Child Cell Phones with GPS Locators
Some parents may be on the fence when it comes to deciding whether or not their child needs a phone—but for many families, the choice is more about safety than anything else.
If you have kids, you know how fast they can zip out of your sight. There are several phones on the market—ranging from sturdy and basic models to advanced cell phones—that are equipped with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to help parents locate their children.
The GPS receiver inside the phone will locate four of the 24 satellites (there are three backups) that circle the Earth. Once located, the receiver will calculate its distance to each satellite and from that figure out the location.
The most simple of the batch is the ChitterChatter phone, which fastens to the child’s wrist like a watch. It includes a feature called Track Me! that allows kids to send their location to their parents’ cell phones via text message. The Wheriphone has emerged as the leader in GPS phones for children and seniors, working even in slightly obstructed areas.
But GPS isn’t only limited to phones for children. Kajeet offers its service for child- and teen-friendly phones using actual phones (refurbished and new). All are equipped with GPS.
In fact, since 2005 many phones in the U.S. already come with a GPS option. Nokia estimates that up to 50 percent of its mobiles will have GPS chips between 2010 and 2012, although it costs upward of $10 a month extra for the service.
GPS has already helped reunite families. A recent BBC article reported that a missing 9-year-old Massachusetts girl was found using the GPS in her cell phone.