Services like Foursquare makes life easier for those who are always looking for friends, since you can discover the location of people everywhere. However, type networks require that users always update the status, which may not be possible in all places where he is.
Despite not having a computer or smartphone to access the Foursquare everywhere, the overwhelming majority of Americans own a cell phone that receives text messages. So nothing like putting a tracking service on the phone, making you want to find out who the ballad of the weekend.
This is the aim of the Where's, the new service Algar / CTBC is already available in all locations, the coverage area of the telecommunications company. In an interview with Luciana Gonçalves Borges, Department of Product Development Algar, we learn more about the service.
Where Is It?
The new works by triangulation of data, "using as reference the position of the antennas of GSM and 3G coverage CTBC to report the approximate location of a cellphone," says Luciana Borges. The idea is to allow the user a feeling of safety and well being, knowing where they are relatives and friends.
It works via SMS / MMS, simply send a text message with the word "Find" for the number 120, along with the mobile phone number to find. If your phone behaves picture messaging, a map will appear on your screen, marked with the approximate place where the person with SMS.
However, if you have a simple cell, a text message will be sent with the text "the phone (number) is close to the street (street name) between the numbers x and y in the neighborhood ( name of the neighborhood) in the city of (name of town) with a precision of 'x' meters, "said Borges.
Privacy for those who want
Those who are concerned about privacy can be assured, since you can not accept the submission of data to other users. Luciana Borges said that "different entitlements Cellular localization of the applicant shall grant agreement via SMS. He may refuse to authorize or approve only one location always be located by that number. "
On mobile phones with the same title, ie, they are in the name of one person, the authorization is done automatically. For numbers of different owners, the cellular carrier to be found gets the message "The phone (number) you want to locate it. Within seven minutes, answer YES to accept, ALWAYS to always be located and NOT to refuse. "
If the phone you want to find is off or outside the coverage area of CTBC, the service can not be used. However, Borges says that "when requesting the location of roaming, usually able to use the Where's, because the provision of service is SMS / MMS. That is, a mother who travels even outside the coverage area of CTBC he will remain quiet locating their children. "
Released on Mother's Day campaign, the service is now available to all postpaid and prepaid CTBC, both in equipment from individuals or companies. Although already available in the entire coverage area of Telecom, Algar has yet to "forecast the feasibility of using networks of other service providers, since not all possess this technology deployed," says Luciana Borges.
Values
Besides allowing the location of friends, the service can be charged either for each search as well as through promotional packages. No messages exchanged with users in the localization process is collected. Values are only charged when an applicant receives the SMS or MMS with the requested data.
Each search costs $ 0.79 (gross), but users of postpaid mobile phones can also perform a monthly subscription, with 10 searches for $ 4.90 (gross, or 0.49 cents per request). For those participating in the "Offer Family Network, offered by CTBC, the customer will oserviço free until Dec. 31, 2011.
For regions of Brazil that have no coverage of CTBC, Claro also sells a similar service, the course finder. However, this service has a different focus and does not perform or sending SMS to cellular localization of different owners.
So if you are a parent or concerned parent or a person full of friends who need to find, Where You can be an interesting alternative to locate people. Even more unfortunately, the dangers of modern society.
