Re: "Microsoft Location Finder" - how is it supposed to work ?

On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 22:45:58 +0000 (UTC),
dold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b5e8c83a-ea8e-4464-9980-7b6a8dd1013c&DisplayLang=en
>It doesn't blatantly say
>We need to connect to the internet, not necessarily via a wifi connection,
>to look up the addresses of WiFi hotspots that appear in "Available
>Networks" even if you cannot connect to them.

Seriously, did you think that Microsoft would admit that it was
snooping on your available connections? What I'm wondering is if they
add new SSID's and MAC's to their database every time you use MS
Location Finder. Digging through the privacy statement at:
http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint/webservice/privacy.mspx
Yep. They collect connection info and add it to their database.

Obviously, they're pushing for location based services:
"Location-related information in the request or derived from
the request, such as latitude and longitude, is used for
calculating payments to our data vendors so that we may operate
the service."

>> You might also find these of interest:
>> http://www.geobytes.com/IpLocator.htm
>
>That is more fully featured than the fallback option at VirtualEarth, which
>only uses your IP, doesn't allow you to key in something else, and it has
>more verbiage.

Generally more useful also. Methinks the MS incantation is just a
front for MS pushing location based services on their web pages.
"Click here for a free token entitling you to a 0.1% discount
on a pizza next door after you're done guzzling your coffee".
Yech.

>Right now, virtualearth brings up a map centered on the same point, and
>tells me that it has used my IP address, but it doesn't specify what city
>I'm in, like IpLocator does. Of course, when the locator finds a wifi spot
>in it's database, it can be spot on. It even makes adjustments if it finds
>multiple hotspots. I can't tell if just averages them, or does something
>finer than that.

I tried it in my favorite parking lot, that's within sight of 3 free
coffee shop hot spots. If I connect to any one of the three. It says
I'm inside. If I don't connect to any of them, it seems to use the
last one that I was connected. I didn't seen any fancy geometry.

>I wish I could contribute some locations to the database.

I'm not sure that would be a good idea. Too many people contributing
false locations to confuse the internet police.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
.

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