Is there a freeware GPS tracking solution for the Blackberry 8700c with pay as you go SIM card?

On Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:22:40 -0700, Jim Benson wrote:

http://www.handango.com/catalog/ProductDetails.jsp?storeId=2218&deviceId=812&platformId=40&productId=243474&sectionId=7635

http://bb.emacf1.com/gpslogger.html

http://www.navxs.com/en/about.html

http://www.buddyway.com/
--
A fireside chat not with Ari!
http://tr.im/hmTc
Motto: Live To Spooge It!

On Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:55:50 -0400, Ari® wrote:

Very interesting. We're starting to get to a potential solution for using a
spare Blackberry 8700c as a tracking device.

1. This freeware Blackberry GPSLogger looks the most promising:
http://bb.emacf1.com/gpslogger.html

The GPSLogger program appears to be a breadcrumb logger (it does not seem
to use the web to report real-time position although position data can be
exported to a file which can be manually emailed, it seems). It's written
for the blackberry but it doesn't mention the 8700 unfortunately so it
might not work for me. It doesn't seem to even need the pay-as-you-go SIM
card, or, if it does, it's not mentioned.

2. This freeware NavSX web client software seems to a web based social
networking software similar to what Loopt does:
http://www.navxs.com/en/about.html

This Navigation Exchange Service seems to exchange positional data with
another phone and also the Internet (both of which is what I want). It
doesn't say anything about the Blackberry 8700c but it does say it supports
"Java-enabled mobile phones" and Blackberry "smartphones" so maybe it does
support the Blackberry 8700c.

3. This freeware phone application seems to require GPS
http://www.buddyway.com

Unfortunately, the Blackberry 8700c does not have built-in GPS so I don't
think this will work for my application. However, of the three
applications, this one implies it works with the most phones as it says
"All you need is a Phone or PDA with built in GPS" so it might work for
many phones, not just smartphones.

Amazingly, all three sites were brief on the details ... maybe cell phone
tracking is simpler (or more complex) than I at first imagined. I'll keep
looking though as none seem to mention they work with the blackberry 8700c
yet and none even mention the SIM card (pay as you go).

Thanks though as this gives me something to chew on as I search for a
solution that allows a spare Blackberry 8700c with a prepaid phone card to
be used as a tracking device on the Internet.

On Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:47:44 -0700, Jim Benson wrote:


Are you trying to keep up with one of your kids, Jim?
--
A fireside chat not with Ari!
http://tr.im/hmTc
Motto: Live To Spooge It!

On Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:17:17 -0400, Ari® wrote:

Exactly. I want to put a tracker in the back seat or trunk of the car she's
driving. I want to keep costs low, if I can.

I did google GPS trackers but they all seem to have dismal battery life and
expensive service plans for the Internet type.

I did find a blackberry specific GPS tracking site I'm checking out at
http://www.blackberryinsight.com/2006/05/18/blackberry-and-gps/

It seems to have two entries for the Blackberry 8700c.

An alternative is to buy some other unlocked spare phone off of Ebay so if
you have any recommendations, I'm all ears.

The goal is pretty universal, I would think:
- Inexpensive tracking, reasonably accurate (500 to 1000 feet)
- At least breadcrumbs and preferably SMS and/or web real-time tracking
- A few days of battery life (prefer at least 7 days if possible)

I would think this would be MANY people's goal so I'm surprised it's so
hard to come by. Is my spare Blackberry solution too far off the mark? If
so, what do people suggest?

On Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:40:17 -0700, Jim Benson wrote:


Low is relative understandably but since you are tracking auto
whereabouts,

http://tinyurl.com/b4dnpu

there are a number of these services that have come about from the
rental car, used car sales and personal surveillance and other
industries.

If you track by cellphone, it's going to be much more hit and miss.
--
A fireside chat not with Ari!
http://tr.im/hmTc
Motto: Live To Spooge It!