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AT&T acquires parts of phone-monitoring company Carrier IQ

It seems that Carrier IQ has otherwise shut down, TechCrunch reports.

Flickr/Mike Mozart

Carrier IQ came under scrutiny in 2011 as the public learned about its practices of capturing the user data on more than 140 million mobile devices. The company logged where and when people made calls or sent text messages, which apps they used, how they used the web and other mobile habits, and it was employed by major carriers including Sprint, Apple, AT&T and HTC. Now, in a post-Snowden world, Carrier IQ appears to have shut down, and AT&T has picked up its software and some staff, a spokesperson tells TechCrunch.

"We use CIQ software solely to improve the customer's network and wireless service experience," the AT&T spokesperson says. "This is in line with our Privacy Policy and provides a great benefit to users of our network."

TechCrunch reports that Nielsen will license certain Carrier IQ software from AT&T. Ericsson, IBM, Symphony Teleca and Teradata are among Carrier IQ customers, and T-Mobile uses its software, the site says.

The Carrier IQ website is offline. AT&T acquired the rights to its software, though it didn't purchase the company outright -- which means it shouldn't be on the hook for any ongoing lawsuits against Carrier IQ, TechCrunch says.

[Image credit: Flickr/Mike Mozart]