Overall, Plan B is an awesome app to use if you need to find your phone after you’ve already lost it, or it has been stolen – if it is compatible with your device and carrier. The accuracy of its GPS location is top notch; it’s super easy to use, and can prove to be a lifesaver! The bad news is that it works only with a select number of Android phones and on a select number of carriers in the US; plus, if the thief turned off your phone and took the sim-card, there is no way you can track it with this app, actually no app can track it then.

If you’ve ever lost, or had your phone stolen, you know how difficult it can be to get it back. That’s assuming you ever do!

A new app is paving the way for Android phone tracking and location.

Introducing Plan B to Android Owners

Plan B was developed by the makers of Lookout Mobile Security. Plan B is still in its infancy stage, but has been launched as a beta app to the public to test drive.

Plan B is an amazing, free app designed to be downloaded after your phone has been lost or stolen.

Some Key Features:

• Remote download/install after your phone has gone missing.
• Easy to install and track down your phone.
• Incredibly accurate

Remote Download and Install

As mentioned above, Plan B was designed so that even if you don’t have some sort of tracking app installed on your phone before it is lost or stolen, you can easily install it from the Google Play Store from your computer.

There are 2 easy steps to follow:

Log into the Google Play Store on your desktop computer using the email address linked to your lost/stolen phone. Search for Plan B, and install the app.

1. Once installed, Plan B will automatically start to send you 1-9 emails with the location of your phone.
2. After 10 minutes, if you need another, more recent update of your phone’s location, simply send a text message using a friend’s phone with the word “locate” to your lost/stolen phone. You will receive another email with a more recent location. Standard messaging rates apply.

Amazing Accuracy

Probably one of the best features of using Plan B, next to being able to install it after your phone has been lost, is how incredibly accurate it is when it locates your phone. With the help of GPS and using cell phone towers, Plan B can locate your phone within a few meters of where your phone is actually located. Some users have even commented on this saying that even their local police were shocked at how accurately it located the device!

Available Carriers

As stated in the “About Lookout Plan B’s” technical details, Plan B is only available on select carriers in the United States. Those carriers include:

• Verizon
• ŸT-mobile
• Sprint
• AT&T

The Not So Good News

Now, before I go into some of the negatives I have found with this app, keep in mind, Plan B is still a work in progress. The developers are still working hard to fix any bugs the app may have.

However, here are a few negative aspects that I have come across, as have some other users:

1. Although on the Google Play Store, they state that the app requires Android 2.0 or higher and is compatible with my devices, after downloading the app on my Android 4.0 phone and tablet, I was not able to get it to work. After much searching, I found the Lookout Support website (support.lookout.com), where it states that Plan B will NOT work with the Android OS 3.2 (latest Honeycomb) and OS 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), as it includes “certain changes” that causes the app not to work at installation or via sending text message location requests.
2. A notification appears in the notification bar when the app is downloaded or location email is sent. As you can probably guess, this can be a major problem if your phone has been stolen and you are trying to track your thief without them knowing. Unfortunately, because these two notifications do appear in your phone’s notification bar, that means whoever stole your phone will likely know it has been installed, and can easily uninstall it.
3. In addition to the notification bar issue mentioned above, users have also mentioned that one fatal flaw is that this app does not include remote lock and wipe functions – which can prove vital when your phone has been stolen. However, once you do retrieve your phone, you can upgrade/install the Lookout Security & Antivirus (paid version) for only $2.99/month which includes remote lock and wipe.
4. If you have a 3^rd party SMS app installed, Plan B may not work.

Other concerns that Plan B users have mentioned, but quite frankly, are not necessarily the fault of the app or it’s developers are:

1. If your phone is stolen, and the thief removes or changes the SIM card – Plan B cannot work. No SIM card means no Google email account synced to that phone, so you cannot receive emails of its location.
2. Plan B cannot work if the phone has been turned off, the battery is dead, or there isn’t a network connection.
3. Additionally, if the device you have Plan B installed on is a tablet, the SMS location option will not work. This is because the SMS location option must use a cell phone number to work, which tablets are not equipped with.

The technology has advanced so much that now there are different methods available for keeping an eye on your child no matter how far away you are. You should certainly consider all available options. That way, you will be able to make the best choice for your child and for you.

Child GPS Tracking Devices

In order for a device to work as a GPS tracker is has to have a GPS chip. The chip is absolutely tiny so it can be embedded in virtually any object. Usually, the trackers are accessories that the child will wear all the time. That way, their maximum efficiency is guaranteed. The most popular GPS tracker accessories for children are watches, wristbands and bracelets and ankle bracelets.

The way in which the GPS chip works is very simple. It receives radio signals from the satellites of the Global Positioning System. That way, the satellites can pinpoint its exact location at any time. The tracking information is then transferred to the parent electronically.

Depending on the service that you are using, you may be able to receive the coordinates of the location of your child via email or via a text message and/or see the youngster’s precise location on a map available on the website of the service provider. The latter option is the most popular as it allows you to see exactly whether your child is at school, in the park, at his/her friend’s or somewhere else. The online service is typically accessible from any computer with an internet connection.

Some GPS devices and services for tracking children are more comprehensive than others. You may be able to set the tracking service so that you receive information on the location of your child at certain intervals. Setting a safe perimeter may also be an option. If your child goes out of the safe zone, you receive an alert. Some kid GPS tracker devices have a special SOS button that the child can push in case of an emergency.

You can readily consider an example of GPS tracking device for kids to get a better idea about the way it works and how much it costs. In general, the more comprehensive the device and the service are the more expensive they will be. Generally, the cost can be a concern for many parents, but there are alternatives as well.

Cell Phone Child GPS Tracking

Virtually all modern smartphones have integrated GPS technology in them. If your child uses such a smart phone, you do not have to invest in a separate device. You simply need to subscribe to a GPS tracking service and install a software program on the device which your kid uses. Then you will be able to track the child’s location on a map and receive information on its location via text messages and/or via email.

The cell phone GPS tracking services designed for monitoring children differ in terms of comprehensiveness and price. You can readily compare different service providers to pick the best one. It is essential to compare the actual quality of the different services.

What if you cannot buy a GPS tracker or a smartphone for your child? Do you have concerns that the youngster can easily lose such an expensive device? The good news is that there are alternatives to GPS tracking which you can consider.

Child GSM Cell Phone Trackers

This type of tracking uses cell phones and cell networks. When a phone with a SIM card is switched on, it emits a signal that all transmission towers in the area pick up. A special GSM tracking technology processes the signal received by the different towers and produces the location of the device and consequently of the child that carries it. The parent can monitor the child’s location on a map from any computer, tablet or smart phone with an internet connection.

Child GSM tracking services have a number of advantages over GPS tracking. You can track any cell phone device irrespective of the brand, model and year of production. There is no need to install any software or hardware on the phone. This makes GSM tracking more cost-efficient apart from being simpler to set up and to use. Additionally, you are entitled to a number of free searches once you subscribe for the service.

Now you can make a well-informed decision about child GPS tracking. You can pick the option that will give you the best value for your money.

With cell phone tracking, you will have the peace of mind that your child is exactly where he/she should be. You will be able to find your friends easily and quickly, even if you could not manage to arrive on time for the get-together. Locating your phone in case it has gone missing will be as easy as a child’s game.

Find out how you can track a cell phone for free. Consider the different methods available. Assess them and pick the one that is most suitable for you.

Free Smartphone Tracking Apps

There are special tracking apps designed for literally all types of smartphones. Some cost a tiny sum, but there are also many that come absolutely free of charge. You just have to make sure that the app is compatible with the operating system on your smartphone.

All of these apps use GPS technology to locate the devices. There are some differences in their operation that you have to note, however. Some of the apps provide the coordinates of the location of the device upon request from you. This is useful in case your cell has been lost or stolen. However, it can be quite frustrating to request the location coordinates of a friend, a colleague or your child every time you need to find the respective person.

There are also apps that allow you to see the location of the device on a map. These apps are integrated with an internet website that has a map on it. All that you have to do is to log on to the website, open the map and perform a search. You will get the precise location of the cell and the person carrying it on the map. This will definitely make locating the person much easier.

Are there any limitations and drawbacks to using free smart phone tracking apps? You cannot possibly know how well an app works before you try it. Not all software developers offer products of equal quality. Another important factor that you should consider is the power the respective tracking app uses to work. It is possible for such an app to drain the battery of the device, especially if the battery is not particularly good.

One important limitation to note is that the people that you want to track have to have the same app installed on their devices as well. This should not be a problem if the phones share the same operating system, but you may not be able to track a person with an Android phone if you have an iPhone and vice versa.

Free GPS Tracking Services

There are different companies providing such services. Again GPS technology is used to track a cell phone for free. You will have to install specifically designed software on your cell. If the device does not have a GPS chip, the company may install one. The hardware and the installation service will most likely not be free of charge.

The GPS tracking services work more comprehensively compared to the tracking apps. They can work on cell GPS devices of all types. You can perform any number of searches. There may be additional benefits as well. Still, no service will be completely free of charge. You have to check specifically for any fees.

Free GSM Tracking Services

There are a number of advantages of GSM tracking over GPS tracking. Perhaps the most important one is that GSM tracking works for all cell phones irrespective of the manufacturer and the year of production. Additionally, no software is required. You can track any person at any time without them doing anything apart from giving you permission to track them in advance.

If you want to get into the technical details of each technology namely, GPS tracking and GSM tracking, have a look at the links here.

Most GSM tracking services are paid. However, this does not mean that you cannot track cell phone for free using such a service. There are plenty of promotional offers that you can take advantage of. That way, you can use the service for free and go for full paid subscription if you are happy with it.

It is great to be able to track a cell phone for free. The important thing is to use quality tracking that will never fail you.