How To Trace An
Android Phone :
1. Obtain
a phone tracing service through your carrier. Many carriers offer locator
services for a modest monthly fee. Sprint Family Locator allows you to locate
up to four phones. It works on any Sprint phone and shows phone locations on a
map that you can access from a computer or a mobile phone. Verizon offers
Family Locator, which lets you check the location of the phones from a
smartphone, tablet or PC and receive location updates. AT&T; offers Family
Map, which shows members' wireless phones on a map and allows for Schedule
Checks, which texts or emails you information about a phone's location at a
specified time. Sprint, Verizon and AT&T; offer free trial periods so you
can see if the program works for your business.
2. Choose
a third-party application that tracks Android phones as an alternative to a
carrier-based program. LocateMyDroid does not cost anything and sets up
quickly. For users with Android 2.2+, it works across all carriers around the
globe. It provides a web interface and does not run on the phone until
activated via the website, saving battery life. Mobile Defense offers many
features in addition to locating the phone on a map. You can protect sensitive
information by remotely locking the phone, making backups and even wiping
information from the phone. This is useful for someone with a lot of important
business information stored on the phone. InstaMapper provides access to 30
previous days of locations (up to 100,000 locations). It allows you to track your
location and share this data.
3. Download and install the selected
program on the cell phone. For the Verizon program, go to "Media
Center," then "Browse & Download," then "Get New
Application," then "Family Locator Member," then "Free -
Subscription," and then press "OK." After downloading, click
"Yes" to run the program. For AT&T; Family Map, you will receive
a text message with a temporary password. For LocateMyDroid and other apps, go
to the Android Market on your phone and download your desired app. The app
should prompt you to install it, but if it does not, go to notifications and
run the app.
4. Track
the phone from the designated website. The service will give a website address
where you can log on from your computer or mobile phone. With LocateMyDroid, go
to your account and then to the "locate" link under
"Actions." Click on "Start track." It also shows a map and
gives a street address to make it easier to find. AT&T; shows you a virtual
map as well as a satellite view. Verizon Family Locator also shows a satellite
view. In Mobile Defense and Instamapper, you will see a moving dot on a map.
Instamapper lets you share your location by sending a link to a map or even
embedding a map on a Web page or Facebook.
v Tip:
·
Do not exclude tracking software just
because it markets itself as a service for parents to monitor the location of
their children. These programs provide the same tracking services that a
business needs.
·
v Warnings:
·
Do not wait to set up a tracking
service on your Android phone. Most services need to be initiated prior to
attempting to trace; if you wait until your phone is lost or stolen, it may be
too late.
·
Take steps to alleviate privacy
concerns among employees by sharing your tracking policy. Write a cell phone
policy that discloses information about tracking and ask that employees sign an
agreement when accepting the cell phone.
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