Apple responds to congressional inquiry, details location data collection in 13-page letter
By Sean Hollister 
posted July 20th 2010 1:00AM
posted July 20th 2010 1:00AM
Where it gets more interesting is when Apple explains what it actually collects, and who they share it with -- namely, Google and Skyhook, who provided location services to earlier versions of the operating system. In iOS 3.2 and beyond, only Apple has the keys to the database, and what's inside are locations of cell towers, WiFi access points, and anonymous GPS coordinates. None of these are personally identifying, as the company doesn't collect SSIDs or any data, and in the case of device coordinates they're reportedly collected and sent in encrypted batches only once every 12 hours, using a random ID generated by the phone every 24 hours that apparently can't be linked back to the device. In the case of iAd, Apple says coordinates don't even make it to a database, as they're immediately converted (by remote server) to a advertising-friendly five-digit zip code. Concerning location data collection for services other than iAd, there's still the little question of why, but we'll just leave you with Apple legal's quote on that subject after the break, and let you hit up the full document yourself at Scribd if you want the deep dive.
"To provide the high quality products and services that its customers demand, Apple must have access to comprehensive location-based information... these databases must be updated continuously to account for, among other things, the ever-changing physical landscape, more innovative uses of mobile technology, and the increasing number of Apple's customers."
I didn't read the article, but i want to be a High-Ranked commenter
@The Geek sure here you go....to oblivion!
as regarding the article explain or not its scary that your phone sends data every 12 hours :\
@The Geek now my day is ruined
@HellFlyer
Nothing too different from what Google does, really. It doesn't bother me since the data is anonymous.
@The Geek
You mean "Now my [name Geek on engadget] is ruined"
And indeed, it is.
@strawe i remember reading at one point that amazon was going to put out blimps with wifi routers on them so people could get free wifi and everyone was freaking out...what happened to that
@The Geek
Amazon realized how expensive and impractical that was?
@HellFlyer How much data does Google send per time?
@Teslanaut when will Apple get out of the limelight?
#1 Privacy policy rule: We don't care about your privacy.
@The Geek Even though oblivion was obviously on your path, I think the down-rankers really don't give you enough credit. Anyone who did the same and said, "Apple is (insert negative comment)" would've been highly ranked, I like where you were going coming down hard on the article skippers.
What a bunch of bullshit is you ask me. That is one of the biggest BS I've herd from Apple yet.....
"these databases must be updated continuously to account for, among other things, the ever-changing physical landscape, more innovative uses of mobile technology, and the increasing number of Apple's customers."
Yeah fuckin right? You do Not need GPS location to: understand the physical landscape when your a software company, find ways to innovate mobile technology, or to account for the increasing number of customers. The only reason you might need it to find out what customers you have is to make a coverage map of how far your BS can reach.
Now go ahead and down rank me, and if you can find viable reasons to justify their response as to why they need to do this then plz do tell me; I'll stand corrected.
@abedinthehouse
The only good use for all that data tracking would be to correlate GPS data with the moment of a dropped call, creating an incident report to be sent later over the same carrier signal used for pinging the nearest tower. Aggregate all that data to determine where AT&T needs to build their next towers. That shouldn't even be an app - it should be built in.
@wineman
Every carrier has the ability to identify where calls are dropped/other issues like handover failures. this is aside from the privacy issue. However, carriers are bound by the customer proprietary information that restricts how and what of the customer's information they can use. I don't think that applies to Phone manufacturers
@abedinthehouse You were probably downranked as you didn't even bother to think of justifiable scenarios for this information being captured.
A big one is to provide network planning data: if you know the places where phones are most used, you can coordinate efforts to improve signal and call quality in those areas, rather than haphazardly placing towers everywhere. Very useful outside of major cities.
There are only two iAds right now anyway...
Just hold your iphone 4 at the bottom left corner. That'll stop the tracking.
@s4r The GPS antenna isn't part of the UTMS antenna, idiot. Only your cellular signal is affected by the grip of doom. Everything else stays fine.
Don't feed the troll
@dougelo7
How does the iPhone transmit location data to the servers, idiot?
@s4r no thanks..i'd rather be tracked with my broken DroidX
@dougelo7 So...your cellphone doesn't transfer data through its antenna? Please explain that to us Mr. Science.
@s4r there are 2 antennaes is what I believe he is trying to say. I'm sure I've this somewhere before so this isn't new info. Left antennae is cellular service & the right antennae is wifi bluetooth & apparently this gps thing?
Amirite?
@Fr3sh2De4th
Yes, but it still transmits the data it collected with the other antenna through the cellular one.
@dougelo7 I think you reply to OP, but trolls and jokes are two completely different topics. You can say the joke is old, but this has a fresh area for it.
@FMinus
Wrong, WiFi and bluetooth are on 1, cellular are on the other.
Bridging 1 antenna + 1 antenna = 0 work.
I would love to see the location tracks for a few of our congresspeople--I can't imagine they would be happy about Apple's tactics. The blackmail potential is staggering . . .
@solarbuddy
Why do you have a picture of a - ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD.
@smartmouth You silly bastard, that avatar is a very poor rendition of the original and not being animated there's no way it will still have the same effALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD
@The Joker
Hey, I do mind! The dude minds. This will not stand, ya know, this blackmail will not... ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD!
What the hell are you guys talking ab
O_O
@smartmouth
lol futurama FTW
World control..?????
@100rabh
ibigbrother
@100rabh You just wonder who really owns the phone!!!
@NewBie
That's like saying you wonder who really owns your computer because Google maps knows where you are.
Don't be stupid.
@Jack read "1984" poem, be smart.
@Jack Do not be silly, I choose whether to use Google map or not, and I do they will have to find a way to pay for that free service. Does that same logic go for your paid iPhone?
@grummy Its iBigbrother....
Don't appear to be that bad. Would be more worried about Google.
@Incorrigible
Explain why, please.
@Incorrigible Considering that I do not pay to Google, and have a choice as whether to use it or not, I wonder why something I will pay (iPhone) for will have any string. BTW, I do not own iPhone or intend to buy it.
@tikigawd How about because Google's entire revenue stream is based on selling as much of your personal info as possible to advertisers?
Compare that to Apple, which makes virtually all of its money on hardware.
Who do you think is the most likely to sell you out first?
@tikigawd
Nothing really to explain if you read the article and it's really the truth. If you meant as far as google is concerned, think about what they collect and from how many different sources.
@NewBie
There are no "strings" attached because you can turn it OFF, according to the article. Try that while using google services. And if it is truly non-identifiable, what's the fuss about? As long as it actually enhances the application/phone service.
They should put a disclaimer that's big that lust every thing the app uses. Like on android and windows phone 7. Its the user's right to know how their data might be used. Every company should make things transparent
@DefPoet. So true. I keep my GPS off and there are only a few apps that use it. Don't like that ideal at all
Hey Engadget! What's your take on this? You don't sound alarmed at all. I guess it's just like old days sheeple do what Jobs tells them and they believe it all. Sad sad sad, who needs this crap location service bs! Screw all of those who want to know where you are and not only apple, but all of them, and yes that means google too. Where I am ismy own business!
@hero785
You're one of those people who doesn't know that your TV has a power button and you can choose not to watch it, aren't you?
@Jack
I'm aware alright. It just sickens me when people/companies do all they can to justify their evil deeds. Not sure about the downrank but hey I tell it how I see it. Like it or not, we can't continue fostering these power hungry, people controlling companies!