Why are cell phone companies still using cellular towers for locating cell phones instead of GPS?

Question

What are their reasons if almost every phone has a GPS chip in it now?

Answer 1

Several reasons. Firstly, not every phone contains a GPS receiver -- they are fairly costly and require energy. Secondly, GPS receivers do not work well indoors. But most any cell phone can be picked up by three or more towers, so the position can be found by triangulation.

Answer 2

There are a number of limitations on using GPS technology in cell phones to locate the cell phone, therefore the towers are more universally used to locate the cell phone if the GPS technology is not giving an adequate location of the cell phone. Below is a list of 3 limitations of the GPS technology in cell phones.
1 - GPS cell phones need a clear line of sight with the sky in order to establish a location.
2 - The user of the phone will be aware that the application is running.
3 - The user needs to ensure the cell phone stays charged because the phone is sending its location every two minutes and it is using more battery power than it typically does and will need to be charged more frequently.

Any or all of these limitations may keep a cell phone location from being accurately determined. In some cases, only the cell tower locations in relation to the cell phone is the only technology to help approximate the cell phone location.

Answer 3

There are a number of limitations on making use of GPS technological know-how in telephone phones to find the telephone cell, therefore the towers are more universally used to locate the cell phone if the GPS technology is just not giving an ample location of the mobile phone. Beneath is a record of three limitations of the GPS technological know-how in mobilephone telephones. 1 - GPS phone phones need a clear line of sight with the sky in order to establish a vicinity. 2 - The person of the mobile will be aware that the appliance is jogging. Three - The consumer desires to ensure the cellphone mobile stays charged considering the mobile is sending its place each two minutes and it's utilising extra battery vigor than it more often than not does and will must be charged more typically. Any or all of these limitations may maintain a cellphone cellphone area from being competently decided. In some circumstances, most effective the cellphone tower places on the subject of the mobilephone mobile is the one science to aid approximate the cellphone mobilephone place.

Answer 4

Because even if the phones have them installed, they do not send out a locator signal unless the user has turned Location On. By factory default, the GPS Location only activates when 911 is dialed. The user must activate the GPS Locator to always active on their own.

How many of us actually go into the menu and switch Location to On, instead of leaving it set to E911?

Answer 5

The GPS satellites are 23,000 miles up. The towers are only good for about 25 miles max. If your phone was 100 watts it might make it.