Is it possible to track a GSM/ CDMA cellular phone? Is there a software in market which tracking the location of the phone? Is it possible to track lost mobile?

The one word answer is YES and the descriptive answer is as follows

Tracking cell phone without any software

Any GSM/ CDMA cellular service providers can pin point the location of the users within a certain area. Every few minutes cell phone sends the signal back to the service provider announcing the location of the handset. The nearest cell/ mobile tower picks the signal and alerts the central server that the user is within that certain cell site and all calls should be routed to that site. The same information can be used by service providers to track the cell phone. Though they won’t publish the information publically, they used to co-operate with law enforcement officers to track suspicious mobile numbers.

Tracking cell phone with software

Companies like this (http://www.microlmts.net/) provide software’s (LMTS) which can be installed in a mobile phone. This type of software’s are meant to track the phone if it’s stolen and not used for tracking the location of the mobile phone. The software works like this. The software once installed sits silently in the phone memory and detect any change in mobile number. When ever we replace the SIM (or if the thief does), it prepares an SMS and send the new mobile number to two (or more) predefined numbers set by the original owner of the phone.(or the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)).

Powered with the above information we can contact law enforcement officers to track the location of the cell phone. This is not a foul proof method as it’s quite possible that the person who took the phone can start the phone without a SIM card and then format the phone memory to wipe out any existing software or data. (Without SIM card means no SMS sent out)

Using IMEI number

International Mobile Equipment Identity or the IMEI number can also be used to track stolen cell phone if we are getting good support from law enforcement officers and service providers. Each GSM mobile phone has a unique number which is called IMEI number. The service provider keeps track of this number to identify the phone in the network.

Suppose if the phone is stolen and we are giving the instruction in writing to all the service providers to track the cell phone, the providers can easily find the location or disable the phone to function in that particular network. This makes the phone practically useless and thereby discourages further theft.

But for this method we need lot of support from the service providers. As every city might be having 6-10 providers and each of them having its on rules, it will be a haunting process to make it work.