GPS, using non-GPS phone?

I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
of their users while making a call. Is this correct? If so, then
wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
(non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
grid reference shows up on screen?

Mike D

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Mike Deveron wrote:
> I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
> of their users while making a call. Is this correct? If so, then
> wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
> (non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
> grid reference shows up on screen?
>
> Mike D

I beleive they can't pinpoint you, but they can get to within
a certain distance, I can't remember what the distance is though.

--
xCx
*Disclaimer* My opinions are mine and I do not represent
anyone or any company.

"Mike Deveron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
> of their users while making a call. Is this correct? If so, then
> wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
> (non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
> grid reference shows up on screen?
>
> Mike D

Depends what you mean by pin-point.
I believe there are such services mainly
sold to worried parents so they can keep
track of their kids. I would have thought
at best, the GSM network would have an
error of several hundred meters and at worst
several kilometres.

I have a GSM tracking device in my company
car, but the data it gives me is just based
on the STD codes of the cell sites I pass through.
--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%

In article <[email protected]>,
xCx <[email protected]> writes:
> Mike Deveron wrote:
> > I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
> > of their users while making a call. Is this correct? If so, then
> > wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
> > (non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
> > grid reference shows up on screen?
>
> I beleive they can't pinpoint you, but they can get to within
> a certain distance, I can't remember what the distance is though.

Slightly less than twelve miles, the time I tried it with my own phone.
I didn't bother to take up the subscription I was offered.
--
SAm.

"Mike Deveron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
> of their users while making a call. Is this correct? If so, then
> wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
> (non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
> grid reference shows up on screen?
>
> Mike D

Think it depends on how many mobile masts are in your area as I think they
can only locate you by which one your connected to, so not as accurate as a
gps locator.

--
Gerry (The MOTH)

"Terry Eden" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 4 Jun, 12:26, Mike Deveron <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>> I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
>> of their users while making a call. Is this correct? If so, then
>> wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
>> (non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
>> grid reference shows up on screen?
>
> Yes. You can also request a location update for online services.
>
> For example, on Vodafone live*, you can go to the travel section and
> find your nearest cash point (for example).
>
> It depends on where in the UK you are. If there are loads of masts
> nearby (like central London) it can get you to within a couple of
> streets. If you're in the middle of a field in Wales, it will get you
> to within the nearest town.
>
> It's good enough for finding the nearest cinema, cash point, petrol
> station etc., but not really suitable for turn-by-turn driving.
>
> The Multimap service (again, on Vodafone) will show you a map of the
> area - I think it includes an OS reference. But I don't know of a
> service which will text/tell you where you are.
>
> T
> *I work for Vodafone but this isn't an official communication from
> them.
>

Similar for other services like Orange and 3.

Thee is also a service for Wifi as well. Saw this on BBC Click.

http://www.loki.com/

[email protected] declared for all the world to
hear...
>
> I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
> of their users while making a call. Is this correct?

Depends on your definition of "pinpoint". Accuracy in an area with lots
of BTS could be around 50 to 100 metres. In rural areas a resolution of
several miles is more likely.

> If so, then
> wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
> (non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
> grid reference shows up on screen?

Nowhere near accurate enough for that.
--
Regards
Jon

Jon wrote:

> [email protected] declared for all the world to
> hear...
>> I heard that mobile phone companies can pinpoint the position of any
>> of their users while making a call. Is this correct?
>
> Depends on your definition of "pinpoint". Accuracy in an area with lots
> of BTS could be around 50 to 100 metres. In rural areas a resolution of
> several miles is more likely.
>
>> If so, then
>> wouldn't it be possible to have a kind of GPS service for ordinary
>> (non-GPS) mobile phones? I.e, you diale a certain number and your OS
>> grid reference shows up on screen?
>
> Nowhere near accurate enough for that.

Theoretically they could pinpoint it to within a few metres if you're
moving (eg in a car). However that would be a hell of a lot of work to
implement in any useful way and what would you gain over GPS?

Geoff