Malls track shoppers' cell phones on Black Friday

[backtoblue]

Malls track shoppers' cell phones on Black Friday
By Annalyn Censky @CNNMoneyTech November 22, 2011: 11:48 AM ET
Through this signage at Promenade Temecula, the mall is notifying shoppers that their phones may be tracked as they move throughout the premises.



NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Attention holiday shoppers: your cell phone may be tracked this year.

Starting on Black Friday and running through New Year's Day, two U.S. malls -- Promenade Temecula in southern California and Short Pump Town Center in Richmond, Va. -- will track guests' movements by monitoring the signals from their cell phones.

2528PrintCommentWhile the data that's collected is anonymous, it can follow shoppers' paths from store to store.

The goal is for stores to answer questions like: How many Nordstrom shoppers also stop at Starbucks? How long do most customers linger in Victoria's Secret? Are there unpopular spots in the mall that aren't being visited?

While U.S. malls have long tracked how crowds move throughout their stores, this is the first time they've used cell phones.

But obtaining that information comes with privacy concerns.

(((SNIP)))


http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/22/technology/malls_track_cell_phones_black_friday/index.htm


on edit: I don't even know how to track myself on my phone! WTF???

[MichiganVote]

1. This whole Black Friday thing has gotten out of hand.

[mzteris]

9. exactly my point

stores are opening at MIDNIGHT!!!

Ridiculous.

[Zax2me]

2. I would never go but I LOVE black Friday.

Peace at home, and quite enjoy watching people bitch about it, as if it were the worst thing ever.
So much whining, wah wah.
Don't like it don't go.

[Bladian]

6. I agree with this.

People act like it's the end of the damn world. It's just a day where everything is crazy cheap. If some people enjoy it, who cares?

[Missy Vixen]

8. Best time to shop: After 6 PM on Black Friday

Actually, the best time of all is after 10 PM on Black Friday. The local mall stays open till midnight every weekend till Christmas, and there is NOBODY shopping in the stores from 9-10 pm till close.

If you have to absolutely, positively, buy something from a mall between now and Christmas (and you're a night owl,) it's a great time to go.

One other tip: Our local grocery store slashes the price on turkeys the morning after Thanksgiving. If I get myself dressed and in the car, we'll be buying at least one for the freezer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Ah it stays at home then

[hobbit709]

4. Two simple ways to avoid this.

1. Don't go to the mall
2. Turn phone OFF and remove battery until you leave.

[saras]

5. Anonymous, crap. You CANNOT anonymously track a cell phone, any more than a person

You have to know who the damn thing is before you can tell it apart from any others. Any barrier between the cell phone's permanent ID and your name and address is a trivial lookup away.

[meow2u3]

7. They won't be tracking me

I don't shop on Black Friday. The stampedes are not worth the financial savings. My well-being is more important than saving a few dollars on material things.

[Initech]

10. The Bluetooth on your phone can be disabled.