Re: Is the IP layer the right place to support location information

["EXT C. Wegrzyn" <wegrzyn@garbagedump.com>]

I hope we don't get into a war about whether or not it is useful. I, for
one, don't pretend to even know all the possible applications or uses of
positional information. That is what someone else (may one of you out there)
will use to make the next "killer app". My concerns is something more
ominous - being able to track down someone to a specific location. Think
about the implications of anonymous communications (and other joys of the
Internet) - they could be gone in an instance.

My vote would be to design a mechanism (with the ability to turn it off at
the source), and let the market decide whether or not there is an
application.

Regards,
Chuck Wegrzyn


----- Original Message -----
From: EXT Randy Bush <randy@psg.com>
To: Ron Lake <rlake@galdosinc.com>
Cc: <ext-ip-location@research.nokia.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 12:20 PM
Subject: Re: Is the IP layer the right place to support location information


> > There is no question that broad availability of spatial information on
the
> > Internet (including both mobile and stationary devices) is important.
>
> as a devil's advocate and just to keep the game honest, i question it.  i
> do not mean to be hostile by doing so, but rather to force us to be able
to
> stand up to external criticism having though it through as opposed to just
> making broad statements.
>
> i have yet to see real justification for this.  some folk think they see
> great market opportunities, but then the specifics get kind of vague.  the
> only solid case i have heard to date has been e911 for ip mobile phones.
>
> we need three or six solid application examples to back this up.  and, as
> we can be perceived as encroaching on privacy and security, these examples
> should also be thought out along these dimensions.
>
> randy
>