How to geo-locate a Mobile Phone?
There are different ways to geo-locate a phone but before getting to the heart of the matter, let's talk a little bit about what geolocation really is.
What is geolocation?
Geolocation is a technique that determines the precise geographic location of a place or, at a given time, a person, a vehicle, an object, etc.. Obtaining the geolocation of a telephone therefore makes it possible to have, on a geographical map, the location of the mobile phone. There are different ways of geolocation:
The different types of location
GSM geolocation :
This system makes it possible to locate a telephone with no Internet access (unlike a smartphone) thanks to antennas that emit electromagnetic waves.
WPS geolocation:
The "Wifi Positioning System" is a technique that simply uses nearby wifi terminals to determine the position of the phone. It is mainly used in the city.
Geolocation by GPS
This is generally the default on today's smartphones. GPS tracking uses satellites to locate. It is the most widely used because it offers a very accurate location. GPS location is used by third party operating system applications (Android and iOS) to find your phone.
How to activate location on a phone?
It is possible that your phone can't be located if it does not have location enabled. To Enable GPS on your phone you need to :
For an iPhone :
From your settings, go to the "Confidentiality" section and make sure that the location service is activated.
For a Smartphone :
It depends on the system of your mobile phone and the version of Android you have but it's simple. From your settings, look for the "Password & Security" or "Login" tab. Then look for the "Location" tab and make sure it is activated.
What about the IMEI number in all this?
The IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a number that identifies your mobile phone. Every phone has its IMEI number which can be found on the box of your phone when you bought it or by typing #06# on your mobile phone keypad. This number allows a mobile network operator to identify the calling mobile phone and thus authorize it, or not, to connect to the network. It does not allow you to locate a phone. However, it allows you to cut off the network from your phone if it has been stolen by giving it to the gendarmerie. Unfortunately, this is a practice that is less and less used since thieves have simple solutions to unblock the phone's network.
Why do we need to locate a phone?
Locate a phone for professionals
Knowing the location of a phone can be used to target a certain clientele in the case of marketing targeting. It can also be used to locate a person on the job if the location meets the conditions set out in the employment contract.
Locating a telephone for individuals
Locate family
Locating a phone can be used to locate a loved one, be it family, friends or even children. Some people use phone geolocation anonymously to find out the geographic location of a spouse when there are doubts about loyalty.
Locating a lost phone
Our actions are often automatic and sometimes we leave our phone in one place without realizing it. Time goes by and once you realize it, you don't know where you might have left it. Losing your phone is very annoying and the suspicion of theft can set in.
Locating a stolen phone
In the most frequent cases, locating a phone allows you to find a mobile phone that has just been stolen. In this case, you have to act quickly to put all the chances on your side. There are several ways to locate a mobile phone.
How to locate a mobile phone?
The different ways to locate a phone
There are different ways to locate a mobile phone:
With software:
There are platforms such as Spycore, Famisafe or Mspy that allow real-time location of smartphones. These softwares offer other services related to safety, especially for minors.
With applications
There are many applications to locate an android or one in the app store for iPhones but these are not very accurate, so it is recommended to use the location services dedicated to operating systems such as Find my device or the iOS Locate application. These are handy if you have internet access. Unfortunately, not all of us have internet and it is preferable to use the services of Geoloc.be to put all the chances on its side.
Locate a phone with Geoloc.be
Geoloc.be allows you to locate any brand of phone (Samsung, iPhone, Xiaomi, Huawei and many others). In addition to offering you a detailed tutorial to locate a mobile phone with third party services, we provide a unique GPS location with the simple sending of a text message to locate the recipient. The Geoloc.be service is available to help you locate one or more phones.