Tracking Your Friends Through Their Cellphones

We’ve been hearing about the coming revolution of location-based services on our mobile phones for years, but yesterday’s announcement that Sprint signed a deal with the self-described “social-mapping” company loopt could help those grand prognostications prove true. By taking advantage of the GPS capabilities in certain Sprint phones, loopt allows you spot the location of friends and family members on a map, and easily text them to figure out if you want to meet. Last year the service became available on Boost Mobile, and could pin people down to within 30 feet of their precise location, but Sprint has the capacity to deliver it to far more users. And don't worry, you're not always on the grid. With the loopt service, you can switch yourself off to your approved network if you don’t want friends tracking you down—or your wife discovering that you’re not really working late at the office. —Gregory Mone

Comments

[abdul rahim]

This is pretty awful stuff to read. Those of us who shun cellphones and crackberries will be the new wraiths, those whom nobody can find.

[Perm Dude]

I've just read, however, that turning off the phone will not prevent tracking capability by the phone company. And given how the phone companies allowed themselves to be duped by the government in handing over phone records previously, the ability of the FBI (for instance) to track you even with your phone off should give us pause.

The GPS capability should be optional or removable

[craigie]

"With the loopt service, you can switch yourself off to your approved network if you don’t want friends tracking you down—or your wife discovering that you’re not really working late at the office."

Bullshit. You turn yourself off, and she phones you to say "why are you off the grid? What are you hiding?"

There is no escape.

[Carl]

Wow. It looks more and more like 1984 everyday.

Buckle up, kids. The next twenty years are going to seriously test the durability of this Republic.

[Andrew]

"Buckle up, kids. The next twenty years are going to seriously test the durability of this Republic."

For godsakes. Yes, things are going right downhill. Pompous idiot.

[Mark]

Of course Cell phone companies and Law enforcement were able to track you via your cell phone for a while now by using triangulation techniques with the various cell towers. (google: Cell tower triangulation for more information on the methodology)

The fear I have is that with the increasing loss of privacy, the drive by law enforcement and other organizations bent on controlling and modifying behaviors will begin to break down the fabric that holds society together. People want privacy, and as that level decreases you're going to see a backlash. How big a backlash, hard to say, but there will be reactions...

[mathew]

there's not reason to freak out about the GPS tracking in your phone. i'm using the app right now, and if you turn off your cell phone, no one will be able to see your current location. it doesn't records of where you've been (unless you personally tag a place in your journal or save it to reference later) and you can turn on/off your location in a few seconds. i love the service and don't think it's a big deal to share my location with my friends.

if your location isn't shared and someone asks you why you're off the grid, just tell them what your doing (why would you want to hide where you are from your wife anyway? you married her...) or tell them you aren't sharing your location for a reason. or make up some lame excuse.

don't reject new technology just because you don't understand. take the time to learn about the tech before you start bashing it. or at least try out the product...it comes with a 30 day free trial anyway.