Phone system could have your number

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Mark White <tausyankee () optusnet com au>
Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 14:07:47 +1000
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Phone system could have your number

Phone system could have your number
Kate Mackenzie
October 07, 2002

A SINGLE telephone number doubling as an email address could soon be
available in Australia despite fears the technology could become a de facto
identification number.







Under the ENUM system being analysed by the Australian Communications
Authority, one number could track down a person via a home or mobile phone
number, or an email or website address.

The technology has attracted controversy overseas because of privacy
implications of people being identified by a single number.

The ACA wants feedback on a discussion paper it has issued, saying privacy
is one of its concerns.

But ACA numbering manager Neil Whitehead said potential benefits of the
system could be enormous.

"People would only need to remember one number to contact other people in a
variety of devices," he said.

Equipment manufacturers and internet service providers were keen to pursue
the technology, Mr Whitehead said.

Telstra proposed a single-number service in 1997 and offered numbers
beginning with 0500 that could redirect to any number. Called Telepath, the
service, which cost $7 a month, failed to attract many subscribers.

ENUM would have to be deployed across all telecommunications and internet
providers to be effective.

The Australian



------ End of Forwarded Message

-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com
Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/