A useful introduction to mobile cell phone GPS tracking technologies

For highly accurate cell phone tracking, the best phones are phones with GPS technology. This provides ultra-precise positioning due to the inclusion of AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System). Assisted means that the location of the cell phone is fixed by its information relative to the gps network and also relative to cell towers on the ground.

Naturally, with this type of technology there are drawbacks, but the benefits outweigh them. Price and privacy are the two most frequently mentioned negative aspects. This technology is quite expensive and the terrestrial networks to power the gps have required a significant investment mainly by Qualcomm. However, the GPS network is free to use. Also, mobile phones with AGPS technology can be more expensive than regular phones. For the tracking element to be useful, it means that a customer has to employ the services of a third-party service provider who often charge for their phone location service.

With the advent of new technologies, there is also the issue of identity theft and privacy. Users are concerned that their location is easily available to people who may abuse the tracking feature. People whose other wants to be able to pinpoint their exact location. In the future there will also be an increase in location-based advertising and people will not want to be spammed with offers every time they walk down the street or in the mall.

However, there are benefits. Using the AGPS cell phone allows parents to know where their children are at any time. It is also the intention of the authorities that a 911 call can be instantly identified for use in emergency roadside assistance and locating lost persons. There is now also the ability to run GPS navigation applications directly on a cell phone for guidance purposes. New software applications also include tour and travel guides that use GPS functionality to provide location-based tour guide information directly to the user.