|
APRIL 14, 2006 at 2:35 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Mercury News via Wizard News
Mobile phone giant Sprint on Thursday introduced
a service called Family Locator that will allow parents to see their children's current location on a map, using the GPS features found in their kids' phones.
The service, which costs $9.99 a month, is accurate from within a few yards to a few miles, depending on the phone. Both parent and child must consent to the tracking before it's enabled.
From the Sprint web site:
Mom, Dad or a trusted caregiver can locate loved ones without disturbing their activities, receive notification when a child enters or leaves a designated area, and quickly and easily send text messages to one or more family members.
The application uses GPS technology to determine the location of authorized mobile handsets, which it then displays on an interactive map. Sprint Family Locator also provides an intuitive interface for text-message communication and account management. These features are accessible from both a registered mobile handset and the secure Sprint Family Locator Web site.
An additional feature, called "Safety Check," will automatically monitor and notify a parent of their child's location on a scheduled basis.
Reader Comments (338)
click to read...
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2010 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-338
Witch
Points: 646
~!*Gryffindor Rules*!~ says:
That is cool for the parent but not cool for the kids! They probably got the idea from Harry Potter! And i don't know if its a good theng or bad thing?
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:37 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1989
AncientJoy says:
Very interesting... kinda scary, but interesting. From a mom's point of view, it makes sense. I certainly want to keep track of my kids. However, at the same time... it smells a little 1984 to me. *shutter*
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:38 PM EST
Witch
Points: 570
AvalonKarma says:
agree to be tracked my butt. Here's how conversation is gonna go when my daughter is old enouhg -- Agree or you're grounded. But it's cool that this ort of technoloy is around
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:38 PM EST
Magical Sanitary Supplier
Points: 2518
5225 says:
Wow, that's effective for the families with missing-prone children. Hats off to Sprint!!
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:39 PM EST
Hermione's Twin
Points: 5063
*Miss Hermione Granger* says:
Thats actually quite scary to think about.I mean,they woyld know where you ae everytime you go out.I would hate that so much! And they`ve gotten ideas from HP before,remember the mrs weasleys clock kinda thing? Wait,isin`t this like it....
Anyway,If I was a mother I suppose I would like the idea but I would never want my mom to se one of those!
*Jamie*
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:42 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1720
hpforever138 says:
Haha thats fantasitc, wish my phone company was Sprint!
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 894
darkside rocker says:
WOw I want to get that man.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:49 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1234
Krum says:
Wow this has been suchhhhh a slow week for newss. We need more warnerbros/jk. Wow that is very unfair for the children. They are being treated like pets.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:49 PM EST
Witch
Points: 657
krissiebear says:
I would never consent to my parents tracking me. And I believe if you are under 18, your parents can enable it and you have pretty much no choice. And what if someone else got ahold of one of the phones.
Not the brightest plan ever.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:51 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3041
ThePhoenix'sSong says:
I think that is good for parents if they cannot find their child. It might help should a child with their cell (and what child ever goes out without their cell) go missing or anything dangerous.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:52 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1604
R//V/@ says:
I don't know if we should be happy or sad about it.I guess parents will love it, children obviously won't.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:52 PM EST
Witch
Points: 851
Wesleylove says:
oh my god! i live in the silicon valley (San jose CA.) and my grandmother get the san jose Mercury News Paper. i going to see if they have anything in the news paper on it. that is to cool . to bad i dont have sprits. :( i have Metro.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:54 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 315
Linnen Potter says:
...is it just me or does this sound like some sort of badly placed ad? O-o
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1444
RIP_Sirus_and_Dumbledore says:
That stinks... I'm glad I don't have Sprint, I'd be in so much trouble... I never go where I say I'm going, but it is extremly like a Maurader's Map
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 2:59 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
Chadick says:
That sounds so cool! I wouldn't mind if my parents would try that service. I know some kids are not into it, but Katelyn<333, it's definitely a good thing. Safety always comes first.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:02 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1166
Cornelia Welsh Green says:
Being close still to the teenager years and knowing what I was like, I think this is a good idea. I also think that it is good that the child has to agree to the service. If I had kids and my kid denied the feature I would deny them phone and friends. No jk I know that, that wouldnt work.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:02 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2242
Bexxy says:
Personally, I think it's a fantastic idea. Most parents I think are fairly comfortable and trusting with their children's independence. However, for minors (18 and under) I think this idea proves to be very valuable. For example, if a parent sets a curfew and their child isn't home by that set time, obviously the parent will worry and can use this technology to locate their child. I don't know of many parents who are so overbearing that they will use this feature simply to keep tabs 24/7 on their children.
With all that's happening though in today's world with child abductions etc. I think it's a great thing to have for safety. Heaven forbid, someone grabs a child, it could be very beneficial to have this feature and help track the child in situations like this.
That's just my two cents!
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:02 PM EST
Points: 21
Kdlfourteen says:
Sounds interesting. Parents will like it at least.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:11 PM EST
Witch
Points: 849
mrs sirius black says:
Meh. Seems like they're going a little too far for me. And I doubt very highly that they got the idea from HP.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:21 PM EST
Student
Points: 299
remember_c says:
I would hate for my parents to know exactly where I am at all times, but I guess it could come in handy. Did they get the idea from HP?
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:22 PM EST
Witch
Points: 695
LunaLove#1 says:
I sure hope my parents don't get that for me! Otherwise, I'd leave my cell.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:22 PM EST
The Golden Snidget
Points: 3159
Mrs. Phineas Nigellus says:
I heard about this in school a couple months ago! Talk about invasion of privacy. I guess it's good for hooligans, but for the good kids like me who just want to hang out with friends...
*The MRS*
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:23 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 320
ElectricRoses says:
Great idea for parents and children! Not if your the kid though and trying to escape haha. Not really all that HP related but I get the link. I would hate it if I knew my parents knew where I was all the time
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:24 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1918
not*so*sweet*strawberry says:
Hey, what a cool idea! hahaha... i want one!
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:26 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2401
tonks 27 says:
I think it's a cool idea....if you or your child lost their phone. i don't know about "spying" on your children or anything. i think it would be useful in emergency situations (if there was a car accident or whatnot). but i don't know about using it on my own child. if i didn't trust my child, i don't think she or he would be going out a lot.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:29 PM EST
Sarcastic Sally
Points: 5088
Lucius's Luscious Lady says:
Sounds awful. I wouldn't want my parents to have that. Sneaking out, lying about where you are, going places you shouldn't...that's all part of being a teenager. I wouldn't want that taken away from me.
Posted Apr 14, 2006 at 3:29 PM EST
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-338
Back to top of page