Best method for tracking cell phones

[Specop 007]

Like it says. Verizon Tracking is 10 bucks a month, that seems excessive. There has to be a better way. So whats the best (or one of the best) ways to track cell phones. I'm primarily interested in tracking my kids cell phones so I know where they are. Of course being able to check that on my own phone would be great as well as being able to remotely access a phone in the event it was stolen would be a nice touch. Whats the best way to accomplish this?

 

[ImDonly1]

Like it says. Verizon Tracking is 10 bucks a month, that seems excessive. There has to be a better way. So whats the best (or one of the best) ways to track cell phones. I'm primarily interested in tracking my kids cell phones so I know where they are. Of course being able to check that on my own phone would be great as well as being able to remotely access a phone in the event it was stolen would be a nice touch. Whats the best way to accomplish this?

The type of phone you use would be helpful.
On an iPhone with iOS 5 you can use Find My iPhone. It is built into the OS. Pre-iOS 5 had to download the app separately I think.

Android has similar apps for tracking stolen phones. I don't use Android so I can't recommend one.

Interesting link:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1254206

 

[notposting]

https://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/my

I can see where my phone is, send a signal to ring so I can find it wherever the toddler hid it, and remotely wipe it if needed. Pretty neat.

 

[Specop 007]

The type of phone you use would be helpful.
On an iPhone with iOS 5 you can use Find My iPhone. It is built into the OS. Pre-iOS 5 had to download the app separately I think.

Android has similar apps for tracking stolen phones. I don't use Android so I can't recommend one.

Interesting link:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1254206

This is where we really open up some possibilities.

I havent selected phones yet. My boss is a huge Apple guy and demonstrated the Apple iPhone tracking feature which looked really cool. If that level of functionality is only available on Apple products then thats my horse for this race.

My personal feelings are I'm somewhat leery of Apple simply due to the closed community it has. I dont want to get into any fanboism or flame wars, they make some seriously cool hardware but it is a pretty closed system.

If I can get the Apple tracking features in the Android community then thats the route I would prefer to do. I can get the kids the free or cheap android phones and get the wife and myself the more expensive Android phones.

Otherwise its iPhone 4's for the family and 4S for dad, and I wouldnt feel disappointed by having to go that route.

 

[AFurryReptile]

Honestly? Facebook works really well if you'd like to "track" your kids. Turn on the check-in feature and you'll literally be able to track them on a map, while seeing every place they check into.

For a stolen phone, I use Prey. It's super easy to use, has a lot features, is open sourced, and has been reliable for years.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

It really depends on that you are trying to do. Google latitude works on Android and may work on iOS as well but it's not really meant for finding lost phones. There are a variety of apps that are more targeted toward that.

 

[Specop 007]

It really depends on that you are trying to do. Google latitude works on Android and may work on iOS as well but it's not really meant for finding lost phones. There are a variety of apps that are more targeted toward that.

I can easily sum it up like this.

My primary goal is to answer the question "Where are my freaking kids?!"

Second to that would be "Where the hell is my cheating wife!"

Then followed up with "Wheres my damn phone?!"

 

[the DRIZZLE]

I can easily sum it up like this.

My primary goal is to answer the question "Where are my freaking kids?!"

Second to that would be "Where the hell is my cheating wife!"

Then followed up with "Wheres my damn phone?!"

I would go with an android phone using google latitude as the primary method for finding family and use the one of the third party apps for phone recovery as they have some more features like remote wipe. Latitude is nice because you can put it right on your iGoogle page if you're a google user. I'm sure there are workable solutions on other platforms as well.

 

[alent1234]

isn't latitude always running sucking up battery?

 

[Specop 007]

Does Google Latitude work in an "always on" mode or does it only update location information when connected to a wifi network? If it does use a data plan what kind of bandwidth requirements have users seen?

I'm going to do some research on this Latitude, sounds like a good option.

 

[WelshBloke]

What phone do you have/want to track? Lots of phones have built in stuff for that, Samsung has DIVE and I think HTC has something similar.

McAfee can track and locate your phone as part of its WaveSecure security suite.

 

[hanoverphist]

I can easily sum it up like this.

My primary goal is to answer the question "Where are my freaking kids?!"

Second to that would be "Where the hell is my cheating wife!"

Then followed up with "Wheres my damn phone?!"

https://market.android.com/details?...1bGwsMSwxLDEsIm9yZy5ndG1lZGlhLnNlZWtkcm9pZCJd

seekdroid is worth the cost. you can send a text to locate it, no notification on the phone that you are trying to find it. it sends you a google maps link to its current location and updates if it moves. you can also use their web page to locate it, send alarms to find it and remote wipe everything if you want. theres supposed to also be a way to hide the app so a thief cant uninstall it.

 

[Specop 007]

What phone do you have/want to track? Lots of phones have built in stuff for that, Samsung has DIVE and I think HTC has something similar.

McAfee can track and locate your phone as part of its WaveSecure security suite.

Havent purchased any phones yet, which means I'm free to go with whatever is the "best" option. But that also means I cant ask the specific question of "How do I track X model phone".

I do know we will be going with Verizon as the carrier.

Maybe a more accurate question is what are some methods for picking up my cell phone, pushing a few buttons and finding out where my kids are by showing my the locations of their cell phones.

 

[bucwylde23]

https://market.android.com/details?...1bGwsMSwxLDEsIm9yZy5ndG1lZGlhLnNlZWtkcm9pZCJd

seekdroid is worth the cost. you can send a text to locate it, no notification on the phone that you are trying to find it. it sends you a google maps link to its current location and updates if it moves. you can also use their web page to locate it, send alarms to find it and remote wipe everything if you want. theres supposed to also be a way to hide the app so a thief cant uninstall it.

+1. I have been using Seekdroid for a while. Great app.

 

[Red Storm]

what are some methods for picking up my cell phone, pushing a few buttons and finding out where my kids are

Call/text them and ask "Where are you?"

Another +1 for SeekDroid.

Also out of pure curiosity, are your kids going to be made aware of the fact that you can and will be tracing their location on a whim?

 

[alent1234]

Havent purchased any phones yet, which means I'm free to go with whatever is the "best" option. But that also means I cant ask the specific question of "How do I track X model phone".

I do know we will be going with Verizon as the carrier.

Maybe a more accurate question is what are some methods for picking up my cell phone, pushing a few buttons and finding out where my kids are by showing my the locations of their cell phones.

few months ago my wife was taking too long to drive back home. i picked up my phone, pulled up find my iphone and saw she was a mile or so away on her way back. it came up via google maps. turns out she stopped by some store after picking up my mom

 

[Red Storm]

few months ago my wife was taking too long to drive back home. i picked up my phone, pulled up find my iphone and saw she was a mile or so away on her way back. it came up via google maps. turns out she stopped by some store after picking up my mom

So instead of calling your wife to see if she's okay, you just checked to see where the phone was...?

I'm being sarcastic of course. I understand that it's probably more convenient to do it that way, but personally my main interest would be finding out if that person was okay by actually communicating with them.

 

[alent1234]

we don't have bluetooth in the car one of the ear ones and don't talk and drive. and one of my kids was in the car.

once i saw the location i knew the probability of an accident was extremely low. if it was on the highway it would be a different story

 

[Specop 007]

Call/text them and ask "Where are you?"

Another +1 for SeekDroid.

Also out of pure curiosity, are your kids going to be made aware of the fact that you can and will be tracing their location on a whim?

We are very open with our kids, yes they will be made aware we can track them and they can track us.

If they dont agree to that, well, they are 9 11 and 15. No phone for them.

 

[lothar]

We are very open with our kids, yes they will be made aware we can track them and they can track us.

If they dont agree to that, well, they are 9 11 and 15. No phone for them.

"Daddy just left work and will arrive home in 5 mins."
Quickly, hide the Xbox under the bed!!! Don't forget the component and S-Video cables at the back of the TV!!!

 

[gsaldivar]

Google Latitude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-B6xkFpm7Q

 

[WelshBloke]

https://market.android.com/details?...1bGwsMSwxLDEsIm9yZy5ndG1lZGlhLnNlZWtkcm9pZCJd

seekdroid is worth the cost. you can send a text to locate it, no notification on the phone that you are trying to find it. it sends you a google maps link to its current location and updates if it moves. you can also use their web page to locate it, send alarms to find it and remote wipe everything if you want. theres supposed to also be a way to hide the app so a thief cant uninstall it.

I'm finding it quite a battery killer, I'll keep testing it for a few more days and see how it goes.

 

[bucwylde23]

I'm finding it quite a battery killer, I'll keep testing it for a few more days and see how it goes.

I dont think Seekdroid does anything unless you are tracking it so it shouldn't be killing your battery.
if you are tracking it then of course it will use battery it is utilizing the GPS.

 

[WelshBloke]

I dont think Seekdroid does anything unless you are tracking it so it shouldn't be killing your battery.
if you are tracking it then of course it will use battery it is utilizing the GPS.

Like I said I'll keep trying, but after installing it and doing a test location seek my battery life graph has had a nice steep downwards slope for the last few hours.

 

[bucwylde23]

Like I said I'll keep trying, but after installing it and doing a test location seek my battery life graph has had a nice steep downwards slope for the last few hours.

I'll have to test on mine later and see if I get the same results