[miketrains03]

Say a few friends and I all had BB Curves. Say we wanted to be able to see where the other was via some non-GPS program like google maps does. Also say once you install this software on the phone and agree to let it track you, it turns on with the phone automatically and can't be shut off unless the phone is shut off. Also, there is no evidence the app is installed on your phone unless you go into application loader to put it on/take it off or something that other people wouldn't know it was on our phones.

Does such a thing exist?

[CipherDias]

Hoping not, too open to misuse...

[delta_foxtrot2]

Hoping not, too open to misuse...

I wish I could share your optimisim, however there has been J2ME apps available for years that allowed this as a method of child tracking, at least that's what they were billed as, I'm sure there is a lot of additional uses they have also been applied to.

[miketrains03]

There's alot of things that could be misused if not used for what they were intended. I remember hearing about an online service that you signed up for and had an account then any number you added would get a text message confirming you want to be tracked and okaying it but then you never saw anything again.

I can't find that now but i was hoping there was a free version. I was also figuring that with the technology bb's have it would be even easier like a google maps app.

I also remember not too long ago a phone service was offering something where if you all had the same phone, you could opt in or not with people and see where they were on a map in relation to you.

There's gotta be something out there. Imagine how many less txts or calls you would have to make when meeting someone if you didnt have to ask where they were when you got there or how long they were going to be.

[delta_foxtrot2]

TrekBuddy has a meet me here feature which can hook into the SMS side of things to both send locations and receive locations by SMS although I've never tested this functionality so can't vouch as for how usable it is. TrekBuddy can do maps and all that jazz, so from that aspect there is a free option.

As for tracking without knowing the app is installed, I haven't made anything like it, but I don't see that it would be terribly difficult and judging by the signed RIM APIs, how you can make an app start when the BB starts and run in the background, which can also hook into GPS functionality and network etc, it wouldn't take a genius to glue all the bits together to make it work, just add a sprinkling of RIM signing goodness and you're more or less in business.

As I said, these kind of apps have been around for a while most used to track where your kids are, but as pointed out these things are 'tools' how those tools are used determines if its for mal intent or not.