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What does Device Tracking do?
For registered iPhone
and iPod touch devices, when configured
tracking applications, Safari Bookmarks, or Web Clips are being launched from the Home Screen, activity information is send to the Members iTrack device profile, enabling expert research to possibly identify the location from where the device was being used.
This might be helpful in the recovery of a lost or stolen unit.
The Member can configure tracking parameters on
the iTrack website to affect the behavior of the tracking application that runs
on the device, such as displaying messages to the user, or quietly collecting
information in 'stealth' mode.
Installing a
tracking program (available from the Apple App Store) on an iPhone
or iPod touch facilitates tracking
by utilizing the built-in Device Location Services
features.NOTE: Tracking can only be performed on
iPhone or iPod touch devices which have been properly configured before
any loss occurs.
Also, tracking cannot be done with devices that had apps removed from the home screen, were wiped to factory settings, and/or tempered with to deliberately disable any tracking ability.
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Which types of Devices can be tracked?
Device Tracking is only implemented for iPhone and
iPod touch units which have been configured with a tracking application.
The application tracking features are only accessible to the user if the iPhone or iPod touch Home Screen has not been locked through Passcode protection.
However, the Start-up Screen will always be displayed when the device is powered on. For this reason, each tracking app will generate a default Wallpaper ID image to be assigned as the Start-up Screen.
The Wallpaper ID displays sufficient contact information to a finder to return the device to the rightful owner via the iTrackMobile website.
In addition, with our tracking apps developed for the latest iPhone O/S, customizable Alert Notifications are pushed to a lost device and display owner contact information to instruct the finder on how to return the unit.
Alert Notifications are displayed and include a voice message to the finder, even if the device is Passcode protected.
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Does the iPhone or iPod touch have to be 'jailbroken' for tracking?
No.
iPhone and iPod touch devices which have been configured with our tracking application do not require to be 'jailbroken'.
Jailbreaking or hacking the Apple OS will void your warranty, infringes upon copyrights, and can render a device inoperable over time.
Downloading hacked applications onto an Apple device is illegal.
All of our apps are legal and only available on the App Store after having passed Apple's stringent review and approval process.
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What is APNS?
Apple Push Notification Services (APNS) is a technology which enables iPhone or iPod touch devices to receive urgent messages in a secure and
near real-time manner.
Urgent messages can be send to a device by a member if the unit was declared as
lost or stolen. These messages can be default alerts generated by the system or
specifically composed by the member in the Device Profile Tracking section under
their iTrackMobile website account.
Accompanying each message is a voice recorded announcement to instruct the
finder to return the device. Voice announcements and other owner contact
instructions are displayed in multiple languages (English, Spanish, and German
are currently supported).
It is worth noting that APNS alerts will be
displayed even if the device has Passcode locking in effect.
Once a member has declared a device as lost or
stolen, alert messages will be securely transmitted from the iTrackMobile
servers to the Apple counterpart. The APNS servers in turn will attempt to
contact the respective iPhone or iPod touch to display the alert.
This process will continue until either contact
is established or APNS has determined that the device is no longer reachable.
Once contact has been established and the
iTrack app was launched, APNS tracking information is recorded under the member
account.
This information can then be used to assist Law
Enforcement in the recovery of the device.
In order to utilize this technology, the iPhone or iPod touch must be running on the latest Apple O/S 3.0 (or higher), and have an app installed which was specifically developed to take advantage of APNS.
Check which one of our tracking applications, available for a nominal fee on the App Store, offer this new feature to our members.
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Does Device Tracking cost anything?
A basic tracking app is available for FREE. However, more advanced versions of our Tracking applications are available for a nominal fee on the App Store.
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Should I purchase a Tracking App after I lost my iPhone or iPod touch?
No.
Tracking applications available on the App Store provide the ability to track device location by using the built-in hardware features of the
iPhone or iPod touch.
These Apps require to be installed on the device prior to loss or theft in order to function.
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Can I have my iPod tracked with a USB connection to a PC or Mac?
No. USB-connected iPods with special start-up coding cannot be effectively
monitored because of the latest security updates to Mac and PC operating systems
which prevent programs or procedures from being 'auto run'.
For this reason, Device Tracking is not implemented.
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How do I activate Device Tracking for my iPhone or iPod touch?
When installing a tracking program from the Apple
App Store on the iPhone or
iPod touch, tracking is either activated directly from the device or
from the iTrack website if the device is lost. +
What are the Device Tracking configuration options?
Device tracking options are configured by the Member on the iTrack website in
the Device Info section for iPhone or iPod touch units.
Using a tracking
application, tracking configuration and other features can
also be activated directly from the device using your password protected access.
Here is a list of typical setup options:
1. Enable/Disable Device Tracking
2. Select one or more tracking web applications
3. Exporting the tracking history as a CSV or KML file
4. Deleting the tracking history
5. Tracking device activity either on-going or only if the unit is declared as 'lost'
6. Tracking in stealth mode or with notification messages to device user
7. Sending alert messages to the Member contact email address each time the device is being used.
8. Configuring customized APNS Alerts.
9. Announcing the display of an alert with a simple sound or a recorded Voice Message.
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Does the Device Tracking feature drain my iPhone or iPod touch battery?
The tracking functions are similar in battery consumption to any other application being used by an iPhone or iPod touch.
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What can the Device Tracking information be used for?
Device tracking information contains the IP Address and the time when activity
was encountered as well as the location of the device as determined by the
built-in Location Services feature.
Using a commercial IP Address/Geolocation database, the iTrack
website records the Internet Service Provider (ISP) who is managing the assignment of
IP addresses to its customers. Also, the organization (customer) to which the IP
address was assigned for the iPhone or iPod touch to connect to the Internet is
listed.
More information about the ISP is being provided through a link to the WHOIS system.
With this information, Law Enforcement Agencies and/or technically
knowledgeable individuals could be able to identify the actual location or company from which the device was used.
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How much tracking data history is being kept?
The standard maximum number of tracking points available for a registered device using a paid app is 5. Our free tracking app is limited to retain only the most recent tracking event and has many other functional restrictions. Tracking points are recorded in chronological order. If more than 5 activities need to be tracked, then the oldest points are deleted to make room for the most recent ones.
A Member can download tracking points for off-line use and retention.
Tracking Apps which have been developed for devices that run the latest Apple O/S 3.0 (or higher), allow the user to perform In App upgrades and purchase additional storage bundles to increase the tracking history and related Map Displays for a given device.
Currently, the tracking history can be expanded up to a maximum of 50 tracking events per device. This limit can be increased by our System Administrator based on future member demands.
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Is Location information being captured from my iPhone or iPod touch?
Yes, if a
tracking application was installed from the Apple App Store.
The application tracking features are only accessible to the user if the iPhone or iPod touch Home Screen has not been locked through Passcode protection.
However, the Start-up Screen will always be displayed when the device is powered on. For this reason, each tracking app will generate a default Wallpaper ID image to be assigned as the Start-up Screen.
The Wallpaper ID displays sufficient contact information to a finder to return the device to the rightful owner via the iTrackMobile website.
In addition, with our tracking apps developed for the latest iPhone O/S, customizable Alert Notifications are pushed to a lost device and display owner contact information to instruct the finder on how to return the unit.
Alert Notifications are displayed and include a voice message to the finder, even if the device is Passcode protected.
Please note that background tracking applications for the iPhone cannot be developed by third parties due to policy restrictions by Apple.
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I lost my iPhone/iPod touch. Can I still activate the tracking feature?
Only if the tracking application was installed
on the device before it was lost.
If the tracking application was installed
on the lost device, then tracking can be initiated from
the Member Profile at iTrackMobile.com. +
How many devices can be tracked per iTrack Member?
Device tracking can be configured for as many iPhone and iPod touch devices as have been
configured with the tracking application.
Configuration
requires the physical availability of the device and an active Internet
connection.
There is no practical limit to the number of devices an iTrack Member can register.
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How do I access Device Tracking information?
Accessing tracking information for a given iPhone or iPod touch requires iTrack Member login from either a PC, Mac,
iPhone, or iPod touch using an Internet connection.
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Will device tracking still work after I restored my Device?
No. After an iPhone or iPod touch has been restored using iTunes, tracking
needs to be re-configured by re-installing the tracking application.
Restoring a device to factory settings does not remove any tracking or configuration data stored in your iTrack Member Profile of the Lost and Found Registry. +
Does Device Tracking give me the exact location of whoever is using the device?
Using the tracking program, the location of the device is captured based on the
accuracy of the built-in Location
Services feature of the iPhone or iPod touch.
In addition, a general geographical location can be determined from the IP Address,
at best to the level of a City. This location is generally related to the ISP or organization rather than from where the
iPhone or iPod touch was used.
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