A.T. Kearney principal Mark Higgins said while the privacy issues that erupted over the last two days in Australia "were legitimate issues," they were characteristic of the advent of a new technology and the industry would work through them.
Higgins, speaking after the release of a report from the consultancy which identified photo-messaging as the next "breakout capability" of new-generation mobile phones in Australia, told ZDNet Australia he believed a sensible balance would be struck between the various parties involved in the area.
He said he could not see the issue proving to be a barrier to people buying new-generation phones.
However, some reports in Australia indicate state attorneys-general are planning to consider changing privacy laws to protect individuals from photography via the camera-enabled phones.
Release of the report follows controversy yesterday over a plan by a leading sporting organisation -- the YMCA -- to ban or restrict the use of mobile telephones in change-rooms nationwide, citing the need to protect individuals' privacy.
The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia has also advised more than 3,000 public swimming pools across Australia to implement the ban, and recommended private pools adopt similar measures.
The issue of privacy and the capabilities of new-generation mobile telephones erupted earlier this week after a Sydney newspaper used on its front page a picture -- taken by a Web camera-enabled mobile telephone -- of flamboyant Sydney stockbroker Rene Rivkin during his first weekend in jail.
The YMCA's decision to ban mobile phones could be just the start of the privacy backlash. How long will it be before cinemas, theatres, concerts, presentations, pubs, hotels and restaurants follow?
Why would I want to fork out for a 3G phone and service if I won't be allowed to take it anywhere because I might use it?
I suspect this is something that has not been addressed at all by the carriers in their push to convince us that 3G is the answer to all our prayers...