Bear Flag Republic Radio Weblog

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This Phone Knows Where You Are ... and How to Help

"Carrying a mobile phone with you for emergencies is a smart idea. If you run into trouble you can call for help. But what happens if you run into trouble - and for whatever reason you donít know where you are, or where to call for help? Thereís a new cellular phone being marketed that might be able to help.

Co-workers here at MSNBC are always interested to know what Iím testing ó but at no time in recent memory did any one particular item generate so much interest. Iím talking about the Magnavox MobilePal + GPS phone marketed by Remote MDX, Inc. Everyone marveled at the phone saying they knew someone for whom this would be the perfect gift.

The idea behind the phone is simple. Itís a cellular phone that can pinpoint your location if you need assistance ó and can do so at the push of one red button. As a matter of fact there is no dial - just the aforementioned red button emblazoned with the word CALL.

When you push the red button the phone automatically calls the Secure Alert help desk ó where a live personal assistant is there to help you anytime you need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week....

The Magnavox flip-phone itself is pretty nifty too. First of all itís been made to run on four AAA batteries. No rechargeable cells or cords to lug around or worry about. In my testing, the batteries lasted for months and months in the standby state. The company says the batteries will last up to a year in that mode. The phone operates on the U.S. cellular phone network. That means youíre likely to find a cell nearly everywhere you go....

The phone automatically turns into a speakerphone so you donít have to hold it to your head. I told her I was testing the phone and asked if she could tell me where I was standing. She asked me to hold, and about 90 seconds later came back on the line and told me my address and what she would have done for me if this had been a real emergency....

The MobilePal + GPS handset is currently selling for $199 ó not an outrageous price for a specialized item such as this. I think the monthly service fees are actually quite reasonable for what is offered." [MSNBC]

Although the movement has already started, we'll see a lot more location-based devices and services hit the market this year. Good - more focused information that you want and even need. Bad - major privacy issues. At least you can turn this phone off.

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