Phone numbers and phone tracking have always been interesting functions. For many people, anonymity in this sphere was desirable. On the others, more and more people want to learn who is calling them, for different reasons. Let’s dip into details and try to guess what kind of tracking applications are available now.

Variety of Tracking Applications 

Theoretically speaking, we can divide all the tracking applications into three groups:

• Apps that give away a hidden number of a person calling you.
• Applications that track the geolocation (and other metrics) of the device.
• Call tracking software that is used in business. 

The applications that show you a number of a caller can be quite useful. If you are registered in many services requiring your phone number, you are always at a risk of unwanted calls. Some companies sell, lose, or give away phone numbers to hackers. Otherwise, they’ve got too many partners with whom they can share your number. The applications that provide a user with such info not only identify the numbers but can show you the rating of a caller or warn you if someone has marked the phone as scum. The most remarkable apps are TrueCaller, Contactive, and TrapCall.

Geolocation applications are used to track a remote phone. In the past, mythical applications and services claiming they could give away SMS, locations, and other info, were quite popular. Today, the majority of apps concern parental control. If you worry about a kid, install such an app to track the location of a phone. Advanced apps can record videos, or turn on the dictaphone, or give access to your kids’ phone, like a kind of Windows remote desktop software. The best apps in this sector are Kaspersky Safe Kids, TrackView, and KidControl.

The third group of apps is used by companies. Such apps can give away different metrics and info to help a company identify what made a customer make a call. As usual, they do not imply any risk for a customer and gather the information that is available on the Internet.

How Do These Apps Can Be Useful?

Despite all the fears and risks (some of them are justified, some are ridiculous), each of the app groups can be useful for a person:

Phone number tracking apps gather statistics and reactions of other people. They are good for those who are sick and tired of constant advertising or scam calls. They can be a good warning either. If you have got naive people nearby (usually, phone swindlers aim for elderly people or minors), such an app can save them from losing money or giving away essential information. 

The same idea is with tracking apps. If you have got a kid (or an elderly relative) and do not want them to get lost or lose their devices, install a tracking app. To get rid of all possible misunderstandings, explain to a user why you do it. These apps are ideal for those who spend all their time working and cannot control people all the time. Paid versions of the apps have extra functions, like tracking a phone out the network coverage.

If you have a business and aim to get more valuable clients, the tracking software from our third group is a must. It is a convenient way to learn what attracts your customers. With such an app, you can test new approaches and conduct market research with ease. 

As you can see, tracking a phone is not always bad. In some cases, it can be a life or money-saving option.