Frequently Asked Questions


1. How does Pocket-Locator work?

Pocket-Locator is a free service that gives you the ability to remotely share & update your location on your website or application. It's not related to any social network and will not share your location with anyone. You do the sharing when you want, how you want and where you want.

In fact, it's 3-steps simple:
1. You create an account for free. Takes 2 min.
2. You paste a single line of code wherever you want (in your website, your software, your flash movie, ...)
3. Via our mobile phone web-application, you submit your location (using the phone’s gps geolocation or not)

In real-time and for free your location is displayed everywhere you entered the line of code

2. Are you related to Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp, ...?

No.

Pocket-Locator was built by Remi Grumeau, a freelance mobile web guru based in northern France. Web consultant for photographers David Brabyn was brought in to work, giving his UI, UX & native english feedback.

3. Can I use Pocket-Locator for my own business?

Absolutely.

Pocket-Locator was initially created to help professional news photographers update their constantly changing locations but it works for anyone on-the-go with an audience that needs keeping in the loop. Nowadays, that’s a lot of people.

We can’t wait to see how Pocket-Locator is going to be used. Rock bands on tour, worldwide travelers, food trucks…
Let’s us know how you implemented it. We might just showcase the best.

4. I'm a web agency / freelancer, can I create accounts for my clients?

Sorry, only the end user can create an account. You cannot sell account creations but by all means ask your client to send you the embed code and embed it for them.

From the Terms of Use, Rules and Conduct section:
"(…) you shall not (and shall not permit any third party to) either (a) take any action or (b) submit or otherwise distribute or facilitate distribution of any Content on or through the Service, including without limitation any User Submission, that (...) involves commercial activities and/or sales without Pocket-Locator’s prior written consent such as contests, sweepstakes, barter, advertising, or pyramid schemes (…)".

If you want to use / install this service for a third-party or need a customized version of Pocket-Locator’s admin tool (with custom startup image, logo, colors, etc.) for your client, we will more than happy to talk with you about our premium program. Please contact us!

5. Are there any limitation set on the use of Pocket-Locator?

Yes but more users won’t be affected.

In order to keep this service robust and free, we need to limit usage to 10 geolocation submissions and 10 000 server requests per day (every time pages with the embedded code are loaded, that’s one request addressed to our server). That said, we will not leave you out in the cold if once or twice a month you go over 10 000 page views. But we may contact you if it happens more often.

Remember, if you have larger than normal needs, we have a premium program built with you in mind.

8. How do I change the appearance of the location displayed on my website?

That’s a question for the web designer in you.

The embedded code produces a plain text output that will adopt whatever style applies to that part of your website where you embed it. You have total freedom to change any parameter you want in anyway you way.

This less-than-ideal but quick solution will display the data in black, font size 11px:
<span style=”font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color:#000; font-size:11px;”>[insert your embed code here without the brackets]</span>

Lookup html/css properties here: http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_examples.asp.

7. Will it add an ugly Pocket-Locator logo to my website?

No.

No logo, no link, no watermark, nothing but your location in a format and styling you choose.

This is one big difference between us and services like Google Latitude.

6. Do you have an API?

Yes.

Seriously, who don't in 2013?! Read more about it on our Pocket-Locator API.

9. What do you do with my data? Is my privacy safe?

Yes.

We only keep the last location you submit (if you need a history of your locations, we will be more than happy to tell you about our premium program). None of your data is nor will ever be shared with any third party without your explicit request. That’s a promise.
And please remember that by using Pocket-Locator you are broadcasting your location.

10. I don't use Pocket-Locator anymore, how do I delete my account?

Easy.

Just send us an email to delete-my-account@pocket-locator.com with:
- your username
- your password
- your email address

A few words about why you feel the need to make us so sad would be appreciated.

11. If I sign out, can my API key be reassigned to someone else?

No.

Your user key is a mix of data that includes your email address so your 32-character account API key can't be re-used.

12. How do you finance Pocket-Locator?

By donations.

The standard version of Pocket-Locator is freeware and relies on donations from it users.

Please note that payments to Pocket-Locator cannot be refunded.