Track mobiles via the net

Route planning website Mapminder has launched a mobile location service that lets you keep track of people online.

The service, called Mapaphone, uses network-based software to track a phone to its nearest mobile base station. This position will then appear on a map at the Mapminder website, locating it to its nearest restaurant, pub, train station or school.

According to Mapminder, parents can use the service to trace their child's whereabouts with "unparalleled detail" as it can trace a mobile to within 300m on a detailed map.

Emma Hardcastle, managing director at Mapminder, said: "With unrivalled local information and scrupulous security, Mapaphone is the most complete tracking service to help you locate your nearest and dearest discreetly and easily, without embarrassing them."

However, Mapaphone needs the phone's network to be in coverage and be switched on. According to experts, network-based location services do not always offer an an accurate position.

Jeremy Green, principal wireless analyst at technology consultants Ovum, said: "These types of service are best used for mild curiosity. It can be useful for finding the nearest restaurant to your mates, but if you are wanting to find someone that is missing, its accuracy and reliability is not good enough."

To use Mapaphone, parents are required to return a signed consent form and enter a PIN code into their child's phone.The service is currently only supported by Orange with Vodafone and 02 expected to be added next month.

Mapminder has an annual charge of £24.95. To use Mapaphone it costs £5 per phone with five free location requests. It then costs 20p per request.