Stuck in a Remote Area? Use Your Phone's Hidden Feature to Share Location without Internet

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): If you are trekking in a hilly area or in a deserted place where both the internet and network of the mobile have stopped working, then sending your location to someone seems almost impossible. It is natural to panic in such a situation, but a simple trick hidden in your smartphone can save your life. You can send your almost exact location through just one SMS even without internet and GPS.

How does this technology work?

This technology relies on the phone's basic SMS (Short Message Service) and compass app. Often in remote areas where 4G/5G internet does not work, even there the mobile's 2G network is available for sending and receiving SMS. By taking advantage of this, you can send information about your position.

Follow these steps to send location

Open the Compass app: Most Android and iPhone smartphones have the Compass app pre-installed. If your phone does not have it, download it from Google Play Store or App Store before setting out on any journey.

Identify landmarks and direction: The compass app will tell you which direction you are facing (north, south, east, west). Now look for a large and permanent landmark around you, like a temple, a rock of a particular shape, a river, a bridge or a building.

Estimate distance: Estimate your approximate distance from the landmark.

Prepare and send SMS: Now type an SMS containing all this information. For example: “I am at XYZ trekking route, about 3 km east of the old Shiva temple. Please send help.” Send this message to your family or friends.

These apps can also be very useful.

Some special mobile apps can show your GPS location even without internet, provided you have downloaded their maps in advance.

Maps.me, OsmAnd, and Offline Compass: These apps can show you the latitude and longitude of your location, which you can send by typing it directly in an SMS. This information is much more accurate than the compass information.

Keep these things in mind before traveling:

Always keep an offline compass app and an offline maps app in your phone. Before going on any trek or journey, inform your family about your entire route and possible location. As soon as you get even a little network, immediately share the live location on WhatsApp or Google Maps.