imminent danger on human lives (and maybe our near and dear ones).

Keeping the above context in mind and considering the kind of progress technology has made in the Cellular technology, one thing comes to my mind, how to use this technology to decrease or at least be more prepared for these uncertainties. As we all know that the Cellular Network is maintained through a network of antennas and Cellular phones communicate through these antennas.

(In Layman’s terms, Base Switching Centre- BSC controls a set of base stations (antennas) and Mobile Switching centre controls the BSCs. The Cell Phone connects to the base stations and is routed to the desired destination phone through a complex switching mechanism using BSC and MSC.)

More Info: http://www.cellular.co.za/howagsm.htm

At any point of time, the approximate location of a cell phone can be determined depending on which Cell Tower it is receiving signal from. So it might be possible for Cellular companies to find out the approximate location of a sim (phone). I have read several instances of phone companies helping Police in their investigations through Cell Phone tracking. When such a technology is there, why don’t provide it to commoners.

Based on the above bit of Info, I thought of an Application that will enable tracking of a phone based on the base station the phone is receiving signal from. Of course there will be some rules around which this application will be built. The Tracking will only be allowed given a written permission obtained from the tracked phone owner, you can’t just track any xyz number. This will enable tracking the location of any individual provided he/she is carrying the phone (and it is on and catching network).

This application will be of great help to parents who want to keep an eye on their children and track their whereabouts. Also it will be helpful for managing small scale Sales teams and the sales manager will be able to track the team on the field and of course catch any lies (if any). Needless to say it might also be used by people to track their spouses for safety reason (tell this reason only, else you are screwed ;-)). What I am trying to say is the uses of this application can be numerous and since it requires permission from a subscriber to be tracked, it doesn’t hinder anyone’s privacy as well.

As all applications, it has some loopholes as well. This application has no use if the phone is switched off, is out of signal area, or is left at a certain place. But barring these situations it can prove to be an excellent application for people to be in touch with each other and know their whereabouts all the time.

It shows an excellent avenue for Phone Companies as well to earn extra revenue (as they will be providing the service). All in all, it’s a win all situation.

Disclaimer: I haven’t done any research regarding this topic, so pardon me if any such application is already available. This idea came to me from Nokia’s tagline ‘Connecting People’ and if such an application isn’t available and any company (especially Docomo) is willing to give this application a try, do give me my royalties 🙂