[Rodney King]

If I am ever wanted I am going to turn my cell phone on and tape it to the underside of a truck heading cross-country.

[Huck]

I don't know if you have read this kid's letter, but he apparantly has achieved total conciousness, conquered death and greed, and devised a plan to help save the rest of us. I mean, by all accounts, he's a real whiz. I am surprised he slipped up like this. It confuses me. I don't know what to think.

[kezekiel]

Cell phone triangulation is a well-known tracking method within the wireless industry, said Michael Barker, an equipment sales manager for Cell-Loc, based in Calgary, Alberta. His company provides tracking services to help people who are incapacitated and unable to dial for help.

And do they need a warrant first, before they do this? Please tell me they at least need that.

[goldstategop]

"My kingdom for a cell phone, my kingdom for a cell phone!" A 21st century Richard III let down by a wrong call at the wrong time at the wrong place.

[shadowman99]

There's nothing surprising here. The next gen cell phones are going to have GPS built in.

[Myrddin]

If his cell phone had the new assisted GPS, they would have had a fix within a 150 ft circle. Using the last cell tower registration was good enough. He was obviously traveling on I-80 from the track of the cell tower registrations. The A-GPS and associated E-911 will nail your location pretty precisely. If you are in need of emergency assistance or just seeking the closest business of a particular variety with your cell phone based web browser, it is very good technology. If you intend to keep your location secret...don't take a cell phone of any type with you.

[coloradan]

All your location are belong to us.

[LibertyGirl77]

A. That the Feds can do this type of thing is kind of scary (deeper implications, unintended consequences, etc.).

B. Thanks to this article, real criminals on the run now know to shut their cell phones off. Brilliant move on the part of this reporter. < /sarcasm >

[Risky Schemer]

"Every time the cell phone is on, it periodically sends a little registration message to the phone company, 'Here I am! Here I am!"' Barker said. That message contains the cell phone's electronic serial number and tells the service provider when the phone has drifted in and out of cell tower range.

That "message" probably requires only a tiny chip. One that, say, could easily and painlessly implanted under the skin. A little mark on the surface would easily identify who has complied and received it or not.

What a boon to law enforcement, or finding and recovering lost or missing children, etc!

< /shudder >

[commandante_zero]

What a Maroon! You gotta wonder about somebody smart enough to build a bunch o' bombs yet this stupid... 000

[snopercod]

...cell phone tracking could be used to follow the movements of political dissenters or politicians and other people in power.

Like Newt Gingrich?