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[Entwood]

Nothing new, other apps do this.

Can't help but notice that most people who thinks its useless are over 40 

Its used as a tool, I keep in contact with old work mates were we organise catch ups over it. Keep in contact with friends in other countries, only last week I meet up with an old friend not seen in years. He just happened to make a post saying he was in London for an interview.

So, please explain, why does any app need to know if my phone is in use, what the phone number and serial number of the phone is, who I am speaking to, what their phone number is, and all the phone numbers in my contacts list are ? 

How does any of that information actually affect the way the app works ?? Especialy a social network app that revolves around the TYPED  word ??

IMHO it doesn't... but the owners of the app can misuse that information by selling on such details for large sums of money.

[TheBoy]

Nothing new, other apps do this.

Can't help but notice that most people who thinks its useless are over 40 

Its used as a tool, I keep in contact with old work mates were we organise catch ups over it. Keep in contact with friends in other countries, only last week I meet up with an old friend not seen in years. He just happened to make a post saying he was in London for an interview.

So, please explain, why does any app need to know if my phone is in use, what the phone number and serial number of the phone is, who I am speaking to, what their phone number is, and all the phone numbers in my contacts list are ? 

How does any of that information actually affect the way the app works ?? Especialy a social network app that revolves around the TYPED  word ??

IMHO it doesn't... but the owners of the app can misuse that information by selling on such details for large sums of money.

Remember, sites like arsebook are free to use. And cost a lot to run. An income is needed.

[tunnie]

Nothing new, other apps do this.

Can't help but notice that most people who thinks its useless are over 40 

Its used as a tool, I keep in contact with old work mates were we organise catch ups over it. Keep in contact with friends in other countries, only last week I meet up with an old friend not seen in years. He just happened to make a post saying he was in London for an interview.

So, please explain, why does any app need to know if my phone is in use, what the phone number and serial number of the phone is, who I am speaking to, what their phone number is, and all the phone numbers in my contacts list are ? 

How does any of that information actually affect the way the app works ?? Especialy a social network app that revolves around the TYPED  word ??

IMHO it doesn't... but the owners of the app can misuse that information by selling on such details for large sums of money.

Many companies would pay very good money for accurate information, when you post on facebook, it looks at what you've said, adverts are tailored to it. You said you are flying to New York tomorrow, up pops Virgin Atlantic adverts.

Not just facebook, but other Apps do this to generate revenue.

All of the above offer power to advertising agencies, companies can target adverts more precisely, get better conversions. Someone I know, setup a company, it bought mobile advertising space, and basically resold it, but had some smart stuff inside. He sold it 18 months later, he's now a multi-millionaire.

[Entwood]

Tunnie ... I accept what you say .. but it didn't answer my question in any way at all ...

why does any app need to know if my phone is in use, what the phone number and serial number of the phone is, who I am speaking to, what their phone number is, and all the phone numbers in my contacts list are ? 

That has nowt to do with tailored advertising, or whatever I have posted on any site....

I ask again why does a social network app need any of THAT information ??

[Kevin Wood]

So nobody's spotted the obvious answer.. Don't buy a phone that runs crApps in the first place. Perhaps one that makes calls and sends text messages? Works for me.

[tunnie]

Tunnie ... I accept what you say .. but it didn't answer my question in any way at all ...

why does any app need to know if my phone is in use, what the phone number and serial number of the phone is, who I am speaking to, what their phone number is, and all the phone numbers in my contacts list are ? 

That has nowt to do with tailored advertising, or whatever I have posted on any site....

I ask again why does a social network app need any of THAT information ??

I suspect they want to do tigher integration with the app to your contacts, if you have a friend on facebook, quite possible the same person is in your phone book.

If its pulled into the app, then they can put that in the web version too. Then add in VOIP to call them from a PC...

Also possible they just want to harvest numbers to sell, if they know the app is installed on 07xxxxx - Then all you post/moan/tweet about is say Snowboarding, your number could be passed onto a winter sports company. That information is worth a lot more than a CD with 1,000,000 numbers on, which is what companies used to do for numbers...

[Kevin Wood]

Tunnie ... I accept what you say .. but it didn't answer my question in any way at all ...

why does any app need to know if my phone is in use, what the phone number and serial number of the phone is, who I am speaking to, what their phone number is, and all the phone numbers in my contacts list are ? 

That has nowt to do with tailored advertising, or whatever I have posted on any site....

I ask again why does a social network app need any of THAT information ??

I suspect they want to do tigher integration with the app to your contacts, if you have a friend on facebook, quite possible the same person is in your phone book.

If its pulled into the app, then they can put that in the web version too. Then add in VOIP to call them from a PC...

Also possible they just want to harvest numbers to sell, if they know the app is installed on 07xxxxx - Then all you post/moan/tweet about is say Snowboarding, your number could be passed onto a winter sports company. That information is worth a lot more than a CD with 1,000,000 numbers on, which is what companies used to do for numbers...

So, why would I want this, again? 

[tunnie]

Tunnie ... I accept what you say .. but it didn't answer my question in any way at all ...

why does any app need to know if my phone is in use, what the phone number and serial number of the phone is, who I am speaking to, what their phone number is, and all the phone numbers in my contacts list are ? 

That has nowt to do with tailored advertising, or whatever I have posted on any site....

I ask again why does a social network app need any of THAT information ??

I suspect they want to do tigher integration with the app to your contacts, if you have a friend on facebook, quite possible the same person is in your phone book.

If its pulled into the app, then they can put that in the web version too. Then add in VOIP to call them from a PC...

Also possible they just want to harvest numbers to sell, if they know the app is installed on 07xxxxx - Then all you post/moan/tweet about is say Snowboarding, your number could be passed onto a winter sports company. That information is worth a lot more than a CD with 1,000,000 numbers on, which is what companies used to do for numbers...

So, why would I want this, again? 

None of us would but Mr Facebook likes it, as it makes them more money!

[TheBoy]

None of us would but Mr Facebook likes it, as it makes them more money!

So, my solution remains the best one then

[TheBoy]

So nobody's spotted the obvious answer.. Don't buy a phone that runs crApps in the first place. Perhaps one that makes calls and sends text messages? Works for me.

Your common sense is reveilling your extended age, Mr Wood. A phone is for talking to people on. Maybe texting. And in my case, email.

I'm an email junkie. I get nervous when I can't get access to my mail server 


I need to sit in a circle, and say "My name is TheBoy, and I'm addicted to email" 

[OOMV6]

Some good points come through in this thread. Each to their own opinion and everybody is making valid points based on their beliefs, needs, situation.
But....it seems that it has been forgotten that Big brother is watching you anyway, whether you have FB, email, bla bla or not.

Most people have a mobile phone of some sort, credit cards maybe, car registration, rent or mortgage agreements, employer, ++++ not to mention millions of cameras watching you. So no point in being paranoid - you're being watched anyway. And if you ain't done anything wrong, what the hell is the problem

[tunnie]

add into that a Tesco Clubcard or similar, they also know what you eat!

[martin42]

and the place that does all the tesco club cards has very high security as i used to deliver there

[TheBoy]

I think in the case of arsebook, it actually probably amounts to theft, but allowed within the smallprint of the T&Cs.  What they are claiming their service is does not need to record who I called, when, and from where. It does not need my entire contacts list to sell on.

In fact, I ask anyone who has my details, and is on arsebook, to delete my contacts from their systems immediately. Nor should they call me from their mobile with an arsebook app on. I do not give my consent for my details to be forwarded by anyone 

[TheBoy]

add into that a Tesco Clubcard or similar, they also know what you eat!

Not really the same, as anyone who's info they obtain and use has to opt-in (buy signing up for the loyalty scheme)