*Countries turning off Globalstar* Globalstar is already on that road.
In the current rules around the world, each country can decide whether a service operates or not. Iridium had some attraction because with space switching, they could just ignore individual countries' wishes to handle calls [and charge a toll] even if they still had to comply with spectrum using rules.
Globalstar made a political [and economic/technological] choice to have local gateways and bent-pipe satellites so local countries could collect tolls and control calls.
Globalstar too will have to not provide service if specified within a country. Even to the extent of providing service to particular handsets I suppose.
Globalstar can do this because they know exactly where a handset is from the GPS system they use to locate handsets and maintain a 3D image of where everything is. If a country says 'no service in our country' or in a certain area, or to a certain handset, I imagine they will have some sway in the matter.
At least until national sovereignty is reduced and individual sovereignty increased, which isn't happening any time soon, even in the USA and NZ which are allegedly free countries. I heard that in the USA, cellphone providers are going to be required by law to monitor where handsets are located.
Pierre will NOT be pleased!
I won't mind location services if I control the situation, but that isn't the plan. The reverse is the plan.
Expect Globalstar to go a LONG way down that road.
I suppose it's a bit like being a slave. If that's all you've ever known and that's how things have always been, and you aren't aware of how things might be, you just think that's the natural order of the universe. So it is with we individuals in thrall to politicians. USA citizens are all subordinate to Clinton, Starr, Gingrich, Reno, Hyde, Lott, Kennedy and that band of reprobates. Yet you all can't see anything different and go on and on and on and on with it...like so many slaves. Do you really want those people dictating to you how you shall conduct your lives? What a lot of Uncle Toms!
[Not of course, you in particular - just generally, and everywhere, from there to here, Afghanistan to Zanzibar!]
The Web is coming though! They better watch out...
Actually, on reflection, I'd better watch out - they'll have bots watching for anything like this and it will be deleted at the first press of 'Submit' and a nanosecond later, my credit cards, bank accounts, shares and car will be immobilized by remote control. About a minute later, a car with security people will appear where GPS said I pressed 'Submit'.
Maurice |
