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carleverson
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
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 Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:32 pm Post subject: Korean Government Hit for Hampering iPhone Apps Info |
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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/01/123_59393.html
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Gov�t Hit for Hampering iPhone Apps Info
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
Smartphones are intelligent and the wealth of software applications often have them approaching Mensa territory. However, as the mobile applications pool continues its rapid growth, driven by the popularity of iPhone and other data-enabled handsets, a rift is becoming visible between individual software makers and the government over the use of public records for developing such programs.
Location-based information is expected to become a ``killer application�� for smartphones, which allow users to stay connected at anytime and anywhere, and there has been a growing number of software features offering real-time and predicted traffic conditions for use on mobile devices.
However, many of these programs are now being plucked off networks before ever getting the chance to take hold, with miffed government officials claiming that the software developers are benefiting from the unauthorized use of public data.
iKorail, a free program that provides real-time train status and schedule information, has been a popular application on Apple�s App Store online applications market since its debut in 2008.
However, iKorail is now dead for the users of iPhone and iPod Touch multimedia players, with Korail, the state rail operator, blocking them from accessing its Internet server since earlier this month.
Korail claims that it made a logical decision, since the developers of iKorail had been using its real-time train information without its consent. Apparently, it was easy to tolerate the amount of traffic generated by iKorail when the software was only used by iPod Touch users, but it�s now a totally different situation with iPhones flying off the shelves since a late November release, Korail officials said.
The rail operator promises to provide its own real-time train information application for iPhone and iPod Touch users soon.
Although Korail officials stress that they are merely being responsible, iPhone users are complaining that the rail operator is being too uptight about the information, which is available to the public on their Web page.
"Since iKorail relies on the information provided by our own Web page, a massive amount of traffic has been burdening our servers since the iPhone release. In fact, iKorail was blocked automatically at first,�� said a Korail official.
"Besides the problem of using our information without consent, iKorail had some inaccuracies, including the train schedules on transfers, so it would be better if we develop and operate our own, legitimate program.��
This is not the first time an App Store application caused some raised eyebrows among government employees. "Seoul Bus,�� a software developed by a 17-year-old high school student, Yoo Joo-wan, which provided real-time status for buses in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province cities, was downloaded more than 200,000 times by local iPhone and iPod Touch users.
However, the program was temporarily crippled last month when the Gyeonggi provincial government blocked users from accessing its servers.
Although municipal authorities initially criticized that the software was using public data without consent, a massive public relations pummeling from the blogosphere forced Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo to step in and allow ``Seoul Bus�� to access the servers again. |
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orosee
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Location: Hannam-dong, Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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It's not just Korea or Korean organisations doing this; Amazon recently pulled the plug an a series of Apps by Collectorz which were using (freely available) information on movies, books and music through the Amazon API.
But I sense the possibility of amicable solutions in the air. |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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So companies are complaining about their websites getting too many hits?
"a massive amount of traffic has been burdening our servers" = a massive amount of customers are looking at your product! |
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orosee
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Location: Hannam-dong, Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:05 am Post subject: |
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| redaxe wrote: |
So companies are complaining about their websites getting too many hits?
"a massive amount of traffic has been burdening our servers" = a massive amount of customers are looking at your product! |
Not necessarily. Of course in the case of KoRail, people looking at departure times are very likely customers (or very, very bored). But in the Amazon case, title information (music, books, movies) is taken without association to the business, more or less. I agree that there is still a benefit for the donating company, but they may see this differently.
Much worse in my opinion would be if this is all done in preparation of their own, paid service (or paid App). |
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