New Crowdsourced Wireless Coverage Collection App

It’s from Root Wireless and is called Root Mobile. The app runs in the background on the Google Nexus One, Motorola Cliq, Motorola Droid Eris and T-Mobile G1, as well as the Blackberrys Bold, Tour, Curve and 8830. It reports where calls or data connections are dropped. When there’s enough data, the company will provide maps. Windows mobile is coming.

Ok, fine, that’s a great idea. Here’s my challenge to ZDnet: you didn’t mention anything about the privacy issues behind the app. That info was in the PR: “User privacy is strictly protected and the data their phones contribute is anonymously added to the aggregated pool of data that Root Wireless makes available to the pubic.” Why did you not include it?

- ZDnet
- press release

[Note to Root Wireless: your product homepage still has data about signing up for the beta in Nov 2009!!!!]