Until recently, tracking people with Global Positioning System technology required purchasing expensive hardware and software. Now, complete solutions are available through cellular service providers. At the end of 2005, all cell phone carriers were required to provide the ability to trace cell phone calls to a location within 100 meters or less. In general, you can not track someone using their cell phone, unless the person you want to track has the right kind of cell phone, connected to the right network, with the right service.
Your phone may have GPS and “know” exactly where it is, but it can’t “tell” anyone else where you are unless you are connected to a wireless network. The wireless networks used for GPS tracking are primarily those operated by cell phone carriers.
Location-Based Services, known as LBS, providers have agreements with the wireless network carriers to receive data from a cell phone and make it accessible to you via an Internet web site or call center. Most all LBS providers will be able to tell you the approximate last known location, but beyond that, services offered will vary, depending on the type of cell phone and the capabilities of the service provider.
Tracking someone without their knowledge can get you in trouble. Typically, the subscriber must give permission and the cell phone must be enabled for tracking. Consult with your service providers for more detail.
The costs associated with using the GPS for people tracking, include equipment costs, setup/activation fees, and usually network access subscriptions. In addition, your location service may charge for each location report or allot you a limited number of reports and charge you a premium for overages.