Mobile phones and positioning

[DaveB]

Let me be clear.

I'm talking about locating any person the UK, via me paying a subscription to a telecom or other provider, which gived me the real time cellular position of any mobile in the country be me receiving or sending that phone a text.

E.g. I send 01234 567890 a txt and using some (paid) service I can find out where that phone is or 01234 567890 sends me a txt and I can use the same (web?) service to locate that phone?

I think google has the answer:

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/ne...ml?newsId=2305

Then your answer is yes, easily done and has been done. Phone companies will charge a sizable sum for doing it though.

[TheFaQQer]

http://www.childlocate.co.uk/

Hmm - accuracy on o2 in the countryside: 900-2500 meters

That's some range!

[Purple Dalek]

Let me be clear.

I'm talking about locating any person the UK, via me paying a subscription to a telecom or other provider, which gived me the real time cellular position of any mobile in the country be me receiving or sending that phone a text.

E.g. I send 01234 567890 a txt and using some (paid) service I can find out where that phone is or 01234 567890 sends me a txt and I can use the same (web?) service to locate that phone?

I think google has the answer:

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/ne...ml?newsId=2305

Oh, my stuff requires specific hardware/phones with a built in GPS device and extra software &/or modded OS.

[_V_]

Oh, my stuff requires specific hardware/phones with a built in GPS device and extra software &/or modded OS.

So not really relevant to 99.99999999999% of the population of the UK then?

[_V_]

Hmm - accuracy on o2 in the countryside: 900-2500 meters

That's some range!

I'm not talking about hitting them with a cruise missile, just knowing if they are in Lands End or John O Groats!

[DaveB]

Hmm - accuracy on o2 in the countryside: 900-2500 meters

That's some range!

That will be for simple cell id location. The can see which cell the phone is conected to and know the effective range of that cell.

As I said earlier, if you can get the signal strength info from the phone you can be more accurate, especially if you can get it for neighbouring cells as well.

[tim123]

Can you geo-locate a mobile phone by sending or receiving a txt from said phone?

I am thinking of a service that relies on knowing (roughly) where a person is by sending them or them sending me (a computer) a txt message. Is this enabled/possible in the UK?

TIA

Not without the co-operation of the phone and/or network.

tim

[tim123]

Let me be clear.

I'm talking about locating any person the UK, via me paying a subscription to a telecom or other provider, which gived me the real time cellular position of any mobile in the country be me receiving or sending that phone a text.

E.g. I send 01234 567890 a txt and using some (paid) service I can find out where that phone is or 01234 567890 sends me a txt and I can use the same (web?) service to locate that phone?

I think google has the answer:

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/ne...ml?newsId=2305

Networks and Phone manufacturers have been working on "location based services" for at least 5 years.

They have yet (as far as I can tell) come up with a killer app, that will provide income, to justify the cost of network upgrades to provide that service.

If you have such an idea, I am sure that they will want to talk with you (you better get a good lawyer!).

But until this time comes, you cannot text/call a random phone and have it tell you where it is. Even if the network knows this information, they will not tell you without a contract for such (and presumably a verified reason)

tim

[tim123]

That will be for simple cell id location. The can see which cell the phone is conected to and know the effective range of that cell.

As I said earlier, if you can get the signal strength info from the phone you can be more accurate, especially if you can get it for neighbouring cells as well.

Yes, but there is no way that this information can/will be transmitted to a calling party.

tim

[_V_]

But until this time comes, you cannot text/call a random phone and have it tell you where it is. Even if the network knows this information, they will not tell you without a contract for such (and presumably a verified reason)

tim

I disagree.

Appears you can as long as they (one off) agree to letting you know their position.

http://www.traceamobile.co.uk/

http://www.followus.co.uk/home.html

http://www.mobilelocate.co.uk/index.htm

If I know your mobile number I can find you.