On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:44:01 GMT, "Ken Heaton"
wrote:

The manual for my cell phone (Samsung SPH A-460) refers to an internal GPS
used to locate the phone. I normally have it (the GPS function) turned off
but the manual states it will override and turn on GPS if I make a 911 call.
I did a quick Google on "GPS cell phone" and found a bunch of info
including:

"assisted GPS, a form of location detection in which cell phone towers help
GPS satellites fix a cell phone caller's position"

"Enhanced 911 - Mobile phone companies are under orders from the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission to incorporate some kind of
location-reporting technology into cellular phones. Dubbed E-911, or
enhanced 911, the communication initiative is meant to give law enforcement
and emergency services personnel a way to find people calling 911 from
mobile phones when callers don't know where they are or are unable to say.
The FCC issued waivers permitting carriers to add location-detection
services to new phones over time, so that 95 percent of all mobile phones
are compliant with E-911 rules by 2005."

A few kidnapping victims thrown in trunks have been found this way,
and similar technology is used in tracking stolen cars, I believe.

The only problem would be range: digital phones die about 1.5 NM
offshore, and analog (when you can FIND one) not only likely don't
have the GPS feature (too antique) but have a typical range similar to
a hand-held VHF...line of sight or 5-6 NM.

EPIRB with GPS if offshore, otherwise, just swim for it G

R.