Blog – ‘Nearby’ is a sign that location based will revolutionize targeting, messaging, offers. http://www.eweek.com/mobile/androids-nearby-feature-debuts-helps-users-find-whats-nearby.html
This tech is going to be huge- but it’ll raise tons of issues
- Privacy issues, EVEN THO most consumers will inevitably ‘opt-in’ this type and level of personal-location data is going to tempt requests for access by eg disgruntled employers, spouses in divorce cases, legal defense and prosecution, etc.
- Storage! Storing this location-based data will multiply the need for storage, much of it inevitably cloud based
- Security: firewalls for cloud firms and for retailers downloading it to use. The temptation (& commercial upside) to hack it, will be huge.
- Competitiveness: Jury’s out whether this will help big retailers dominate, or allow small nimble retailers to better compete. But if you don;t play, you certainly won’t win.
One thing seems certain: inevitable winners will include consulting firms, beacon makers, Apple/ Google platforms, cloud storage firms.
Read it and weep- we know where you are (and where you go, and when you’re close, and when you pause, and …).
Steven