Data transfer

Periodic sends data to a server at phonelocator.mobi. Your network operator may charge you for this. Please see the FAQ for more information about keeping costs down.

Installation

To install Periodic, download the sis file onto your phone by pointing the phone's browser to http://periodic.phonelocator.mobi/home/download and click on a release to download
Alternatively, download the sis file from the download page and install using your phone's connectivity software e.g. Nokia Ovi Suite.

Sign Up / Sign in

After installation, run the Periodic app. Select Options > Sign In. If the connection to the server is successful, the web browser will be opened for sign in (or registration if you've not already signed up). It's recommend to sign up using a web browser on a PC here to reduce the amount of typing on the phone.

Periodic updates

The Periodic app can periodically send your phone's location to the server. You can view the updates either on the My Map page or from the Updates link on the My Phones page.

Periodic updates can be switched on and off from the settings view in the Periodic app. The update frequency setting (also on the settings view) controls how frequently updates are sent. It is important to remember that each update consumes charge in the phones battery and involves sending data to the server, so the more frequently updates are sent the quicker the battery will be run down and the more data will be sent. Your network operator may charge you to send data.

If the auto start is enabled and periodic updates setting are enabled, periodic updates will be sent even when the Periodic app is closed.

Settings synchronization

Settings can be modified using either the settings view on the Periodic app or the Periodic web site.

Settings are synchronized after location update and when the synchronize option is selected from the options menu on the status view in the Periodic app.

If a setting is changed both in the Periodic app and on the Periodic website, the most recently modified version of the setting will be used.

Update message

If a text (SMS) message is sent to your phone that starts with the word "Update" (without the quotes), the Periodic app will respond by sending a location update to the server.

Like all location updates, a settings synchronization will take place as part of the location update.

The Autostart setting must be enabled for the Periodic to respond to "Update" messages when the Periodic app UI is not running.

Buddy messages

A buddy message is a message that's sent to a friend's mobile phone when the SIM card in your phone is changed.

If, for example, a thief takes your phone and inserts his own SIM card, your friend will get a text from the thief's number containing the message specified in Periodic app's settings. (Assuming of course the thief has not found a way to disable the software) After registration, you can enter a friend's mobile phone number into the 'Buddy number' setting on the phone. The number can be entered manually by selecting "Buddy number" in the settings view, Options then Change. Alternatively, the number can number can be selected from the contacts stored in the phone by selecting "Buddy number" and pressing the middle softkey.

The Autostart setting must be enabled for the 'buddy message' to be sent when the SIM card in the phone is changed.

Try all access points setting

If the try all access point setting is enabled, the Periodic app will attempt to connect to the server using all access points available on the phone. This setting will be automatically enabled if the SIM card is changed in the phone.

PIN code

The app can be protected with a PIN code to prevent causal tampering with the settings. The app's PIN code is independent of the SIM cards PIN.

Main view

The main view is shown below:

The green traffic light icon indicates that the most recent update contained GPS co-ordinates. The icon is yellow if the update was successful but it did not contain GPS co-ordinates. The icon is red when the GPS if the update failed

The main screen also shows:

• The number of Wifi beacons and cell ids sent in the latest update
• The time of the last update
• The status of the phone's GPS

Menu options

Before registration:

• Sign In - connects to the Periodic server and then opens the phone's web browser for sign in
• Exit - Exits the app

After sign in:

• Synchronize settings - synchronises the Periodic settings with the settings on the server
• Update now - sends a location update to the server
• Satellite status - shows the status of the GPS satellites visible to the phone
• Open web page - opens the Periodic web page in the phone's browser
• Exit - Exits the app

Settings view

The settings view is shown below:

To see the settings view, press the right side of the navigational key.

Settings descriptions (after registration)

• Periodic updates - if enabled, location updates will be sent to the server periodically
• Update frequency - controls how often location updates are sent to the server
• Autostart - if enabled, the Periodic service will start when the phone boots and run in the background even when the Periodic app is closed (This setting must be set to on for the 'update message' and 'buddy message' features to work)
Buddy number - the number to send the buddy message to when the SIM card in the phone is changed (use international format e.g. +44 for UK)
Buddy message - the message to send to your buddy when the SIM card in the phone is changed
• PIN code request - when enabled, the user will be prompted to enter a PIN code every time the app is started (providing a PIN code has been set). The user will be prompted for the existing PIN code, if one has been set, in order to modify this setting.
• PIN code - the user will be prompted to enter the PIN code when the app is started if PIN code request is enabled. The user will be prompted to enter the old PIN code, if one exists, before being allowed to set a new PIN code.
• Location public - if enabled, your Phone's location is made public, that is it will be possible to access your location from the Periodic website without signing in
• Try all access points - if enabled, Periodic will attempt to connect using all the 'access points' on the phone
• Access point - selects the access point used to connect to the Internet.
• Positioning Method - allows you to choose the positioning method.

To switch to the main view, press the left side of the navigational key.