Mapmates, a mobile service launched by Michael Robson recently in Australia allows users to track other users, who have acknowledged one another as “mates”.

According to the Mapmates website, Mapmates is a simple program that can be downloaded into a GPS-enabled mobile phone. The locations of “mates” are displayed on the mobile or can be viewed on the website. In ideal conditions Mapmates can locate phones to within 1m of their location, compared with close to 200m offered by other services abroad. The service costs Aus $25 (US $23.37) annually or 2,000 'finds' whichever occurs first.

Mapmates has sparked a debate over privacy. While the service is a convenient method to track other users, it could also be misused. The questions that immediately come to the mind are: Would users really wish to be tracked? Would children want their parents to know where they are? Would spouses wish to be tracked? Would employees wish to be tracked by their employers?

Mapmates has several options that would put these fears to rest. Users can control when and who could see them. Users can also delete “mates”. No-one can track users without permission and they can change permission according to their preference.

Would “mates” opting to be “inaccessible” in between make their intentions more evident? Whether husbands or wives going on the “inaccessible” mode in between would lead to more troubles in the domestic front is something that deserves a thought. X