Its product Smart Steps uses anonymous location data generated by the network to help companies and public sector organisations estimate the number of people visiting a particular area. Telefónica Dynamic Insights is part of O2's parent company Telefónica. So that the O2 network can deliver data, calls and texts to your phone, it has to know where your mobile is and which masts it' is connected to. For some apps, location data options may be in the Privacy section. You can switch off location data in your Settings menu. You may want to change your privacy settings so that it only tells your friends, rather than letting everyone see it as a public post. This will tell other users where you are. Checking inĪpps like Facebook, Instagram and Foursquare let you check in to locations.

You can download apps like Find My iPhone that let you track your phone's location online, with options to remotely lock it, make it sound an alarm or erase all of the data. If you lose your phone, the location data can help to find it. Windows phones: a circle with a dot in the centre.Android phones: a white circle with a cross-hair.When your phone is gathering location data, you'll see an icon in the status bar:

The mobile network also needs to monitor the location of your phone in order to connect it with calls, texts and data.

Lots of smartphone apps gather location data to help point you in the direction of nearby attractions, landmarks and restaurants – or to give you offers and promotions based on where you are.

Track my phone