Which cell phone brands can be tracked?

Cell phones can be tracked via satellites. Though they seem like they are faraway, they can be accurate within about 15 meters.

The key to tracking cellular or radio wave signal is called trilateration. For effective trilateration, a cell phone must be picking on at least 3 satellites. It is better if it picks on 4 or more satellites. Constant streaming signals containing information such as time the signal was sent and the orbital information of the satellite is received from the satellites on your GPS enabled cell phone. Based on that information, GPS receiver of your cell phone calculates your location in latitude and longitude. It can also calculate your current speed on the basis of distance covered and time between the readings.

Attaining current position of a mobile whether stationary or moving is referred to as mobile tracking. Global Positioning system (GPS) is a space based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information anytime, anywhere on or near the earth. While GPS was originally a military project, over the years it has come to be considered a dual use technology with significant military and civilian applications.

GPS connection from a mobile phone can be used to pinpoint its location and by extension the person or vehicle carrying it.
With US FCC mandating the feature of GPS either in the handset or the towers to facilitate emergency services locate 911 callers, mobiles phones with GPS capability have flooded the market. Majority of GPS receivers are built into mobile phones with varying degrees f coverage and user accessibility. Commercial navigation software is available for most 21st century smart phones as well as some java enabled phones that enables them to use external or internal GPS receiver. While some phones work with assisted GPS only and lose functionality when out of range of their carrier’s cell towers, others can navigate worldwide with satellite GPS signals as a dedicated portable GPS receiver does, upgrading their operation to assisted GPS mode when in range. A few others have hybrid positioning system that can use other signals when inadequacy of GPS signals is encountered.

Nearly all new cell phones today have inbuilt GPS receiving capability. Common uses of GPS tracking phones include location tracking, turn by turn directions, outdoor location services and other location based services.

Many of today’s phones have the hardware to be tracked by satellite. Blackberry and Treo are popular cell phone brands that have satellite trackable models. Some of the GPS enabled phones include MioA701 smart phone and several Motorola phones offered through sprint/Nextel.

The cell phone brands that can be tracked include Kyocera Milano, Samsung Admire, Samsung Conquer 4G, HTC My Touch 4G Slide, Samsung Exhibit 4G, HTC Droid Incredible 2, HTC Sensation 4G, LG Thrive, HTC EVO 3D, LG Optimus V, Motorola Photon 4G, Motorola Droid 3, Huawei Ascend II, LG Genesis, Pantech Crossover, Samsung Droid Charge, Samsung Dart, Motorola Theory, Samsung Replenish and Samsung Gravity Smart.

Getting yourself a GPS enabled mobile phone, PDA, smart phone or Bluetooth enabled GPS receiver and confirmation from your service provider that your cell phone is GPS enabled allows are prerequisites for mobile tracking.