LocationSmart
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = LocationSmart
| type = Private
| industry = {{#statements:industry|from=Q41904352}}
| key_people =
| products =
| founders = {{plainlist|
- Masoud Motamedi
- Mario Proietti
}}
| foundation = {{#statements:inception|from=Q41904352}}
| location = Carlsbad, California
| homepage = {{#statements:official website|from=Q41904352}}
| parent = TechnoCom Corporation
}}
LocationSmart, originally called TechnoCom Location Platform, is a location-as-a-service (LaaS) company based in Carlsbad, California, that provides location APIs to enterprises and operates a secure, cloud-based and privacy-protected platform. In February 2015, it acquired a competitor, Locaid.{{Cite news |url=http://gpsworld.com/locationsmart-locaid-to-merge-for-cloud-based-location-services/ |title=LocationSmart, Locaid to Merge for Cloud-Based Location Services |date=February 26, 2015 |work=GPS World|access-date=July 14, 2017 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=http://streetfightmag.com/2015/12/03/5-geofencing-tools-for-customer-acquisition/ |title=5 Geofencing Tools for Customer Acquisition |date=December 3, 2015 |website=Street Fight|access-date=July 14, 2017}}
LocationSmart provides near real-time location data for devices including smartphones, feature phones, tablets, M2M, IoT and other connected devices on Tier 1 and Tier 2 wireless networks in the U.S. and Canada. This includes AT&T,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iphones-as-homing-beacons-how-att-and-verizon-help-companies-track-employees/ |title=iPhones as Homing Beacons: How AT&T and Verizon Help Companies Track Employees |website=CBS News |date=January 21, 2011 |publisher=}} Verizon Wireless,{{Cite web |url=http://developer.verizon.com/content/vdc/en/verizon-tools-apis/verizon_apis/network-api/network-api-partners.html |title=ThingSpace |website=developer.verizon.com |access-date=July 14, 2017}} T-Mobile US, Sprint Corporation,{{Cite news |url=http://www.mobileworldlive.com/apps/news-apps/sprint-names-app-enabling-partners/ |title=Sprint names app enabling partners - Mobile World Live |date=March 23, 2011 |work=Mobile World Live|access-date=July 14, 2017 |language=en-GB}} MetroPCS, U.S. Cellular, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada and Telus.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/rogers-bell-telus-enstream-location-data-sharing-securus-1.4666739 |title=How Rogers, Telus and Bell sell access to your location data to third-party companies |work=CBC News |access-date=May 19, 2018 |language=en-US}}
History
Founded in 1995, TechnoCom Corporation was headquartered in Los Angeles and called one of the area's fastest growing companies in 2003 by Deloitte & Touche.{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030805005064/en/TechnoCom-Named-Los-Angeles-Areas-Fastest-Growing |title=TechnoCom to be Named One of Los Angeles Area's Fastest Growing Technology Companies by Deloitte & Touche |work=Business Wire |date=August 5, 2003 |accessdate=May 20, 2018}} In 2012, the TechnoCom Location Platform was rebranded as LocationSmart.{{cite web |url=https://www.locationsmart.com/company/news/technocom-rebrands-platform-as-locationsmart |title=TechnoCom Rebrands Platform as LocationSmart |publisher=LocationSmart |date=April 16, 2012 |accessdate=May 20, 2018}}
On May 17, 2018, media outlets reported that the LocationSmart website allowed anyone to obtain the realtime location of any cell phone using any of the major U.S. wireless carriers (including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint), as well as some Canadian carriers, to within a few hundred yards, given only the phone number.{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/cell-phone-tracking-firm-exposed-millions-of-americans-real-time-locations/ |title=Cell phone tracking firm exposed millions of Americans' real-time locations |first=Zack |last=Whittaker |website=ZDNet |language=en-US|access-date=May 17, 2018}} Approximately 200 million customers may have been exposed. No consent was required, and there was no ability to opt-out. In addition, the data could be requested by anyone anonymously, with no authentication, authorization, or payment required.{{Cite web |url=https://www.robertxiao.ca/hacking/locationsmart/ |title=LocationSmart API Vulnerability |first=Robert |last=Xiao |website=www.robertxiao.ca |date=May 17, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=May 17, 2018}} Security researcher Robert Xiao, who discovered the vulnerability, stated that the LocationSmart API failed to implement basic checks and that the vulnerability could have been found by anyone with little effort. In response, LocationSmart took the vulnerable service offline and claimed the company "takes privacy seriously".{{cite web| url=https://www.showmymap.com/geolocation-ip-lookup/| title=Location Service| accessdate = 24 May 2020 }}
Clients
LocationSmart uses a variety of location methods that include cellular network location, Wi-Fi location, IP address location, landline location, hybrid location via a software development kit (SDK), browser location and global site identification (GSID) location.
LocationSmart provides location services for enterprises and Fortune 500 companies. LocationSmart is also used by US states to offer online gaming within the state borders.{{Cite news |url=http://www.onlinepokerreport.com/9198/nj-online-gambling-license-list-expanded/ |title=More Names Added to NJ Online Gambling Approval List as Launch Draws Near - Online Poker Report |date=November 20, 2013 |work=Online Poker Report|access-date=July 14, 2017 |language=en-US}}
LocationSmart is a member of CTIA, the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
See also
- Location-based service
- Location as a Service
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.locationsmart.com/ www.locationsmart.com]
Category:Companies based in San Diego County, California
Category:Companies based in Carlsbad, California
Category:Location-based software