Get Live GPS Tracking with Instamapper

A little while back I wrote about a service called Foursquare that would help you keep track of where you friends are or have been when they check in to various locations. What this service does rely upon is your friends checking in regularly and also sharing that information with you. It is very much a more social method of location-based services.

So what if you want to keep track of someone or something?

There’s another free service called Instamapper that will allow you to keep track of a device by using a mobile phone and the free Instamapper GPS Tracker software. All you need to do is sign up for a free account, download the client software and add the device to your account. This service does rely upon a data connection being available so if you roam into rural areas where there is no mobile data coverage available you might fall off the radar until you come back into range. Thankfully, the software can buffer up to 100 of your previous coordinates to fill in the gaps when you do get your connection back.

Instamapper - Device Page

The service will store up to thirty days worth of data and up to 100,000 locations per device and you can export that data if you want to  use it with other software on your computer (such as GeoTagging software). You can also save journeys (or tracks according to their terminology) so you can review trips at a future date.

Instamapper - Saved Tracks

What is also great is that you can give a special URL to people so that can follow your progress on your latest journey. I have used this many times when driving interstate by myself so the missus can see how far I have managed to go or to see if I am having a break. Your progress will update once every five seconds when you are travelling over 45kph and less often if you are under that speed or stationery.

Client software is available for iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry and the Motorola iDEN and is free to download and use. One thing that you will want to ensure is that you have a generous data allowance so as to avoid being stung by excess usage charges. I’ve never managed to do that with my 1GB included data under heavy usage but it’s still something of which to be aware.

You might not use Instamapper everyday but might be handy for those road trips or if you go out sightseeing so you can retrace your steps later on. Otherwise, you could use it as a tracking device for a car if you pair it with a cheap Android phone and a mobile broadband service to keep the costs down. I just love it as it gives loved ones peace of mind when I am travelling alone and they can see how I am tracking.