Track a Cell Phone: GPS Tracking and Other Options

Track a Cell Phone: GPS Tracking and Other Options

Cell phone tracking is much easier if you follow this advice!

In this day and age, we have few secrets. The electronic conveniences we embrace as part of everyday life—transit passes, ATM cards, that handy cell phone app that helps you find the nearest Thai food—create a detailed daily map of where we go and what we do. With GPS tracking and various software programs, you can even find the location of a cell phone now.

This wasn't the case just a few years ago, says Amy Storey of CTIA-The Wireless Association, a membership organization for the wireless communications industry. Before 2008, she says, most apps were offered directly by carriers and consisted of things like wallpaper and ringtones. Now that many cell phones feature GPS, however, there are numerous ways to use your location to enhance your experience. From mobile apps to software programs, it is easier than ever to track a cell phone.

Most cell phones now come enabled with GPS, making it very simple to locate them. You can try to track a phone for free, or you can opt for various paid plans. This capability is good news if you are trying to track someone else's phone (such as your child's or your employee's) or if you need someone to find you by tracking your phone (perhaps you are lost in the wilderness or a bustling city). It can even come in handy for government agencies trying to apprehend criminals. However, it can be bad news for those who value privacy because if you can track your cell phone, others can track it as well.

"If you are tempted to use cell phone tracking technology, you should ask yourself some important questions," says Rebecca Jeschke of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a civil liberties group created in 1990 to interpret and apply laws relating to consumer use of digital technology. "One question [to ask yourself] is how long this data is retained. You're not the only person who will see it—it's created for you, but there are many opportunities for other people [such as the company that creates it and legal authorities] to see it."

If you are trying to find a phone that is lost or stolen, knowing that others may view the data is a risk you are probably willing to take—and you may not have a choice. However, if you decide to track a cell phone belonging to someone else, it is best to be transparent with that person. This is of particular interest to parents, since 20 percent of American children now own cell phones, a number that has nearly doubled in recent years. Talk with them about how you plan to use this technology so they are not surprised when they find out someone has been tracking their cell phone. Once you are ready to get started, you will find a range of free and low-cost tracking options available, as well as specific plans offered by cell phone carriers. Use these tips to track a phone:

1. Buy a phone equipped with a GPS tracker. Buying a mobile phone with GPS tracking is probably the simplest option. This is easy, since most companies began incorporating GPS tracking technology after 2005 to comply with Federal Communications Commission requirements. This shift to GPS, inspired in part by the events of September 11, 2001, was intended to help emergency responders locate people accurately in a crisis. Today, about 80 percent of phones on the market have GPS tracking capabilities. (Some carriers and manufacturers rely on cellular networks instead of GPS. With this method, they use signals from the nearest cell towers to track a phone's location.) Just because your phone has GPS does not mean you can freely track it; carriers are generally reluctant to share location information with just anyone. But if you have GPS tracking on a cell phone, you are one step closer to successfully tracking it.
2. Check with your service provider. Specific GPS plans exist—primarily intended for parents and employers—that allow you to easily track a cell phone's location from your own wireless phone or PC. If you cannot do this via your mobile device, you can also go online. Examples of these programs include Sprint/Nextel's Mobile Locator, Verizon's Family Locator, and AT&T's Family Map. These services generally cost about $10 to $15 per month—not an insignificant amount when added to your other plan costs. Using such a program provides peace of mind through interactive, real-time location maps available on your phone or online. These plans allow you to receive arrival and departure updates by text or email, view maps with custom landmarks, and access printable, turn-by-turn directions to your family member's location. Many of these programs also allow you to track someone's cell phone using PC-to-phone messaging, making this one of the most in-depth ways to track phones.
3. Buy and install software. If you do not want to pay extra fees to your carrier, or if your carrier does not offer these services or GPS, there are plenty of alternative methods (such as third-party tracking software) to track a cell phone from your wireless device or online, with new options emerging daily. Keep in mind that this is usually not free. In most cases, using tracking software requires the consent and participation of the phone's owner (which is good practice in general). These downloadable programs and apps let you track a cell phone from your own phone, PDA, or PC. Most of these solutions use some type of GPS tracking to locate the phone. Examples include AccuTracking, GPSed Monitoring Service, and MapQuest Find Me. Costs for these software programs generally range from $6 to $18 a month, making them relatively inexpensive. Be sure to research various brands before purchasing to ensure compatibility with your device.
4. Use a free mapping program. Numerous free cell phone tracking services have been created that allow you to locate friends and family—with their cooperation. One of the best-known mapping programs is Google Latitude, which uses tower signals and other data to track the location of approved contacts to their phone or computer, even from a mobile device that lacks GPS tracking. Other similar map-based locator apps (most of which rely on GPS) include Mologogo, Buddyway, and Instamapper. These programs may be limited to certain types of phones or networks, so you will need to experiment to determine which works best. However, if you are looking for a free option, this is one of your best bets.
5. Use the IMEI number. If you need to trace a cell phone that has been misplaced or stolen, rather than using GPS or tracking software, you may be able to use the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number, a unique 16-digit code assigned to your phone. To find your IMEI, dial *#06#, then record the number in a safe place so you can track it later. This is another free option, and your carrier can assist you. If your phone is stolen, you should be able to call your carrier, have them track it using this information, and ultimately disable the device.

Before you start tracking a cell phone with GPS or a software program, you should consider the consequences. Whether you learn how to do this on your own phone or someone else's, accessing a phone's location also allows others to access its whereabouts. You should therefore exercise caution when using any type of tracker. Here are important factors to consider:

1. Be aware of the risks. As Jeschke of the EFF points out, location data does not simply disappear when you are finished using it. In fact, she says, the information can be subpoenaed and used in divorce or custody hearings. She adds that it is easy to imagine how services like GPS and other tracking software could be misused. For example, an abusive spouse might try to discover which domestic violence shelter their partner is staying in by tracking their phone. To protect against unwanted privacy invasions, Jeschke advises turning off your phone's location services unless you absolutely need them, which prevents the mobile phone from being tracked via GPS. Storey of CTIA adds that reputable tracking apps should clearly disclose their privacy policies, giving you the option to opt in to location-based services—and the option to opt out—long after initial installation. Therefore, even if you can access tracking for free, remember that you are not the only one capable of utilizing this function.
2. Learn more about cell phone privacy. When it comes to cell phones, our eagerness to use new GPS and location-based apps (whether to track a phone or simply find the nearest restaurant) may mean we are sacrificing important rights. To find out more about the risks and solutions of this era, and the issues surrounding cell phone tracking, read the Electronic Frontier Foundation's "On Locational Privacy and How to Avoid Losing It Forever." Additionally, check out CTIA's "Be Smart" website, which offers tips for parents and educators on helping children use phones responsibly and safely. It is important for kids to understand the implications of having GPS on a cell phone.

Now you know how to track a cell phone using software programs, GPS tracking, or other free methods. Whether you want to ensure your child arrives safely at soccer practice, hope to rally nearby friends for a spontaneous drink at the local pub, or simply need to locate a lost phone, you can find plenty of solutions through your cell carrier, software providers, and online platforms. With technology evolving rapidly, you are guaranteed a wide variety of options when tracking a cell phone—in other words, the choice is yours!