aLocate has two principal functions:
- Tracked: a telephone tracked by another
- Tracker: a telephone tracking another
The Trackers and Tracked devices must be running aLocate. To become a Tracker, a device sends a request to another phone specifying the period of the proposed tracking and the frequency of updates. If the device accepts the tracking request, it will send to the Tracker its position (longitude, latitude) at the agreed frequency and during the requested time period if it is able to do so. Obviously, in order to be able to determine its position,location by GPS or by network must be activated.
Communication between Trackers and Tracked devices takes place by the exchange of normal SMS messages - no third-party server is involved. The telephones receive the messages in the usual way, but they contain text that is used by aLocate. The messages can be deleted as they arrive without affecting the functioning of aLocate. The sending of these messages might incur additional costs, depending on the contact with your telephone network operator.
