Question

Find a lost cell phone using GPS

Asked by: fabulousinstl76

Find a lost cell phone using GPS

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Asked On
2009-11-04 at 18:50:00ID24873344
Topic

Cellular Phones & Carriers

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: aman0711Posted on 2009-11-04 at 18:52:52ID: 25746354

GPS is not used for this purpose.

Do you remember your phones IMEI number?

 

by: aman0711Posted on 2009-11-04 at 18:55:31ID: 25746369

 

by: top_rungPosted on 2009-11-04 at 18:57:54ID: 25746386

GPS can be used for this, but you would have needed to pre-Install some application to provide that functionality.  For example...

http://www.ehow.com/how_2294481_locate-cell-phone-gps.html

If you didn't plan for it, then you will have a hard time getting anyone with the technology (law enforcement) to help you

 

by: Mikal613Posted on 2009-11-04 at 19:00:43ID: 25746400

Gps can deffinately be used to find a phone. It depends on your phone.

 

by: aman0711Posted on 2009-11-04 at 19:01:06ID: 25746401

It all depends on your handset.

IMEI tracking is something used for most of the phones (that lack the GPS chip)

 

by: lherrouPosted on 2009-11-04 at 20:36:21ID: 25746804

fabulousinstl76,

In general, the answer in general is... you can't track a lost cell phone by GPS.

There are some exceptions:
1) Your cellular service always can (by GPS if it's on, by trangulation if GPS is off), but generally won't provide you with that information;
2) Law enforcement can (in the USA, at least), with a warrant or in a demonstrable emergency OR when you call 911 (most modern phones automatically turn on GPS when 911 is called);
3) Some cellular services offer a GPS tracking service for parents; and,
4) In some cases and for some phones there is tracking software, which sends data back to a central site where the phone's location can be tracked over the web or via the software manufacturer's special application. Typically this is used by companies tracking employee travel/location during the work day and must be pre-installed to work.

Here are some examples of the latter two:
http://www.accutracking.com/
http://www.mymobilewatchdog.com/

Have you tried calling the phone and seeing if you can hear it ring (or who answers)? Or, if you have online billing, looking at any phone calls that may have been made since it went missing? That may provide a clue to who has it or where it is.

Cheers,
LHerrou

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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