Big brother potential?

[shrtcirkt]

A few months ago I suscribed to Nextel for my business needs. I do quite a bit of traveling and on my first trip away with the nextel I noticed that their system automaticaly adjusts the system time and web features for the area I was in.
Now I am wondering, how much other information they can keep track of and with whom they may be sharing it?
Any thoughts.... ###

[Arrowhead]

Not a cell expert but since your phone is in a constant state of search for a signal it would be just a matter of you moving to a different zone (cell) and it gathering the information from that cell. So if it happens to be in a different time zone, bingo, instant update.

I assume they know who you've talked too, when, how long, from what location. That's how they tracked down OJ in his Bronco right, coordinates from his cell phone.

The other thing I believe about Nextel (I use them too) is they use only thier own cell network, they don't lease towers from people like some other cell companies.

I like the service they provide.

Good Luck.

[Kickaha]

All cell providers do the same thing. ###Like Arrowhead states, your cell phone is in constant communication with them. ###That's why its batteries constantly wear down even when you're not talking. ###And that's how it knows when you've moved from your "home" area and are instead roaming. ###Also, that's how it switches networks (Digital to Analog, for example) if you move to a different location that doesn't support your primary network. ###

So basically, they can keep track of where you travel and how long you spend at any given general location. ###And, of course, who you talk to, etc. ###Who they share it with depends on their privacy statement and how well they keep their promises.

You can always turn the phone off, but that might cut its usefulness down a bit

[spectr17]

If you don't want to be tracked, take the batttery out of the unit. With the unit only turned off they still can comminicate and be logged.

Pablo Escobar was tracked this way when he left his cell phone in the charger next to his bed even though it was turned off.

Most of the cell and trunking radio systems have pretty good logging software. They can log what channel your using, signal strength, location etc. For the spooks, they have intruments that can pin down a signal to a unique radio. Just like fingerprints, every radio and cellphone has a unique transmitting signature.

[Kickaha]

I didn't know that about phones that were powered off. ###Interesting. ###So it's only "mostly off". ###