1. How does SMS My Location differ from Send My Location for webOS?

SMS My Location is based on Send My Location for webOS, using the same code base. SMS My Location is a version optimized to support customized Text Message formats used by location based blog sites such as www.youposition.it. Software for Mobile Phones LLC is not affiliated with or does not endorse www.youposition.it. SMS My Location was developed in response to user requests.

2. How does SMS My Location get location information?

SMS My Location makes use of the Location-Based Services(LBS) APIs that are part of the Palm®webOS^TM platform.

3. Why does it seem the accuracy of the Location data varies?

The location services provide the best available location information depending on the circumstances (location, network availability etc) of the end device. The most accurate location information is available when the device can receive a good GPS signal. Generally a good GPS signal requires a clear view of the sky. Buildings can impede the reception of a good GPS signal. When a GPS signal is not available, the location services make use of other location methods such as the location of cellular towers or well know WiFi locations. The LBS APIs report an estimated location accuracy based on the technique used to provide the location. The accuracy is displayed in either yards (default) or meters. Users can select their prefered units in the preferences screen.

4. Why is the time displayed in the results much older than the current time?

If current location information is not available, the location services will provide cached location information from a previous time the device could obtain location data. The user is advised to look at the "Data Time Stamp" field of the location results. If the Data Time Stamp field indicates a time several minutes older than the current time, that is a good indication the location data is cached. The app checks the time stamp of the location data. If it is more than 3 minutes older than the current time, a warning is displayed. SMS My Location then changes the type of request to the LBS for subsequent requests to increase the requested accuracy of the location data. This increases the probability of getting current data, however the side effect is that it takes longer to get the results.

5. How do I send my location?

Use of the SMS My Location application is simple. Tap the "Get Location Data" button to determine your location. Once the location data has been populated in the display list, the messaging and compose email icons are enabled.

Tapping the "Compose Email" icon on the bottom right of the screen launches the Palm®webOS^TM Email application. A new email is opened and the location information written in the body of the email. A link to Google Maps is also included in the email (note : Google Maps does not support all browsers, some recipient of your email may not be able to open the link ). You can send the email like a normal email from your device, add who you wish to send it to, as well as add additional text or attachments as you wish. SMS My Location opens the email using your default email account, however you can change the "From" account while in the compose view of the email.

Tapping the "Messaging" icon on the bottom left of the screen launches the Palm®webOS^TM Messaging application. A new text message with your location information is composed. As the approximate address information can vary in length, the message may go out as 2 text messages (labeled 1 of 2, and 2 of 2) .

Location information can be refreshed by tapping the "Update Location Data".

6. What are the available options under Preferences ?

SMS My Location has the option for users to select several preferences. To support location logging / blogging websites, there is the ability to set a default number to send text messages to. There is also the ability to store a default message to send in the text message. These include the option to include or not include the Latitude and Longitude, address, and Google Maps URL in text messages. The final setting under preferences allows you to choose the units in which to display estimated location accuracy. The options are yards or meters.

7. Can I see my location on a map?

Once the location data has been populated in the display list, you can tap the "Google Maps" button at the bottom of the screen to launch Google Maps to get a visual display of your location.

8. The recipient of my text message or email cannot open the link contained in the body of the message, is the link broken?

Google Maps can be opened by the web browser included in the Palm®webOS^TM platform as well as most major web browsers for computers. Many mobile browsers can not open Google Maps.

9. How can the recipient of my text message or email get directions to my location?

If their computer or mobile device browser can support Google Maps, recipients of your text message or email can simply click on the hyperlink included in the message. The link opens up Google Maps with your location plotted. Users can then use Google Maps to get directions to your location. If they do not have a way of opening Google Maps, the address contained in the text or email can be used in most portable and car GPS navigation systems.

10. The recipient of my email cannot click the hyperlink.

The email generated by SMS My Location includes a hyperlink that opens Google Maps to display your location. The hyperlink appears as a clickable link in most email clients, to include the email client included in the Palm®webOS^TM platform. There are some email clients to include Microsoft Outlook 2003, that do not display the hyperlink as a clickable link. In those cases, the user would have to copy the hyperlink into a web browser.

11. Why does the application fail to display my location or my address ?

There are two conditions that will cause the application to fail to display your location or address :
1. Poor GPS signal / failure to return good data from the LBS API. If your handset does not received a good GPS signal (indoors, shielded by other structures etc), the LBS will make use of your data connection to query various databases to provide your location information based on known cell tower or WiFi information. If the LBS query does not return a valid value from this query, location information from a previous valid query (cached data) may be returned. There are occasions where for a a variety of reasons (no data available in the databases for a specific location, poor or interrupted data connection at the time of a query..) where invalid data is returned (null). If this occurs, the application will trap the error and display an error message. Try to look up your location again or move to improve your GPS signal if possible. Additionally check your cellular data or WiFi connection to ensure you have a good data connection (see below).
2. Poor data connection. The address look up depends on a good data connection. The latitude and longitude received from the LBS API query are used as arguments to look up your address via your data connection. It is possible if you have no data connection, but have a good GPS signal, for the application to display your Lat/Long, but not be able to look up your address. The address look up data call is sensitive to poor data connections. If the address look up call fails due to a poor data connection, it is possible for it to hang and not respond to subsequent valid calls even when the data connection is restored. In cases where the address look up continues to fail even after the data connection is restored, it may be necessary to power off and on your phone to clear the error. The application does trap these errors and display warning messages.

12. Should SMS My Location be used in emergencies?

Given the practical limitations on location accuracy, this software is not intended for emergency or life-saving purposes.