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Cell phone morphs into tracking device
(News & Observer, The (Raleigh, NC) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) May 7--what Mom or Dad hasn't had an anxiety attack about this perennial parental problem?
The newest generation of cell phones lets parents follow their children's whereabouts with such precision that it has some civil libertarians clucking.
Cell-phone trackers are part of a broader trend. As technology improves, companies are selling various devices that track movement and location, including gadgets that are installed in cars, radio frequency tags that can be sewn into clothes or embedded in a wristband and software that lets parents watch what their children are doing online, whether browsing Web sites or instant messaging.
Sprint Nextel's Family Locator service uses global positioning satellite technology to let parents track their offspring, much the same way that GPS devices in cars provide maps and directions.
The main technological advance of these new GPS services is that parents don't have to get on the Internet to track their children. The map images showing Junior's location are sent to cell-phone screens and are accessible anywhere there's a wireless signal.
Sprint Nextel's Family Locator also can send a message to notify you that your child arrived at a designated location, such as school or home.
And some services allow you to map a dot pattern of your child's movements throughout the day, so you can see where he or she was when you weren't looking.
How does it work?
You submit a locator request with your phone key pad, and a map appears on your cell-phone screen or personal computer that pinpoints the location of the cell phone you are tracking. The tracker shows the location of the cell phone. So unless your children has lost the phone or accidentally (ahem) left it with a friend, you'll know exactly where your little darling is.
The Family Locator is accurate to within a few yards. If the satellite signal is interrupted, the system estimates the distance to the nearest cell tower, usually within two miles.
The Sprint Nextel service notifies the child each time a parent checks on his or her location. But some services don't inform the child.
How much does it cost, and where is it available?
Sprint Nextel's service costs $9.99 a month. The price covers the service for up to four phones. The service works with 47 phone models. Some phones are free with a rebate and a service contract. Family Locator works only in Sprint Nextel's national coverage area, and is available in the Triangle and other major markets.
Other services include Teen Arrive Alive ($19.99 a month), Wherify Wireless ($19.99 a month) and Disney Mobile Family Locator (due out this summer).
Some services work with a limited number of phone models, which will likely require getting new phones.
What's the trade-off?
The services could serve an untapped market: parents reluctant to shell out for a cell phone for their children.
With legions of teens already on cell phones, the tracking systems can give parents some peace of mind about the whereabouts of their progeny.
Critics worry about the Orwellian implications and privacy infringement potential of the new technology. They say that the GPS trackers could be abused for government surveillance.
Some warn that the trackers could be hacked into by pedophiles. The companies say the systems have security measures to protect privacy.
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