Earlier this week we reported on how Apple has been recording the locations of iPhone and iPad users and storing that data in unencrypted form on the device.
New research from Nielsen (carried out before the Apple story broke) shows that the majority of smartphone app users, and in particular women, are concerned about sharing their location via a mobile phone. 59 percent of women have privacy concerns versus 52 percent of male app users. Nielsen surveyed smartphone users who had downloaded an application in the previous 30 days.
The age of respondents also colored their attitude to privacy and location, with users over 45 displaying the most concern. Smartphone users aged 25-34 were the least worried.
While early adopters of applications like Foursquare seemed to have few qualms about broadcasting their location (witness the location spam on Twitter), startups such as PhoneTag and Cocoon are picking up on a desire for privacy. PhoneTag lets people share their location and coordinate meetings privately. Cocoon allows you to browse the web without being tracked.
This April 25-26, VentureBeat is hosting its inaugural VentureBeat Mobile Summit, where we’ll debate the five key business and policy challenges facing the mobile industry today. Participants will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry. The invitation-only event, located at the scenic and relaxing Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., is limited to 180 mobile executives, investors and policymakers.
Tags: location, mobile, privacy
Companies: Nielsen
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