Your questions answered...

How does it work?

Our location technologies use UK mobile phone networks. We don't use any special equipment, and phones don't need any special configuration.

The service currently works with the major UK networks. Orange, O2, Vodafone and T-Mobile. Support for the 3 network is expected soon.

Is it very accurate?

The current generation of mobile location services are accurate to between a few hundred and a few thousand metres. In built-up areas, we typically see results accurate to 200-500m. This can increase to about 3000m or more in rural areas.

In the next two years we expect GPS chips to start appearing in mobile devices, opening up possibilities for 'assisted' locations accurate to a few metres.

What about privacy?

It is against the industry's guidelines to locate someone without them knowing about it. Broadly speaking, services can be divided into 'active' and 'passive' applications.

Active applications require the user to do something (usually send a text message) to trigger the location. Permission to do this is implied by sending the message, and the small print advertising this service should mention that the user will be located.

Passive services are the group of applications where someone wants to locate a phone on several occasions and doesn't want to have to get the phone owner's permission every time. This includes 'friend-finder' and fleet management services.

For this type of application, permission is usually sought by text message. The user will have to reply to give their permission to be located now, and at any time in the future. There will be options to remove this permission later.

Privacy issues are central to all location based applications. We are well placed to advice you on how your service is affected.