Tracking devices for the masses - no handy to loose

Last month (February, 2009), for me was indeed month of tracking devices. Thanks to google maps I was able to trace my route from Cottbus via Braunlage (Harz) to Oldenburg/Bremerhaven and back to Cottbus. One week later, at the slopes of Dolomiti, using ski-pass for the ski-lifts, I was able to trace my carves in the snow. Indeed, an outstanding application of modern electronics. But, the winner of the last month Tracking devices contest is definitely handy-finder (handy is German word for cell phone)!

So, the story goes like that, I have lost my almost new cell phone (Nokia N78 value about 350 EUR), being out of my mind I have started my search&rescue mission with google. There was not much help, but after a while, I found a possibility to trace my "handy" due to Cell ID (my ex, engineer of telecommunication would call that base station). On the map you can see the precision of this method of localization. By the definition it is the area of circle covered by the signal from the Cell ID. Prerequisites for this method to work is that you register your cell phone with your operator (by the time of writing this, as far as I know, O2 is the only one in Germany that provide this possibility) and allow tracking of your device. Another prerequisites include: your cell phone should be in the area covered with the signal from your providers network, it has to be switched on and this service cost 0.49 EUR.

I hope, some might find this information useful some day, although it is better not to loose your handy.