From: "Dan Todd" <dantodd@dnai.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:52:42 -0700 (PDT)
To: "Phil Karn" <Geraint.Price@cl.cam.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Position escrow
Message-ID: <002f01bd6ee0$67bcd480$026610ac@danhome.dnai.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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There is a similar (probably a number of them) service in parts of the US.
While visiting Michigan recently I saw a wireless phone with a "calling
card" from a company called Isis.  It appeared to be an anonymous, pre-paid
cellular phone but I didn't investigate to see if it runs on standard
cellular or if they ask for and verify personal information upon purchase.
I've also seen this product advertised on DSS (I don't recall what market)
and the commercial seems to support this as an anonymous service.

I guess the advantages are that is wouldn't give up any identifying
information while still allowing for tracking in an emergency.

cheers,
dan


-----Original Message-----
From: Geraint Price <Geraint.Price@cl.cam.ac.uk>
To: Phil Karn <karn@qualcomm.com>
Cc: frantz@netcom.com <frantz@netcom.com>; geer@world.std.com
<geer@world.std.com>; die@die.com <die@die.com>; cypherpunks@toad.com
<cypherpunks@toad.com>; cryptography@c2.net <cryptography@c2.net>;
Geraint.Price@cl.cam.ac.uk <Geraint.Price@cl.cam.ac.uk>
Date: Thursday, April 23, 1998 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: Position escrow


>
>> >One interesting, but unlikely possibility is an originate-only phone
which
>> >pays for calls with cash (e.g. Digicash, or a prepaid phone activation
>> >card).  Since it can't receive calls, it doesn't need an identity.  What
>> >would come out of the system is, "Someone in cell X called telephone
number
>> >Y."
>>
>> There's already a way to do this: cloning. This is not always done
>> just to avoid paying for service.  Certain cloners are entirely able
>> and willing to pay for cellular service, but they demand anonymity.
>>
>> Somebody should point out to the carriers that they could get rid of
>> much of the incentive to clone phones if they simply offered a
>> legit way to remain anonymous.
>>
>> Phil
>
>This technology already exists in Britain (I don't know about any other
>countries), where you can buy a mobile without any subscription information
>off the shelf. To use the mobile, you go and purchase a 'token' which
allows
>you to use the mobile on a pay-per-call basis much the same as a public
phone.
>I don't know the method of token implementation.
>
>The police have started kicking up a fuss over this technology as they
claim
>it hinders their investigation into criminal activity, because if they
trace a
>cellular phone which turns out to be one of this type then they can't pull
the
>info on the customer to go round knocking on doors.
>
>Geraint
>
>
>