When a mobile (cell) phone is active and connected to a network it is transmitting to the nearest mobile phone towers. The location of a mobile phone (the physical handset) can be determined by "triangulating" the position. As it sounds, the phone's location is determined by its position between 3 mobile phone towers, or put another way, its position within a triangle of mobile phone towers.

Triangulation can be used for a number of purposes. Heres a couple of examples. Firstly, it can be used to determine where a call has originated from for billing purposes. Take a look at your mobile phone bill or account statement and see that it shows the location where the call was made. Obviously, the mobile phone isnt hardwired into the network so triangulation is used to determine its physical or geographical location within the mobile phone network.

Another use for triangulation is for law enforcement purposes. Lets say a person has threatened to harm themselves (such as suicide) and they are on the phone to 000 (911 in USA) but refused to provide the operator with their location. Triangulation can be used to determine their locality so that emergency services personnel can go and assist that person.

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