I've been chatting with Cody about a debate he's been having over at RealMoney about corporate demand for phones with cameras. He's making the point (that I agree with) that many companies just don't want them. William Gabrielski is saying it's high time that Blackberry finally included a phone.
I've done a bit of research on these things in the past, and while not all my info is 100% current, here's what I've found, and why I have to throw in my hat with Cody's side of the discussion:
Who doesn't want camera phones?
Actually, lots of people, or at least lots of businesses don't.
- Anybody in defense or homeland security. At most of these companies, having a camera or recording device of any kind on your person is a "walk you to the door right now with no advance warning and no appeal" kind of event. If you're in a particularly sensitive area, there could be criminal charges as well. You don't see this much in New York, but having been through a couple of interviews with some of these guys, I can tell you it's reality for many of these folks. By and large this is a DOD/Homeland Security requirement, not a company-specific policy.
- Lots of companies developing sensitive tech. Intel has banned camera phones from their facilities, just as they had always banned cameras in the past.
- Anybody in the legal profession. Federal and many state courthouses don't permit them.
- Lots of other "sensitive" facilities which these days covers everything from sewers to powerplants to water purification facilities.
- I've heard, but can't confirm, that at least one of the major production studios will not permit cameraphones onto the sets of at least some films. (Though knowing the Hollywood hierarchy, I suspect this kind of rule applies to some people more than others.)
- Financial institutions are increasingly sensitive to having employees who handle customer personal information have any technology with them at all. There's some variability, but cameras are almost always a no. Since text messaging has come along, many have found the need to ban all mobile phones.
- Anybody who caters to any of the above on a regular basis may have to comply with the rules of whoever they're working for. This covers everybody from consultants to i-Bankers to janitorial services companies.
-btc




Comments (2)
Add to the list of companies who don't want camera phones on-site: Genentech. And probably other biotech firms as well.
Posted by fiat lux | February 27, 2006 5:42 PM
I haven't noticed that as being an issue at Amgen, or at least it wasn't really obvious as an issue last time I was over there.
That said, I had left my phone in the car, as I usually do when attending any meeting.
-btc
Posted by BelowTheCrowd
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February 27, 2006 5:53 PM