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I have a theory that if there are many ways to do something, but one retrieves more data about the user, that way will win.

For example, cisco webex turns on 24/7 microphone access "to find nearby displays".

this could be a funding model - if your app can plausibly access (contacts, location, microphone, camera, photo library, ...) then it should get more funding (because you can slap on an advertising SDK to "coincidentally" extract more user data)



Your theory sounds reasonable but in the case of webex it's using ultrasound put out from the displays to figure out which room you're in.

https://help.webex.com/en-us/WBX89838/What-is-Cisco-Intellig...


Like this kind of feature should really be “only when I click the scan button” but I have to say it’s pretty neat in practice.

Short distance data channels that solve the “two computers physically next to each other can’t communicate frustration” are always welcome in my book.


See, you will enable it. it is plausible why you should give over microphone access.

(meanwhile I can also add an advertising sdk to listen for nearby television advertisements or recognize nearby music to "add value")




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