This page contains frequently asked questions for the MapQuest Find Me Application.
This application is currently available on the Nextel and Sprint networks.
Since the phones on these two networks vary in their capabilities and user interfaces,
we also provide FAQs specific to Nextel and Sprint.
Where applicable, we've provided links to these other two FAQs within this document.
To access Nextel or Sprint FAQs directly, select the appropriate link.
A. MapQuest Find Me is a downloadable application for your Nextel or Sprint phone which leverages
the power of your GPS phone to automatically identify your location, and identify nearby businesses.
It also enables you to share your location with trusted people, and view maps and driving directions
to selected locations. Using the associated Web site, you can also view your location history on an
interactive map, view location history of others in your trusted groups on an interactive map, manage your address book,
or allow other users to view your location.
A. GPS accuracy depends on environment. It ranges from 5m to 100m.
For Sprint phones, the network retrieves an accuracy estimate as well as the GPS coordinates. The Sprint network has no access to cell tower location data for applications. The accuracy estimate is incorporated into the display on the website.
A. The GPS receiver requires an open, clear view of the sky. Buildings, covered parking areas, tunnels and dense foliage can cause the GPS receiver to be unable to locate itself.
If you are parked in a covered parking lot or near a tall building, it is recommended that you move away so have a clear view of the sky and then use the MapQuest Find Me service.
You may need to give the GPS receiver a few minutes to find its location if it has not been used for more than 4 hours.
A. If you cannot find or have forgotten your PIN, simply launch your MapQuest Find Me application on your handset, from the home screen select "Settings," and select "Web Activation." You will be able to find your PIN, and activation code in the "Web Activation" screen. If you are unable to access from your handset please click here. You will be prompted to enter your mobile number and 9- digit Nextel account number.
A. Once you have successfully installed the MapQuest Find Me application on your phone you will need to go to www.mapquestfindme.com and click on "Activate my Account". You will need to enter the 4 digit PIN number (the one you entered on you phone) and activation code. To view your Activation code and PIN number start up MapQuest Find Me on your phone, select Settings and Activation code.
Please use the information on your phone to set up your account online. Please note when prompted for a Label you should enter a description of your phone (i.e. Bob's phone). The account name is the name of your account (i.e Bob Jones).
A. To receive and record a GPS location, the handset requires an unhindered view of the sky and a strong Sprint signal. Sprint provides a confidence estimate with each GPS position it receives. (Unlike Nextel, Sprint does not provide a cell tower position for the MapQuest Find Me application to use.) The handset will display a timestamp and the location (address or street and city) of the most recent position.
The most recent position is also displayed on the web site in the default ("LATEST") view. It is denoted by a stylized compass type icon: .
The color of the icon indicates the degree of confidence for the GPS location it portrays.
When you choose "TODAY" or any other view with multiple locations, GPS locations display on the map with small triangle type icons.
( to )
Each icon displays the position and the degree of confidence of the GPS location. The color indicates if the position is close ('hot' - very accurate) or far ('cold' - least accurate). There are 4 levels of accuracy:
A. The error message is caused by your AOL browser. Please go to www.whatismyip.com and send your AOL IP address to findme_support@mapquest.com. We will add your IP address to our database to prevent the error message from reoccuring.
In the meantime,please use your Internet Explorer browser.
A. In order to view your locations you must set your "Visibility" to "On". To control "Visibility" select Settings then Visibility from the MapQuest Find Me menu on your handset.
A. When you decline an invitation offered by another MapQuest Find Me User, you have a month to change your mind. You can only change the status from your on-line account. Even if you declined from the handset, you can only change the status while logged into your on-line MapQuest Find Me account. To do this:
Log in and click the 'My Account' tab.
Choose 'Invitations'.
You will see the invitation status is 'Declined'. Since 'Declined' is a link, you can click on it and change the status to 'Accepted' by selecting the 'Yes' radio button.
A. After accepting an invitation, and you change your mind about sharing your location information, you can delete the person from the group in which you placed them. (This can be accomplished either on your handset or on-line.) If you just want to stop sharing your location information temporarily with all your friends, you can turn your visibility to off.
A. Currently, the only networks that support MapQuest Find Me are Nextel and Sprint. For detailed FAQs pertaining specifically to either network, please select the link for that network
A. The process for ordering MapQuest Find Me varies by network. Please select the network you are interested in to view the specific instructions for your network.
A. For most phones or handsets, you will need to download the application onto your handset.
The instructions for this process are described in the appropriate FAQ for each network.
A. Your phone or handset can run the MapQuest Find Me application if it can run java applications and is GPS capable. MapQuest Find Me has been developed to run on both the Sprint and Nextel Networks. To find out what phone models are available to run MapQuest Find Me on your network, please select the appropriate link.
A. When you receive a call, the MapQuest Find Me application temporarily suspends. No GPS data is gathered or transmitted while the call is active. When you want to place a call while the application is running, you must suspend or end the application. Since this procedure differs by network, view the FAQs for your phone's network.
A. The process of activating MapQuest Find Me on your phone is simple and straightforward.
After the application has been installed by your dealer or over the air, start it up.
The instructions for starting MapQuest Find Me for the phone you are interested in is described in the FAQ for the network with which it is associated.
Please select the appropriate link to get specific instructions for the phone on your network
A. A Cell tower fix indicates that the device is in the general vicinity of the tower. This will vary depending on your area and can range anywhere from 1 to 10+ miles.
A. To receive and record a GPS location, the handset requires an unhindered view of the sky and a strong Nextel or Sprint signal. Cell Tower positions were implemented to provide a reasonable estimate for the position of the handset when the unhindered view of the sky condition is not met. Cell tower positions are recorded whenever the handset is within Nextel coverage and network communications are active. It can be used to supplement the GPS locations. The frequency of GPS or Cell Tower requests for position is controlled by selecting the 'SETTINGS' icon on the main screen of the application on the handset. GPS frequency can be set for every 2, 5, 15 or 60 minutes. Cell Tower can be every 5, 15, 30 or 120 minutes.
A. Since Sprint and Nextel receive GPS information differently, there is a difference in how that data is displayed. Please view the FAQs for your phone's network.
.
The color of the icon indicates the degree of confidence for the GPS location it portrays.
When you choose "TODAY" or any other view with multiple locations, GPS locations display on the map with small triangle type icons.
(
to 
)
Each icon displays the position and the degree of confidence of the GPS location. The color indicates if the position is close ('hot' - very accurate) or far ('cold' - least accurate). There are 4 levels of accuracy: 
(light green warm point) 
(yellow cool point)