XPost: comp.mobile.android, sci.geo.satellite-nav   
   From: walterjones@invalid.nospam   
      
   Does anyone here have more technical information as to how Google Maps   
   obtains your location using cell tower data as described in this reference?   
     *How Maps finds your current location*   
       
      
     Maps estimates where you are from sources like:   
     a. GPS:   
        Maps uses satellites to know your location up to around 20 meters.   
        When you're inside buildings or underground, the GPS is sometimes   
        inaccurate.   
     b. Wi-Fi: The location of nearby Wi-Fi networks helps Maps know   
        where you are.   
     c. Cell tower: Your connection to mobile data can be accurate   
        up to a few thousand meters."   
      
   Note the use of "mobile data" (and not "cellular data") in the above.   
      
   I was always aware that Google "could" use at least four types of data   
    1. GPS (which, IMHO, is perfectly sufficient alone for most needs)   
    2. Wi-Fi (i.e., your SSID/BSSID/dBm/GPS uploaded by your rude neighbors)   
    3. IP address geolocation (often more to the ISP's datacenter than you)   
    4. Cellular tower location (these are unique - but maps are proprietary)   
      
   Previously I was unaware Maps was actually _using_ cell-tower geolocation.   
   If Google Maps is using cell-tower geolocation, how do you turn that off?   
      
   Where do they get the database given they're supposedly not published by   
   the cellular carriers (although they are open sourced widely otherwise)?   
      
   Do you have a better reference on how "cellular tower geolocation" is used   
   on Android and do you have a better reference on how to turn it off?   
   --   
   I'll also ask the privacy question on the XDA Developers site found here...   
       
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)