iPhone Feature - Location-Based Settings

[ryanide]

Problem: AT&T service is almost non-existent in my home, yet 1000 feet away it is fine. So, everytime I come home I have to change Settings>Phone>Call Forwarding> ON - and everytime I leave my home I have to turn the setting off. (Thankfully the version 3.0 has a Forwarding icon!!).

A solution: Create Location-based Settings. 1. Using GPS coordinates the user could identify a location and an active radius (distance in feet). 2. User would make specific settings for that location, such as Call Forwarding On/Off (to number), ringer volume/mute/vibrate, & Wi-Fi. 3. Once set when the phone detects that it has entered into the active radius, those setting would be used. Likewise, upon leaving the active location radius the setting would change back to the default.

So, with such a feature a iPhone user could have settings specific for their home and office or out of range areas that activate and deactivate automatically - much like the Network Locations in the Mac's System Preferences.

What do you think?

 

[jav6454]

It's theoretically possible. I see no reason why not. The problem is that you'd have to write an application or script to support it.

 

[kdarling]

Good idea!

So good, that some other phones already have such programs.

Of course, they have to be able to run in the background.

 

[jav6454]

Good idea!

So good, that some other phones already have such programs.

Of course, they have to be able to run in the background.

Example?

 

[egk69]

Example?

well, i know android phones have apps for it!

im sure something like that should be available for Windows mobile too!

for us (iphone users) the main problem might be, that having it running on the background will make it impossible to be accepted on the app store...

 

[jav6454]

well, i know android phones have apps for it!

im sure something like that should be available for Windows mobile too!

for us (iphone users) the main problem might be, that having it running on the background will make it impossible to be accepted on the app store...

Knowing an app doesn't help. Give out complete examples....

 

[ryanide]

Good idea!

So good, that some other phones already have such programs.

Of course, they have to be able to run in the background.

Yeah, I'm kinda hoping that Apple might be able to put something like this into the core system, instead of a 3rd party app. But of course, we'll take what we can get and only hope for the best.

 

[kdarling]

Example?

On Android, there's the well known "Locale" app. It won a large prize.

Before that, there was one for Nokias (I forget its name) that not only switched profiles based on location, but could also remind you to take your keys if you left your house, text your wife if you were almost home, and all sorts of other useful things.

There are even more clever location based tools in R&D that I know about, including one that correlates your location and time and day of the week, to actively make helpful lunch suggestions, etc, according to your past history... right on your homescreen.