# Cell Phone GPS Tracking Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-gps-tracking-question/347261>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 6, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-gps-tracking-question/347261 "2006-03-06T16:46:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-gps-tracking-question/347261/21 "2006-03-07T23:20:18Z")

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> [@Tyr](#):
>
> > [@e-logic](#):
> >
> > I think there may be some confusion between GPS and GSM?
> > 
> > GPS = global positioning system  
> > GSM = global system for mobile communication
> > 
> > GPS tracking requires satellites and a clear view of the sky to function. Not many phones are GPS enabled.
> > 
> > GSM tracking involves using data from the different cells the phone is connected to in order to pinpoint a location.
> 
> Every phone I have had in the last 2 years (which is several, I have a bad habit of loosing/breaking phones) has come with gps that can be set to either 911 only or “on” presumably meaning that it is transmitting all the time.
> 
> Is Verizon playing fast and loose with their terminology or what?

In America, some phones actually do have embedded GPS receivers, needed to fulfill the [E911 requirement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E911#Wireless_Enhanced_911) of being able to report its location.

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**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-gps-tracking-question/347261/22 "2006-03-08T00:25:18Z")

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> [@Reply](#):
>
> In America, some phones actually do have embedded GPS receivers, needed to fulfill the [E911 requirement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E911#Wireless_Enhanced_911) of being able to report its location.

I have been told by cellphone salespeople (admittedly not the most reliable source of information) that all phones sold in the US have GPS built into them and have had for several years. It is apparently the only reliable way for cell phones to meet the E911 requirement.

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**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-gps-tracking-question/347261/23 "2006-03-08T03:27:24Z")

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Side note: The GPS receiver in many (most? all?) cell phones isn’t complete on its own. It receives data from the satellites, but can’t process that data to figure out its location. When you dial 911, the raw GPS data is sent to the network, and the network figures out where you are.

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