The data privacy policy changes concerning many aspects so mobile application developers often face a challenge in keeping up with it. They have been given some tips at a conference dedicated to the topic in San Francisco.
Mobile applications often provide services that draw on location, contact lists and other personal data. Such services are raising more and more questions if the data is collected and used appropriately. The software developers always have to ask themselves if they should notify people when the data is collected, in what way they should notify users about it etc.
These and other questions were discussed during a conference on mobile application privacy at the University of California’s Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.
“Customers want the applications to be convenient, social and relevant”, said Kevin Trilli – vice president of product at San Francisco-based TRUST, working to help companies collect and use customer data safely. “And privacy is a very discussed point now because of the data and behavior interaction that enables the applications”, he added.
These questions are faced not only by smaller new entrants but by the huge companies as well.
One piece of advice for mobile application developers to keep users happy is not to be afraid to over-communicate. According to Tim Wyatt, director of security engineering at Lookout – a mobile security company based in San Francisco- it is not a bad idea to show clear, friendly, plain-English language within the application whenever it asks for certain types of private information.
For example if the application has a feature of automatic upload of photos from a smartphone’s camera then a special pop-up window could appear once the user gats to this point in the application saying “If you let us do it automatically it will provide a faster, better use experience for you. Would you like us to do that?”, Wyatt said.
Author's bio: Annet Jonson, sales manager working for a Florida software development company. Professional interests - iPad application development, eCommerce websile and IT start-ups. Personal interests - Dolce and Gabbana designer clothes, cats photos and social networking.
These and other questions were discussed during a conference on mobile application privacy at the University of California’s Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.
“Customers want the applications to be convenient, social and relevant”, said Kevin Trilli – vice president of product at San Francisco-based TRUST, working to help companies collect and use customer data safely. “And privacy is a very discussed point now because of the data and behavior interaction that enables the applications”, he added.
These questions are faced not only by smaller new entrants but by the huge companies as well.
One piece of advice for mobile application developers to keep users happy is not to be afraid to over-communicate. According to Tim Wyatt, director of security engineering at Lookout – a mobile security company based in San Francisco- it is not a bad idea to show clear, friendly, plain-English language within the application whenever it asks for certain types of private information.
For example if the application has a feature of automatic upload of photos from a smartphone’s camera then a special pop-up window could appear once the user gats to this point in the application saying “If you let us do it automatically it will provide a faster, better use experience for you. Would you like us to do that?”, Wyatt said.
Author's bio: Annet Jonson, sales manager working for a Florida software development company. Professional interests - iPad application development, eCommerce websile and IT start-ups. Personal interests - Dolce and Gabbana designer clothes, cats photos and social networking.
