[PW] ? cell phone GPS

[Kay Lancaster]

Mary Barna wrote:
> This is for me.  I am technically challenged. I know that in your cell
> phone is a chip whereby you can be traced through GPS.  I have several
> questions, 
> 1. Does this work even if the phone is shut off?
> 2. Does this work if your battery runs down?
> 3. Do you have to turn on the GPS in some way?
> 4. How do "they" find you?

I am not a cell phone expert, and I don't carry one, but I know 
they've used pings to a phone to find several people in Oregon 
and Washington recently; here's one case: 
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003918021_trapped02m.html 
it was also used in the hunt for the Kim family: 
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/consumersmarts/archives/122707.asp 
and for the three climbers on Mt. Hood last December. 
http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/cellping.asp

Kay