Mozilla Is Mapping Cell Towers and WiFi Access Points

First time accepted submitter neiras writes "Mozilla is building a map of publicly-observable cell tower and WiFi access points to compete with proprietary geolocation services like Google's. Coverage is a bit thin so far but is improving rapidly. Anyone with an Android phone can help by downloading the MozStumbler app and letting it run while walking or driving around. The application is also available on the F-Droid market." "Thin" is relative; it's quite a few data points since we first mentioned the pilot program a few months ago.

Re:Google-ish issue?

[suutar]

what, storing intercepted wifi traffic instead of just the ssid? I doubt they'd forget that one.

Re:Privacy

[AuMatar]

Also, GPS kills batteries. A quick network lookup (or even local, since you could cache the local area's data and request new data only when you move enough) is cheap on the battery.

It's cause you're a douche

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm just gonna throw this out here but maybe the reason it always seems that no one gives a shit about your suggestions or improvements is because you do actually talk to everyone here and treat them like they are a 3rd grader. Maybe if you didn't just immediately start tearing someone's idea apart and pointing out every little scenario of why it is garbage, then just maybe people would pay more attention. When I have a know-it-all wanna-be like you just start poppin off at the mouth, I ignore you.....kind of like a screaming 3rd grader.

For Firefox OS and Android devices w/o Google Play

[tepples]

how is mozilla going to "compete" with something that's already second to none, comes pre-installed on android handsets, and is free to use with no intrusive ads?

By making it available on Firefox OS handsets and on those Android devices that don't ship with Google Play Services, such as Kindle Fire series, several devices popular in China, and phones with CyanogenMod system software installed that don't have the Gapps.

Accidentally?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why the Google ad broker propaganda? One doesn't accidentally store such an amount of data for such an amount of time. End of. Don't echo their propaganda like some idiot fanboy.