How to Track the Location of Mobile Devices

Traces can be put on cell phones to find them if they are stolen or to keep track of their owners.

Tracking a cell phone may sound like something from the movies, but the process of setting up a trace on a mobile is not as complicated as it may seem. Whether it's a concerned parent wanting to keep track of a child or an unlucky person with a habit of losing her phone, users can combine the wonders of GPS and Internet software to trace the whereabouts of cell phones. To be able to trace a cell phone, specialized tracking software must be installed onto it.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Phone connection cables
• GPS-enabled service provider

Instructions

1. Use the computer to register with an online location-based service provider such as uLocate. These services are able to make use of the global positioning system feature (GPS) in modern cell phones.

2. Download and install the GPS tracking software from the location-based service provider onto your computer.

3. Use the connection cable to connect your computer to the cell phone that is to be tracked. Follow the instructions to transfer the tracking software from the computer to the phone.

4. Follow the onscreen instructions on the phone to activate the tracking program.

5. Return the cell phone to its owner once the software has been successfully installed and activated. To track the phone, log in to the LSB provider and view the location of the cell phone on Google Latitude or similar sites.

Tips & Warnings

• As the phone being tracked must have a GPS chip, this service will not work for some older phones. If you are buying the phone for a child you want to keep track of, it's best to buy a new phone such as BlackBerry, iPhone, Motorola iDEN or any smart phone, as they already contain GPS chips.

• Many LBS providers will send a text to the cell phone to notify the user that tracking software has been installed on it. It is best to hold on to the phone until the text arrives and to delete it before returning the phone to the owner.

• Although tracking a cell phone that belongs to somebody else is not illegal, there is a intrusion of privacy that some people may find objectionable, even in the case of a concerned parent keeping tabs on a child.

References

• Make Use Of: How To Trace a Mobile Phone Location with Google Latitude
• Trace a Mobile: How it works
• Mobile Phone Reviews: How to Track Mobile Phones
• HR Daily Advisor: GPS Tracking of Employees --Legal or Not?

Resources

• Free Phone Tracer: Trace Any Phone Number!
• CNet: Feds push for tracking cell phones