Loc

Loc is a SMS based, subscription free Android app that you can use to track your assets through GPS. Unlike most GPS trackers in the market that charge a monthly service fee on top of a mobile data subscription, Loc is SMS based, so your cost is only your network's SMS rate, which depending on your plan, can be zero. It works by sending you a Google maps link of the mobile phone's location through SMS whenever you text it with the message "Loc". You click the link, and it will bring you to a Google maps page with a pin marker showing where the phone is right at that moment.

Features:
1. Sends a Google maps link of the phone's location through SMS upon request.
2. Creates a log entry every minute of the phone's location, distance travelled, GPS accuracy, and speed, which is stored in a log file. You may upload this file to Google maps, to know the route your asset took to get to its destination. You may also analyse this log using Google maps to find out any unexpected stops.
3. Has a scheduled start function that kicks off tracking at a predetermined time, if you can't personally press the "Start" button. This is useful if you're in a business that sends off trucks early in the morning.
4. Minds your security by having an authorised list of contacts. The app does not reply to whoever sends it a "Loc" message. It only answers back if the sender is a contact that you will explicitly register as trusted.
5. Does not have a monthly service fee, nor rely on a mobile data subscription. You're in control of the costs.
6. Runs in the background unless “Stop” or back button is pressed, so Android OS does not inadvertently close the app when it frees up memory. The back button must be double tapped to prevent inadvertent closing of the app.
7. Has an auto run option when the phone boots up, so you can tell your delivery guys to just reboot the phone if ever it hangs up, and use the remote start feature to enable tracking through SMS.

Requirements:
Android phone running on 4.1.x (Jellybean) or newer, with a GPS
(but feel free to approach us with an older phone)

Tested on:
Cherry Mobile Marble (4.2 Jellybean)
Samsung Galaxy S4 (5.0 Lollipop)
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini (4.1 Jellybean)

Actual usage:
A problem with business owners is dishonest drivers, who report that they were apprehended for a violation, but in reality were not. Observe the case of Driver A, who reported to the office that he was apprehended for smoke belching at around 10:30AM along Congressional Avenue just after the Visayas Avenue intersection. He also reported that it took him around 5 minutes to undergo an emission test before he was back on the road. However, analysing the GPS data from Loc visualised in Google maps, you will observe that the markers recorded every minute (colour yellow) are spaced far apart, so it seems he was in constant motion between his alleged apprehension between Visayas Avenue intersection until Tandang Sora Avenue.

The log file can also be used for fuel consumption calculation, and speeding detection.

Suggested Applications:
1. SME logistics
2. School bus
3. Family: children, their fetchers, and seniors