Best GPS enabled cellphone?

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jim.cox

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Topic # 60174 21-Apr-2010 08:50

Kia Ora

Not sure if this is the right Forum - apologies if not - but here goes...

My daughter wants a cellphone for her birthday

It will be used almost entirely for texting on the VF network

I'm thinking that a GPS enabled unit that can automagically respond to a "where are you" sms message would be "a good thing"

So two questions

1: Will Nokia's do this (and if so which models) ?

2: Or do you phone experts have a better suggestion ?

advTHANKXance

Jim

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Reply # 321121 21-Apr-2010 08:53

For an application like this you will need a smartphone - Nokia, Windows Mobile for example - and a program. This type of service doesn't come with the phone usually.

Also have in mind GPS is pretty much useless when indoors anyway...

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Byrned

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Reply # 321142 21-Apr-2010 09:18

I remember a 'service' that digital mobile were selling through the business side a couple of years ago where it kept track of employees when they were 'out and about doing work'.

It was shown to me on a blackberry and from what I remember used google maps. Kept a history of where they'd been etc. so if they went indoors it showed the last place.

Quite intrusive but I guess if you're paying someone to work, and they're on the golf course, then it's ok!

freitasm

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Reply # 321146 21-Apr-2010 09:21

There are a few "tracking" services for business around. Most are not based on mobile - you can see the information on mobile, but the device itself is on the car or laptop.

I have a GPS/GSM device in my car, courtesy of RedJungle (Phil, the guy doing some of our dev work for Geekzone) and I know exactly where the GeekMobile is, speeds, etc.

His site is www.oversite.co.nz for example.

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freitasm

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Reply # 321150 21-Apr-2010 09:28

Actually that's the login page. The service is www.senseri.com... But as I said, it's a fleet management.

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Ham

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Reply # 321160 21-Apr-2010 09:36

I had a GPS tracking application on a SonyEricsson K850i, so it doesn't necessarily need to be an expensive or "smart" phone, but it did use data to send its position back so you would need to be on a data plan.

It might be a bit harder to find an application that responds to texts rather than plain data.

freitasm

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Reply # 321167 21-Apr-2010 09:41

You can find loads of GPS applications for Smartphones. A quick search in our Geekzone Software store gives this:

http://store.geekzone.co.nz/homeSoftware.asp?platform=-1&sString_40288.6923842593=gps&sString=gps&cm...

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LennonNZ

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Reply # 321181 21-Apr-2010 09:54

Buy her an iPhone and then pay for MobileMe for Location Tracking :-)

jim.cox

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Reply # 321196 21-Apr-2010 10:14

LennonNZ: Buy her an iPhone and then pay for MobileMe for Location Tracking :-)

I'm sure she would LOVE an iPhone - but then so would I :)

I'm not signing up for a tracking service - real time tracking is not needed and the absolutely ridiculous cost of data plans here in NZ rule them out

TradeMe shows plenty of specialist text based tracking systems out there and I know Benq used to make a phone that did it....

freitasm

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Reply # 321197 21-Apr-2010 10:15

As I said, check the link I posted for software...

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patatrat

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Reply # 321220 21-Apr-2010 11:08

I far as I am aware, the whole tracking thing will not be fool proof.

It has already been said that it won't work indoors. GPS can also be turned off fairly easily on most (if not all phones). So if your daughter doesn't want you to know where she is, she can do that (and just claim she was indoors at the library).

As Mauricio has pointed out, you can get software for this. However, if I was you, I would look carefully at 'Why' you want this functionality, and what it will actually achieve. My biggest concern in this sort of situation is that, if your daughter knows about it, it shows her that, deep down, you don't trust her. If she knows that, why would she trust you? Why wouldn't she just turn off GPS, or turn the phone off?

There is current functionality in all phones capable of sending and receiving texts that allows for the parents to check up on where their children are. It also as the added advantage of not eroding trust. Parent sends text asking where child is. Child responds.

Note: I am not judging you or your child and I know nothing about your situation. I am only offering my personal opinion on tracking software for phones in a family situation. Feel free to ignore. Obviously these features are different when in the work place, where they are used on a work provided phone, in work time only and with full knowledge of all staff members.

jim.cox

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Reply # 321224 21-Apr-2010 11:19

freitasm: As I said, check the link I posted for software...

Did that, thankx

Looks like there is one app there for Nokia which will do what is needed :)

Now to persuade young Alexandra that a Nolia is what she wants :)

jim.cox

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Reply # 321229 21-Apr-2010 11:24

patatrat: I far as I am aware, the whole tracking thing will not be fool proof.

It has already been said that it won't work indoors. GPS can also be turned off fairly easily on most (if not all phones). So if your daughter doesn't want you to know where she is, she can do that (and just claim she was indoors at the library).

As Mauricio has pointed out, you can get software for this. However, if I was you, I would look carefully at 'Why' you want this functionality, and what it will actually achieve. My biggest concern in this sort of situation is that, if your daughter knows about it, it shows her that, deep down, you don't trust her. If she knows that, why would she trust you? Why wouldn't she just turn off GPS, or turn the phone off?

There is current functionality in all phones capable of sending and receiving texts that allows for the parents to check up on where their children are. It also as the added advantage of not eroding trust. Parent sends text asking where child is. Child responds.

Note: I am not judging you or your child and I know nothing about your situation. I am only offering my personal opinion on tracking software for phones in a family situation. Feel free to ignore. Obviously these features are different when in the work place, where they are used on a work provided phone, in work time only and with full knowledge of all staff members.

Those are very good points

We are being open with Alexandra about this - there is no secrecy involved.

Yes she could turn it off, Yes the accuracy isn't always great

But she understands the advantage to having this in a phone, and she wants a phone of her own...

patatrat

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Reply # 321237 21-Apr-2010 11:35

jim.cox:

Those are very good points

We are being open with Alexandra about this - there is no secrecy involved.

Yes she could turn it off, Yes the accuracy isn't always great

But she understands the advantage to having this in a phone, and she wants a phone of her own...

That sounds great. It sounds like you've raised a very mature Daughter.

NZtechfreak

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Reply # 321238 21-Apr-2010 11:41

Word of warning that battery life will be abysmal with continual GPS tracking happening, there are loads of softwares for all platforms that will do what you need though.

Nokia handsets are a reasonable bet, with free voice-guidance GPS in most of their handsets now. They have a software called Sportstracker that is free and will track position live. The Nokia 5800 is easily the best value proposition out there, its quite media centric, so may appeal to her. Garmin XT Mobile for Nokia/Windows Mobile handsets has some quite nifty location sharing functions, including the ability to share location via text.

In the Android realm theres plenty too, lots of location aware services that can buzz where someone is.

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Klipspringer

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Reply # 321266 21-Apr-2010 12:31

Vodacom (Vodafone) South Africa implemented this service years ago already without the need of a GPS enabled phone. Its a service you can subscribe to. Approximate coordinates can be calculated by signal strength. Dont ask me how it works but it does without the need of a GPS. Even the cheapest mobile phones worked. Funny how far behind we are here in NZ.

Anyway, the service is called look4me. Basically u send a Text to a number, and you get a response with the approximate coordinates of the phone. We used it often, mainly because of the bad crime situation and one always had to know where your family members are.

Come on Vodafone, bring it to NZ.

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