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homestead - Re: [Homestead] GPS in every simcard - "locational privacy" concerns

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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: bobford79 AT yahoo.com, homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] GPS in every simcard - "locational privacy" concerns
  • Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:55:00 -0700

"A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) is part of a removable smart card ICC (Integrated Circuit Card), also known as SIM Cards, for mobile cellular telephony devices such as mobile computers and mobile phones. SIM cards securely store the service-subscriber key (IMSI) used to identify a subscriber. The SIM card allows users to change phones by simply removing the SIM card from one mobile phone and inserting it into another mobile phone or broadband telephony device."

This is true. I know someone who recently had his cell phone unclick from its belt holder and fall into a toilet as he rose. Yes, the toilet was flushing at that moment. His reaction of horror was immediately replaced by a dive for the thing. Yes, the, um, other material had preceded the phone down the drain. Fortunately, the phone was slightly too big to be flushed. It was grabbed, a hand towel was grabbed and the phone was dried as fast and as well as possible. After a bit the phone was tried. It acted like ET losing his power, feebly trying and then fading, then trying again, then fading.

At the appropriate cell store a very young clerk with extensive face jewelry and multi-colored hair embarrassed the technologically- challenged geezer by asking multiple questions he could not answer leading up to do you have a replacement policy--don't know, wife bought phone for her peace of mind in case of a breakdown on the Interstate. Would you like to call her? Can't, her phone numbers are in that phone that won't work. Oh. Multiple attempts at phone resuscitation including opening the phone and blotting toilet water. The phone was pronounced dead. A new phone was selected. The clerk reopened the old phone, extracted an item about the size of a fat postage stamp and inserted it into the new phone. The new phone immediately recognized the geezer as its owner who would not have been surprised for it to speak lovingly and reassuringly. That little item was the SIMM card.




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