Shopping complex tracking people through mobile phones

This BBC News report details the new system that Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth UK have installed in order to track shoppers movements as they move around the centre. I know that this tech has been available for years but its the first time that I have heard of it being used in this way. Is this the future of surveilance ? with all citizens being tracked by the major corporations as they move around the country. I can see that it would be an invaluable way to track customers and see what rival stores they are visiting.
Gunwharf is very close to me and from now on when ever I visit I'm going to be turning my phone off. However, I have a feeling that the major phone companies and maybe even governements may allready be using this tech to track us. I think the large corporations are going to be next should this work well in Gunwharf.