12 replies to this topic

[atsaunier]

Sprint unveiled a new service Thursday that will allow parents to track their children via cell phones in an attempt to attract more families to the carrier. Parents would be able to see the location of their children via a map on either a computer or a cell phone.

Accuracy of the reading would vary from as little as two yards to as many as several hundred yards, according to Sprint.

Using GPS technology built into cell phones for use in emergencies to help 911 personnel pinpoint the location of callers, the Family Locator feature would cost $9.99 USD per month. The service could be installed on 17 phones in the company's lineup, however the mapping function could be viewed on twice as many phones.

Parents could instruct the service to send a text message at certain times of day to confirm the locations of their children. Additionally, children would know when their parents are checking up on them -- the service would notify the child via text message.

Family plans have become a large source of revenue for many wireless providers. As many as 6 out of every 10 new subscribers come as part of a family plan, according to recent data. Analysts say Sprint has underperformed in this market, with only about a 12 percent share of all multi-line plans.

However, such a service may be a tough sell; it's estimated only two percent of current mobile subscribers would be interested in people-locating services.

Disney also plans a similar offering when it begins renting space on the Sprint network for its cell service in June. Pricing for Disney Mobile has not been announced.

Source:Beta NEws

i wounder what they will do next

[clarky3429]

lol, in some cases it could be useful, like for emergancies, but where does it lead to? a kid throwing his mobile phone into a bin at school so thier parents think there in class? husbands keeping tabs on wives vice versa??

[Neon]

Its scary cos this technology can easily be misused and no one wants spying on like that.

[simon]

its a great idea but how is it going to stop kidnapping ? its not ....... there was a story awhile back of someone taking the family car with the cell phone and kids in the car. Mind u the phone had GPS but it did them no good because the cell co needed a court order and there was no calls made to police...... in the long run this will be GOOD aid in tracking providing its not known

[Neon]

it might sound crazy but if it got hacked, you'd find kids to kidnap

[ShadowFox]

dude you'll be lucky to hack it... besides it texts the person to let them know they are being tracked and it takes a parent phone... good luck:p

[ShadowFox]

Yeah that's true... but think, there's still the chance MANY people aren't going to do this, just cause it's an option doesn't mean it will be used... if I had kids I wouldn't use it... no point really

[ShadowFox]

ohh yeah now you're talking

[simon]

thats cheaper and they cant toss it a bin as some 1 said

[Neon]

i was thinking more along lines of rev, but what if someone had a chipped phone that could pick up all signals, a pda that found them lol.

[ShadowFox]

see I look at it like this... if they are going to go through all the trouble of finding the kids phone... simulating thier parents phone only to find the kids leaving the state 3 min after it's done... they can pretty much kiss it goodbye... it's quicker to walk into wal-mart at 6 pm mand nab which ever kid you want O.o
Too much work JUST to get a kid... unless someone wanted a challenge I think it'll be alright.

[Nvyseal]

I dont think a kid will throw their phone in the bin, it means too much to them. If kept quiet, its an OK idea. If it saves one childs life, its worth it

[ShadowFox]

it helps when you want to spy on your child I think... I don't think it has a purpose till a child IS kidnapped though... in today's society you can't just ignore ppl, you'll never make friends but on the same note 92% of people can't be trusted O.o