GPS Cell Phones
Motivated by the events of 9/11 2001 and problems with 911 calls from cellular phones, the FCC requires that by the end of 2005 all cell phone carriers must be able to trace the location of cell phone calls to within a range of no more than 100 meters.
Cell phones are already available with GPS technology installed. These systems are not the same as the GPS devices used by hikers, mariners and drivers. Lower cost models do not allow the user to enter data such as mapping software. All systems require a wireless network.
Cell phones with GPS technology use AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System). Assisted because the system uses both cell phone towers and satellites as location finders.
There are advantages and disadvantages in the new technology. The cost to implement the program will be passed on to consumers -- cell phones will cost more. Privacy is a real concern with the general public especially in this day of identity theft. It is a concern that unknown people will be able to access your location. Also there is a possibility that the spam you are flooded with on your home computer will now be sent to your cell phone.
Using GPS cell phones to track people has some great advantages. Locating kids and family can be a blessing. Remember though, if you try to locate someone who is out of your calling area, you will be charged extra.
The obvious benefit for the consumer is the issue of emergency aid and that was the catalyst for this whole idea of GPS cell phones. A 911 call that can be quickly located, emergency roadside assistance, locating persons missing in remote areas, the list goes on. If coverage is available then GPS cell phones save lives.
Many carriers already have GPS cell phones available. You can buy the basic model for emergency tracking or you can pay for the technology that turns the cell phone into a sophisticated mapping, PDA system. Problems are still an issue with the advanced features. The more you use the advanced features, the greater the drain on the battery. Increasing battery size also increases the cell phone size and that is a problem for most consumers who want ever smaller, lighter devices to carry around. At this time Japan seems to have the edge on developing the high-end miniature GPS cell phone.
Sacrificing privacy for safety is the issue and I suspect that it would only take one positive outcome in an emergency situation to make the decision for you.
As the systems become more and more refined camera and PDA capabilities are being included into the phone itself. Developments in GPS cell phone technology are continuing. If programmers can solve the issues of privacy then the potential for GPS cell phones is incredible. It will no longer be an issue of "Can you hear me now?" Rather the question will be, "Can you find me now?"
Anne King is a sports and recreation writer in Boise, Idaho. For more information on GPS cell phones, visit Maps GPS Info.com which also provides practical information on GPS and maps that everyone can use. The website includes product reviews and a maps/GPS glossary.
Latest News
 New York Times | State of the Art Motozine ZN5 Makes Pictures Equal to Calls New York Times, United States - That’s not the same thing as a camera phone. Everybody’s got a camera phone. A camera phone is a cellphone with a bare-bones, blurry, feeble approximation ... Motorola’s Phone Camera |
 guardian.co.uk | Cell phone market gloom spreads to LG, RIM Reuters - By Tarmo Virki and Marie-France Han BARCELONA/SEOUL (Reuters) - Cell phone makers LG Electronics and Research in Motion warned on sales and profit growth on ... BlackBerry maker lowers outlook for quarter RIM to miss Q3 earnings forecast RIM lowers outlook with preliminary Q3 results |
 Times Online | N97: Nokia Strikes Back eWeek, NY - At Nokia World in Barcelona, the cell phone manufacturer debuted the N97 as its new flagship mobile. The N97 is scheduled to ship in first quarter ... Nokia Announces Chunky, Full-Featured N97 'Cellphone' International cell phone market gets warmer Countdown to Nokia's new product announcement |
Giving a cellphone? Gift card might be best USA Today - They're best for anyone who uses a cellphone only lightly. "It sounds good, but can get really expensive," says Barbara Goto, mobile manager at a Best Buy ... |
Consumer Reports: Verizon tops for cell phone service OCRegister, CA - Verizon is the best cell phone company out there, with T-Mobile a close second. Who says so? The majority of 51700 readers surveyed in September by Consumer ... Consumer Reports: Cell Phone Service Improves More users happy with their cell phone service Cell Phone Service Improving |
Prisons want more to fight illegal cell phones Houston Chronicle, United States - Death row has been the most highly visible source of illegal cell phone activity since a condemned inmate in October made threatening calls to Sen. ... Prison officials ask for $66 million to help stop cell phone smuggling The entry titled "Prisons unveil $65.8 million plan to curb ... |
 Computerworld | Simplexity Reports Record Breaking Sales of Cell Phones on Black ... MarketWatch - Samsung Behold T919 - This beautiful candy bar style cell phone with touch screen also comes loaded with a best-in-class 5-MP camera, video capture ... Video: Online Retailers See Monday As Black Friday Getting ready for 'Cyber Monday' |
Motorola Has One Head Too Many Wall Street Journal - His co-CEO, Greg Brown, rose to the top spot largely by avoiding the tumultuous cellphone division. He oversees the more stable businesses, ... |
 Environmental Leader | Most Cell Phone Vendors Lack Scale To Green Phones Environmental Leader, CO - The report, “Mobile Handset Green Initiatives,” says that Samsung Nokia and Sony Ericsson are key players in green phones because they have the economic ... 'Green' phones remain far from reach, report says Going Green Doesn't Always Bring in the Green for Companies |
Cutting costs but still want a fancy phone? guardian.co.uk, UK - Now that cell phones are more of a necessity than a luxury for most, the questions are: Which one to buy? How many fancy features do you want? ... |
Resources
-
Cell Phone Numbers Magic reverses Cell Phone numbers
Cell Phone numbers magic retrieves Cell Phone numbers and Mobile Phone numbers and reverses them too!
-
Celltrace.com - GLOBAL - Mobile Phone Protection, Detection and Retrieval System.
Unique Virtual Cell Phone Protection, Detection and Retrieval System