this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2025
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Why isn't location tracking via cell towers available to end users? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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In places where GPS isn't available, in an underground transit station for example, it really seems like a no brainer to just use the cell towers in range to triangulate your location.

The police can already track the location of your phone using cell towers. That's how 911 knows where you are when you call them (AFAIK). Why isn't it just available for the phone itself to figure out its own location so you can use it to navigate?

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[–] Albbi 7 points 1 week ago

It certainly used to be available in the days before GPS were in all phones. I remember my blackberry having a huge range for my current location on Google Maps because it was using cell phone tower triangulation. So maybe it is still there if you turn off your GPS?