[Cialug] _nomap for wireless networks

[Don Ellis]

On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 1:25 PM, Zachary Kotlarek <zach at kotlarek.com> wrote:
>
> On Nov 15, 2011, at 10:30 AM, Barry Von Ahsen wrote:
>
>> I'd come from the other direction and ask why they need it
>
>
> They thought of some service they could offer by collecting it, and decided that service would be either directly or indirectly profitable. I don't understand why that's even a question.

I got an Android phone this spring. When I connect to Google Maps, the
app suggests I turn on WiFi so I can get a quicker/cheaper location
estimate (less battery power than GPS) from the Google WiFi location
database.

Nice if you have a slightly fancier phone than mine. The Optimus phone
I got only allows use of WiFi _OR_ 2G/3G data connection, not both at
the same time. So, when I turn on WiFi, I can no longer access the
database to look up my location. Solution: for now, I will get my data
connection from either WiFi or from 2G/3G. Works like a champ, except
I can't take advantage of their location database. I anticipate either
a future firmware upgrade (coming soon) or a nicer phone (at end of
current contract) will allow me to determine my location without
having to connect to a GPS satellite.

--Don Ellis