subject: Types of Tracking [print this page] Tracking a phone is one of the more convenient new innovations of the modern world. There are many types of tracking systems, such as network based, handset based and hybrid based. Some types of tracking are available for use by everyone, and others are for use by law enforcement only.
Network based tracking involves tracking the phone through the network that the phone is contracted through. These types of tracking systems use the networks signal towers and track the location of the device by analyzing the pings that are sent from the phone to the tower. This method is used by law enforcement only to track down missing persons, fugitives, and other individuals whom they might need to locate. This type of tracking can be done without the owner of the phone's knowledge.
If you want to track a handset for personal reasons, you will have to install a certain type of software onto the handset in order to do so. The software will then communicate with the GPS system, and enable the phone to be tracked. So, if you were looking to track a handset without someone's knowledge, you are out of luck. Some phones do come with this type of software already loaded, but the owner of the phone will have to enable the tracking function on the phone. This is useful for parents who want to verify the location of their children. Teenagers have been known to claim to be in one location while they are actually in another. For instance, if your daughter claims that she is at her friend's house studying, and you track her phone to a movie theatre, it is safe to say that she might have some explaining to do!
Another type of tracking that can be used is called Hybrid. Hybrid tracking is a mixture of the two types of tracking mentioned above. Basically, the average hybrid system uses the network system, but the owner of the phone can use this tracking to locate their phone themselves. The phone has to have certain software components on it, so it is still not a discreet way to track someone.
