I guess that smartphone apps could make emergency service communications easier to access by the public, but the same people could just go out and buy a scanner a listen to the same thing that they could hear on their smartphone. I know that police particularly want to encrypt, but they probably would have anyhow, with criminals getting smarter. I hope that when Alberta gets their new province wide radio system that they don't encrypt the RCMP main dispatch channels. I do agree with encryption and other means of communication on channels such as tactical operations, but in my opinion, main dispatch channels don't need to be encrypted.
There is no debating it, the widespread availability of both smartphone apps and worldwide streaming of public safety communications is indeed bolstering the increasing use of encryption.
Other parts of the world saw the adaptation of encrypted, secured networks like Airwave about 7 years ago, making scanning of any public safety communications by the public a thing of the past and rendered scanners as useless as cassette players, VCR's and other relics of the past.
The only reason that hasn't happened so quickly in the USA is the hodgepodge of systems used, and lack of funding. Thanks to the upcoming narrowbanding mandate, many agencies will be replacing their legacy analog radios with digital narrowband replacements. And with both DMR and NexEDGE, encryption is a simple, cheap option that requires nothing more than a mouse click in programming software to enable. No "secret" boards, expensive key management, and no degradation in audio quality or range.
No annoying media listening in on your dispatches jumping your calls. And no more bad guys with their Ghetto PCS Android phones listening in either. So the many good guys and other legit users of actual scanner RADIOS get left out? Too bad, the price of progress.
Smartphone and Internet feeds have indeed become a factor in the decision to use encryption. Any mouth breather can buy a smartphone now, even prepaid no contract carriers like Boost, Ghetto PCS and Virgin sell Blackberries and Android phones. Anyone can download a free app and do nothing more than enter a zip code to tune in.
Until the Home Patrol, it took at least basic knowledge and understanding to program and effectively operate a scanner. You had to have some knack (or know someone who did) to get up and running. Now, with Internet feeds, a bad guy "lookout" can be 1000 miles away listening in while the rest of the team commit whatever offense, and text their tips to the bad guy.
You bet internet streams and apps have become a threat to some. And it's easy to see why they use this as a justification to encrypt. It's not like it was 20 years ago, encryption is cheap and hassle free on today's modern digital radio systems.
Enjoy scanning while you can.
