What are GPS Services?
TELUS GPS services provide you with peace of
mind and convenience. Using GPS technology, the location of an authorized
wireless phone is determined to provide you the information you
need, whether it is the real-time location of a family member or
driving directions to take you where you want to go.
For more information about specific GPS services, visit:
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Where can I use GPS services?
TELUS GPS services are available within the TELUS’ GPS coverage area.
Please see our GPS coverage maps for more information. We are continuously expanding our GPS coverage, so please check back for updates on our GPS coverage.
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Can I get GPS service outside of TELUS’ coverage
area?
If your TELUS mobile phone is outside of our
GPS coverage area, you will not have access to the GPS services.
If your mobile phone is outside of TELUS’ digital network or the
network of our roaming partners, you will not be able to make or
receive calls nor use GPS services on your mobile phone.
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What is GPS technology?
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. TELUS’
advanced GPS technology combines the reliability of multiple location
technologies so that mobile devices can be accurately located in
various environments:
 |
Assisted
GPS – the location of a mobile device is determined
by triangulating the position of at least three satellites
orbiting around our planet with the added help of the
our network |
 |
Hybrid
Triangulation – if line of sight to three satellites
is not available, then hybrid triangulation uses a combination
of both GPS and the closest cell sites to identify the
location |
 |
Network
triangulation – if no satellites are in the phone’s
line of sight, then network triangulation uses the closest
cell sites to the mobile phone to identify the location
|
 |
Cell
site location – should all of the above fail,
the location of the cell site that is in contact with
the mobile device will be provided |
|
For real-time driving directions with TELUS Navigator,
Assisted GPS technology is used because very accurate location information
is required to provide you with turn-by-turn driving instructions.
Thus, it is recommended for your mobile device to be placed on your
car’s dashboard for clear line of sight to the orbiting satellites.
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How accurate is GPS technology?
The accuracy of the location information you
receive from GPS services will vary based on device, geographical
and local conditions – whether the phone is indoors or outdoors,
surrounded by tall buildings, etc.
Generally, the following technologies will provide
these ranges of accuracy
- Assisted GPS (typically outdoors in suburban
and rural environments) – within 10-50 meters
- Hybrid/Network Triangulation (typically indoors
and in high density urban environments) – within 50-500 meters
- Cell site location – 500-1000 meters
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How long does it take to determine my location?
TELUS uses advanced GPS technology to provide
you with the most precise location information. You can expect to
get your location fix within 3 to 30 seconds.
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Are Kid Find & Navigator available on PCS
and Mike networks?
Kid Find and Navigator are available for PCS
clients on monthly rate plans. Pay & Talk and Mike clients currently
do not have access to these two GPS services. However, Mike clients
have access to a different set of GPS services – our AVL
solutions and business
GPS applications.
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What GPS Services are available for business clients?
TELUS Navigator is available for business clients
on our PCS network. On our Mike network, GPS
Tracking and Navigation Solutions. These solutions provide Handset
Tracking, Handset Tracking with Dispatch and In-Vehicle Modem- Based
Tracking capabilities.
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Is my location information secure? Do any
laws protect my privacy?
Our GPS services are designed with your privacy
and security in mind and are subject to our privacy
policy. TELUS GPS services use a comprehensive suite of security
arrangements to ensure the safeguarding of your information and
that only authorized users can access your location information:
- Your location information is communicated and stored within
TELUS’ secure infrastructure
- Location information is normally retained for a maximum of seven
days, after which it will be deleted
- Location information is only collected by TELUS with your consent.
Your consent is either provided by downloading an application
onto your mobile phone and running the application, or logging
on to mytelusmobility.com
to initiate and access the service.
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Can I disable GPS on my mobile phone?
Yes. You can turn off GPS availability on your
mobile phone, which will disable access to all GPS services. You
can typically manage your GPS settings through the phone’s settings
menu. For the Samsung A950, go to “Settings” from your phone’s main
menu, go to “GPS”, then “Status” and select “Emergency Only”. For
other phones, please refer to your phone’s user guide.
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Aside from GPS services, how else does TELUS
use my location information?
Generally, your location information is used
to provide you with wireless telephone service. With cell site location
information, our networks identify the approximate position of your
mobile phone in order to direct and bill for calls that you make
and receive.
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