Click map for a larger view
Sure there have been those times when I’ve walked in the house and wondered, “where is everybody?” Well now I could just go to my computer and find out. AT&T recently launched a new service called “FamilyMap”. If you have an AT&T Wireless Family Plan, then you can sign up for the service and track any of the phones on that plan.
The way it works
Just like we see on modern day TV shows and Movies, your cell phone is constantly broadcasting your whereabouts via the cell towers (that must be why I see perfectly good cellphones lying by the side of the road). There have been apps like Loopt that allowed you to find friends (for free). Seems like AT&T wants to monetize this by offering it as a paid service (big surprise right?). Right now I’m doing the free 30 day trial. Not sure if I’ll continue it or not. We’ll see. Back to the way it works. You log onto the familymap.wireless.att.com site and once you’ve set up your account you can simply click the Locate button and within 2 minutes that person (actually their cellphone) will be pinpointed on the map.
You can name and save the locations so that they will show up with more meaningful names like “school”, “work”, “the gym”, etc. The accuracy of the location will also be displayed. I imagine phones with GPS’s in them might be a little more accurate, but not necessary if AT&T is only relying on the cell towers. The service works as advertised and it’s been fun to play with. I have a couple of teenagers and well, you know.
There’s also a mobile version of the site for your mobile phone’s web browser (http://attfamilymap.com/m). Looks great on the iPhone/iPod touch.
The Bottom Line
AT&T is offering FamilyMap for $9.99/month to locate up to two family members and $14.99/month to locate up to 5 family members. Like I said, you can try it for free for 30 days and see if it’s worth it to you. Not all phones work with FamilyMap such as the Pay as you Go ones. Sadly it doesn’t help you find a lost phone that’s in your house (still looking for one here). However, it will help you locate a lost or stolen phone that is elsewhere. If you’re interested in AT&T’s Family Map. Check out the website here.
Hi Terry,
Just tried family map. It’s not very accurate. For my phone it was +/- 10 miles! And it says that my wife is at my neighbor’s house over a block away at 7am (hmmmm) ;-).
I can see this app could lead to a lot of marital break-ups if one thinks it is accurate!
Cheers,
David
If it were more accurate, it might help my wife find her phone around the house!! 🙂 Now that’s a service I’d pay for. It would avoid the daily, “Honey, would you call my phone so I can find it?” requests. 🙂
(Hey, don’t tell her I said that…)
Signed up for Family Map two days ago, after waiting 6 weeks for the third party company who runs the sign up website to get bugs worked out that allowed their program to acknowledge my At&t account. Now that I have the service it is awful. Two of my phones have GPS. One of the phones can be located at the exact spot or it is up to2 miles away. The other phone is either located at the exact spot or can not be located at all. Both phones are sitting side by side as I am trying to locate them. Both of these phone are Samsung Eternity models. Tech support has no idea how to correct the problems. My thrid phone that does not have GPS (LG Vu) is ALWAYS located and is within 2 miles of where the phone actually is.
Not sure I will keep the service after the 30 day free trial.
Not very accurate. Have both kids due home by 11:00 pm but always says they are at least two-three blocks away. Would not be very helpful in an emergency. Considering canceling, this is crap!