Useful Networks, an American mobile phone and network company, has marketed it latest product in the United Kingdom this month. Their product? A mobile phone service that allows customers to track and locate friends and family through the use of their phone.

The application, which has been named “Sniff” sends users a text message listing the place the person being tracked (who must give full permission first of all) is currently located, including a map. Useful Networks has stated that it’s only real concern over the products success is the risk of “misconception” over the privacy settings of the system which may stop people signing up.

However, this has certainly not stopped Scandinavian customers accepting the new technology with open arms, with already 100,000 users signed up to Sniff and more adding to that number all the time.

Users sign up to the application by a simple text message, and can also add Sniff to their Facebook profile exclusively. However the service is only available to those who can prove they are over the age of 18 through their mobile phone contracts.

Users will have the choice of becoming “invisible” if they so wish, which will disable the tracking system until they turn it on again. Perfect if you want to nip over for a quick pint after work without being pulled up over it!

When it comes to deciding who you allow to track you, there is obviously a lot of trust involved. Useful Networks suggest asking yourself if you would trust that person with your spare house key while you were on Holiday, to decide if you should offer them the freedom of tracking.

As for charges, it currently costs 50 pence a “track”, but there are definitely plans for this to become a free service by use of advertising supporting the income instead.

As the owner of the business says, if this is a hit in the UK, it is going to put a stop to the most asked question on a mobile phone!

By: Jennifer Quirk