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I am new to smart phones so I am not familiar with all the services provided.
Based on what I have read and understand, I should be able to set up a location service on my Galaxy Stratosphere 2 that would allow me to use the Internet to locate my phone if I should lose or misplace it.
I found three Location Services on the phone. Vzw, - Standalone GPS - and Google. I am not certain which service I should select and I have no concept of what a Standalone GPS Service is.
Would someone please explain which service I should select and explain why? Also, is there a charge for the service?
Bill
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These Location Services options are for using the phone to access your current location, e.g., for Google Maps. I generally find that Standalone GPS is all I need: it is free, and it won't (I think) report my location to VZW or Google for their business purposes. VZW, I think, will charge for their location services; not sure about Google. Activating GPS is enough for me to use Google Maps and get my current location, driving directions, etc.
But that's not what you're looking for. What you want is an app that will locate a lost phone. Go to the Play Store (which is what Google calls its Android app store) and search for "phone locator". This will bring up a long list of apps to choose from. Most are free. Be sure to read the features and reviews before installing, to make sure you're getting what you want and that other users find that it works well. I haven't installed one of these myself (which I'll probably regret one day), so I can't make a recommendation, but hopefully others here can do so.
Welcome to the smartphone world!
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Dave-in-Decatur wrote:
VZW, I think, will charge for their location services; not sure about Google.
There is no charge for using any of the Location Services on your phone. You may be thinking of VZ Navigator, which does have a charge.
Dave-in-Decatur wrote:
Go to the Play Store (which is what Google calls its Android app store) and search for "phone locator". This will bring up a long list of apps to choose from. Most are free. Be sure to read the features and reviews before installing, to make sure you're getting what you want and that other users find that it works well.
Several antivirus apps have a 'find my phone' feature built in (and a 'remote wipe' feature to remove your data from your phone).
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tikibar1 wrote:
There is no charge for using any of the Location Services on your phone. You may be thinking of VZ Navigator, which does have a charge.
Exactly right! My bad.
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Thanks Dave. I appreciate your response. This all very new to me so I am not surprised that I got it all wrong. I am surmising that the locator services just locate a Verizon store or service facility?
Am I right in thinking that locato r services will allow me to trace the whereabouts of my lost or stolen phone on my computer or do I have that wrong also?
Bill
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The location services that come installed on the phone are to locate where you and your phone are, for instance to show that location on a map or to check in on Yelp or something like that. But they only show that location on other apps on the phone itself; they won't help you locate the phone if you're not holding it. That's where you need a locator app that you would download from the Play Store.
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I usually turn on all the GPS services except for the VZW one.
I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.
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Congratulations on your new smart phone, worahm! As @Dave-in-Decatur advised, there is not native device locating function, but the Google Play store does have several 3rd party options that will provide that capability.
Being a new smart phone user, I recommend attending one of our free in-store workshops. Its a great way to get better acquainted with your Stratosphere! Check out times to sign up on http://bit.ly/TLLeeo. Keep me posted if you have additional questions!
Thanks,
AdamE_VZW
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