Telstra Launches Location Tracking Service

Australian operator, Telstra has launched a new service, Whereis Everyone, which enables family and friends to see each other's location on maps sent to their mobile phones, using location based services. Telstra Executive Director, Consumer Marketing and Channels, Ms Glenice Maclellan, said the service can also provide alerts at particular times of day. People need only have their phone switched on and with them in a coverage area.

"People can benefit in a variety of situations like checking the whereabouts of family members, co-ordinating meal times and activities, meeting up with friends in town or after work, or even seeing the location of a lost or stolen phone," Ms Maclellan said. "A great example is the ability to see if your kids are on their way home from school. Or if you have friends that like surfing, you could see what beach they are at - there are many different ways people can use Whereis Everyone to find each other."

Using Telstra's Assisted Global Positioning System (AGPS) and network positioning, Whereis Everyone works whenever a phone is switched on and in a Telstra mobile coverage area.

The service gives users full control of their privacy by ensuring that customers must accept an invitation to share their location before proceeding. Consumers can control whether they wish to be located or not and users can make themselves invisible if they choose.

Posted to the site on 3rd July 2008