Yesterday Sprint’s web site provided access to an upcoming feature known as Family Locator. The web site has since been taken down, however, we can report what the web site stated while it was in public view. The service is coined as a second-party service, powered by WaveMarket, and the site quoted a price of $9.99/month. This service will allow for tracking up to four other handsets on the customer’s account. Unlike other services such as Findum, the Sprint service provides the ability to track “child phones directly from the “parent” handset via a Java application installed on the phone.
Family Locator includes the ability to check the location of a child handset at pre-determined times, to ensure a phone (and user) is located where it should be. The service works across CDMA and iDEN devices, and uses “Safety Word” verification when attaching a child handset to an account. Because the site has been taken offline, it appears that this product will launch in the near future. Sprint Family Locator – Currently Not Available
Sprint Family Locator
They should change approval so that the person with the handset must approve tracking OR require a phone call with authentication BEFORE activating Family Locator.
Do not allow the email address to be changed for notifications – they will be redirected.
Do not allow blocking of the Sprint identifier for text msg notification
This service can be
secretly added by the person on the main account (spouse, sig other)
used to stalk by abusers without the awareness of victim.
This is a serious problem. I hope they will address it before someone’s injury is linked to the use of their service.
N. Name, the Sprint Family Locator does require the user to reply with a text message to activate the phone for SFL usage.
The only way if could be exploited in the nature you’re talking about, is if some family member gave the phone to the user after having activated SFL. Also, you receive a text message whenever someone tries to track you… so yes, you do know when someone is using SFL to monitor your location.
SFL does not work across family plans (meaning, you have to be on the plan to track the phone). So, the chances of this happening are pretty minimal, even in real-world use.
And remember, you can always set the Location setting on your phone to Off in order to block such trackings.
ok so what i am wondering is…. how can i put a block on my phone so that my husband can not track me…i am not cheating on him but i am soooooooooooooooo done with “stalking” questioning my where abouts when i tell him straight out…..wtf this is over night change thats driving me crazy help!!!! asap