Different Methods of Tracking Cell Phone Location

The giant leaps that we have taken in the field of science and technology over the last few decades, have made many things possible! A few years ago, if someone sitting in California had said that he can determine the exact location of his friend on a Asia tour on the basis of his cell phone location, we would have assumed that he is dreaming.

A cell phone featuring Global Positioning System (GPS) can be traced by two methods. While the first method revolves around the use of one of the numerous websites that facilitate GPS tracking, the second method involves resorting to a software developed for the same.

Irrespective of which method you choose, the location of the device will be tracked on the basis of data compiled by three satellites orbiting the planet. For a website, you will have to register and create an account, and log in every time you want to resort to this service. The result of your query will be displayed on a map provided on the website itself.

In order to track cell phone location from your PC, you will have to buy a tracking software and install it on the handset that you need to keep a track of. Once you have installed it, you can sit at home and monitor the person's movements on your PC. If you are ready to shell out money, there is no end to cell phone location tracking software in the market.

This software is a great way to keep a watch on your children. Installing it on your handset will also make sure that you find your lost or stolen cell phone easily. The tracking software can cost around USD 8 - 14 per month, with higher end products promising better results. Some companies even offer the software for free and charge for subsequent usage.

With Google's latest offering, Google Latitude available for public, now, it's possible to trace cell phone location using Google Earth. You will need a cell phone with Internet and a Google account. Visit the Google Latitude homepage and feed the cell phone number you want to track. Once you are done with this, you will get a text message with a link.

When you click on this link, you will be redirected to a new page, wherein you will be asked if you want Google Latitude to keep a track of the current location of this cell phone. Once you click on 'yes', the service will be activated, and you will be able to monitor the location of the cell phone on Google Earth.

One of the simplest ways to track a lost or stolen cell phone is to handover your IMEI number to the service provider and ask them to track the device. International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is an unique identification code of each device, usually printed beneath the battery of the cell phone. To check the IMEI number, dial *06# on your phone.

In this method, the handset is tracked by the process of triangulation, wherein the transfer of data between the phone and tower is evaluated to pinpoint its location. The same method is used to trace a call and determine a person's location. Though it is easy to track a cell phone by this method, but the legalities involved tend to make it a bit cumbersome.

While all these methods are becoming more and more popular by the day, some serious concerns are being raised over the issue of privacy in this context. This has prompted the law enforcement agencies to make it mandatory to take permission before resorting to phone tracking.

By tracking a person's cell phone, you can track his movements. If you want to go the other way round, i.e., track cell phone location by phone number, you should opt for reverse phone number lookup. While both the concepts are totally different, they are of immense help in day-to-day life.