Mobile phone jammers are used to block annoying mobile phone calls in places such as restaurants, cinemas, museums and libraries, but have been widely criticised for unintentionally jamming phones and equipment outside the area of intended use and interfering with emergency communications.
It has been an offence to operate or supply, or possess for the purpose of operation or supply, such a device in Australia since March 1999. But on the back of the release of a Hong-Kong developed device that claims to better previous versions by not spilling out into unintended areas, one Australian reseller Chris Larmour is encouraging ZDNet readers to contact him (computec@origin.net.au) to discuss the implementation of a Bill to allow this product to be used here.
-For us here in Australia to not look at this product as being a cost effective, successful way to stop the use of mobile phones in 'high risk' areas such as medical clinics, service stations, hospitals and other volatile areas is ignorant. I believe we as a society need to embrace technology as it becomes available, to move forward and be competitive in this ever changing world we occupy," Larmour, a systems consultant who is making enquiries about distribution rights of "MuteTone", told ZDNet Australia in an e-mail interview.
Larmour concedes that there are concerns that the jamming signal will spill from designated areas and that people won't be able to call emergency services, but believes access to fixed line phones will override the issue. In the Australian marketplace, where new technology products and services -are embraced at one of the highest rates per capita in the world" the applications for jamming technology are -limitless", he said.
However, despite supposed improvements to the technology the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) told ZDNet Australia that the devices remain illegal here and there are no moves to address the issue.
-It has the capacity to interfere with services and disrupt what could possibly be emergency communications," an ACA spokesperson said.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) agrees with the ACA's stance on mobile phone jammers.
-It's not only illegal, it's very dangerous," AMTA's Ross Monaghan said. -If you're in a particular shop and you're a doctor on call, how would you know calls were being jammed?"
-I'd hate to see anyone suggest making it legal in Australia," he added.
ZDNet readers expressed differing views on the use of jamming devices for mobile phones, with Darren Hazelton of South Australia agreeing with the view that the technology can be dangerous because emergency phone calls cannot be made from mobile phones if an area is being jammed. -Of course, there should be fixed lines, but what if they have been attacked/damaged? It is vital that if jamming is used, it must not go outside the intended area," he said.
However, a Sydney-based ZDNet reader agreed with Larmour that mobile phones shouldn't be permitted for use in particular areas.
-Jamming technology should be used in areas where mobiles shouldn't be used, such as churches and hospitals," the reader said. -To say it's dangerous is laughable."
The National Library of Australia, which has a sign on entry to the main reading room asking people to turn their mobile phones off, said it didn't have much of a problem with mobile phone usage in the library.
-People generally switch them off," a spokesperson said. If a phone rings it's usually because it was accidentally left on and they're -very, very quick to go outside with it or switch it off," the spokesperson added. -Culturally most people remember when they come into the reading room to turn their phone off out of respect of other people," she added.
Champion Technology Holdings, the company behind the development of -MuteTone", said it hopes to sell the mobile signal-blocking device in about 50 countries. The technology bares a pricetag of around US$1600.
However, -if its brought to Australia it's illegal for anyone to use it," the ACA's Monaghan said.
As a father of 3 kids I'd hate to see jammers introduced in theatres, hospitals etc. My wife and I regularly go to the cinema and I put my phone on silent and place it on my arm rest. That way if the kids need to call me urgently the phone will flash but make no sound, and an SMS page will emit a single beep. I have friends who are volunteer firemen and SES workers who also use the "silent" profile when in cinema's etc... To jam their signals would most certainly be dangerous, mine - a bloody inconvience.
Like most things of technology, education is the key.
regards
Tim