SMS with position sent when certain POI reached: to reassure the wife and help in case of rescue

Paul Mikhelson shared this idea 9 years ago
Gathering feedback

It would be great if Locus could automatically send an SMS to a specific phone when specific points on the map are reached. The SMS would contain only the GPS cooordinates. Example of use:


I insert various POSMS (Points of SMS) along the planned route on the map prior to setting off. Each time a POSMS is reached, an SMS is sent with the coordinates. This would reassure the wife and help rescue services in case of accident. Should not hacve to work with a plotted route. Just POSMS's should be able tobe created on the map.

Replies (8)

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Hi Paul,

While idea is waiting for votes, a test using next app ? Not excactly what you ask for (POSMS messenger) but the most important seems to be the rescue messenger by SMS I suppose ? Same compatible vector maps as used by Locus. Pse test, without any real accident ;-)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tinkerpete.movetracker&hl=en

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Ok will test

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Have tested movetracker. It's buggy and complicated. I would just add a feature to the existing POI Alert: the ability to send a pretyped one line text (such as "Hi Jill, I passed these coordinates at DD/MM HH/MM:") followed by the GPS coordinates via SMS (or E-mail for the lucky ones that have data connection). Simple to use. The message gets sent automatically when the POI is reached. I would put 3 or 4 of these alerts along my track and have an SMS sent automatically each time. No data connection needed. Wife and family happy. In case of an accident, one would call and communicate the GPS coordinates. I wouldn't rely on an app to do that for me.

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Hi Paul, thank's for report. No further comment. "Greetz" to Jill !


Regards. Willy.

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What about "Livetracking"?


Why SMS?

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Live tracking can be an option but one needs a data plan for that. Many of us don't have it.

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a phone without data traffic is like horse riding without a horse :)

but ok, your idea is clear for now.

happy voting

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Relying on data traffic in "the real outdoors" is not smart.

In a bad reception area I believe sms sending has a higher chance than any proper data traffic.


Living in a small european country means that data traffic in all other european countries is very expensive.

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Ah but you are forgetting one thing: anyone with a mobile phone can receove an sms!

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Hi Paul,


My smartphone 1 GB dataplan, also includes 10.000 (not typo) free SMS. At the end of the month mostlystill has +/- 9.985 SMS to go ;-). Or a pure SMS phone to phone live tracking service sure makes sense.


I (re)tested the Movetracker app. A complicated setup ? No !

SMS live tracking seems to work reasonably ok. I wiped the dust of my oldest smartphone, used as monitoring sms receiver. Not perfect, as most of the time I had to reselect MapVieuw and partner user when a new SMS position report arrived. Caused by old low memory smartphone ?


Alarm SMS function not ok, probably caused by a too hight sensitivity of the movement dedector. I never tested this accident notification function before, as I am not excercising too dangerous (MTB) drivings, and this notation function sounds not so optimistic. For me as touristic driver, a longer pause most of the time only would indicate some nice places to have a stop. A 'Beergarden notifier' a more positive function description ;-)


Although I am convinced that the Movetracker approch and idea for SMS live tracking and SMS alarm system (* was) very promising. The bad news: No further Movetracker support :o( . As many users are changing now to Locus app and the superior support system by the fantastic Locus team !


*For more testinfo and copy of Tinkerpete's comment by mail, pse use my Locus forum PM 0709

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I have a similar request before but an emergency SMS that will be triggered using the widget:

http://help.locusmap.eu/topic/additional-features-for-locus-widget


Unfortunately, only 1 like my idea but its okay. :)

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Yes, just the ability to send an SMS with a 1 line text and have the position automatically added to the msg would be great

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Hello.

For me, very useful. I use to send to family SMS with position at regular intervals when sailing. This allows, if I fall overboard, to know my last position. Often I forget to send the SMS due to external conditions (battling with sails, gear, weather, sea, or repairs). It will be nice to have the position sent by SMS when the GPS position is a predefined distance from one of the route waypoints.

Thanks

Edit by menion: merge of duplicate topic

Hello.

This has already been mentioned some years ago.

The solution was to share the position, via SMS for instance. The problem with this solution is that it involves several steps:

- Selecting a point or map center

- Sharing it

- Adding a message to the position

- Selecting the share method (SMS in this instance)

- Selecting the contacts

- Sending the SMS

This works but is not very practical in case of real emergency.

In my case, the emergency will be man overboard at sea.

Presently I use a waterproof smartphone, with some applications that are not too bad, but far from perfect, as there is typically only one possible message, often not even modifiable. In addition these applications often handle poorly the GPS (switching it off and on, loosing the position for a while). Some of them are based on phone shaking, which is completely impractical for outdoors activities (they will be sending unwanted SOS messages too often).

When sailing I always have Locus running. And Locus handles very well the GPS.

Once accidentaly in the water, it will be perfect not to have to exit Locus, to stay within Locus and to click one icon to send by SMS a "Man overboard" (or any other predefined message) + GPS position message to a list of contacts.

In French and Spanish Mediterranean coats, mobile range at sea is often very large (20 NM from shore or more). SMS is therefore a reliable mean to send an information in most circumstances during coastal cruising.

A small waterproof smartphone is easy to have in one's pocket.

Using it to make a phone call or typing an SMS while trying not to drown is possible, but not a best option relatively to a couple of click on the screen. Existing SOS applications are not bad but not flawless. Having access to this functionality directly from Locus will be a plus.

Thanks.

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