Find my phone - push notifications

[chapapak]

Hello forum!
I try to use the feature "find my phone" from windowsphone.com to get the location of my phone but it asks me for permission to give my phone number.
From my device (Nokia Lumia 925) I have enabled send apps to my phone using push notifications(not sms) and save my phone's location periodically in settings/find my phone
So, basically why does it still require my phone number? And what happens if my phone gets stolen and the sim is changed?
Thank you

 

[rockstarzzz]

Phone number is for pushing out secure messages. When someone tries to change your account settings or even if you try to change it in future, it will send a 6 digit code to your number and you will be asked to validate that request by entering those 6 digits on the PC. Its for security of your own account.

Find my phone feature works by storing your phone's GPS location periodically on the web. So if your phone is lost, you log in online, if the phone is still intact, you can ring and erase your phone's data. If the phone isn't intact, you will still be able to know what was the last GPS location of your phone when it was switched on.

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/How-to/wp7/basics/find-a-lost-phone

 

[chapapak]

Phone number is for pushing out secure messages. When someone tries to change your account settings or even if you try to change it in future, it will send a 6 digit code to your number and you will be asked to validate that request by entering those 6 digits on the PC. Its for security of your own account.

Find my phone feature works by storing your phone's GPS location periodically on the web. So if your phone is lost, you log in online, if the phone is still intact, you can ring and erase your phone's data. If the phone isn't intact, you will still be able to know what was the last GPS location of your phone when it was switched on.

Got it. It shows my last known location of my phone. But when I hit refresh it then asks me for my number and I don't want to give it because I'm afraid of carrier cost. Is there any way to refresh my current phone location using only wifi/mobile data and not sms?

 

[rockstarzzz]

Got it. It shows my last known location of my phone. But when I hit refresh it then asks me for my number and I don't want to give it because I'm afraid of carrier cost. Is there any way to refresh my current phone location using only wifi/mobile data and not sms?

I see what you mean!

I've just logged in to find my phone. It knows my current location but on refresh asks me for my number. I gave it my number, ticked the box and said Done. However that changes nothing. The location of course is same. I've got no text or calls on my phone. I think the reason it asks for your number is to instantly locate you on GPS and if you choose to erase or lock your phone, it will send a text message. It only periodically looks for your location (every 30 mins) using GPS. If you want to force it to refresh it before that, by giving your number probably you are forcing this action based on your network.

It hasn't charged me anything. The text is only sent to you when you want to erase the phone (I think!) - never done it myself.

 

[chapapak]

I see what you mean!

I've just logged in to find my phone. It knows my current location but on refresh asks me for my number. I gave it my number, ticked the box and said Done. However that changes nothing. The location of course is same. I've got no text or calls on my phone. I think the reason it asks for your number is to instantly locate you on GPS and if you choose to erase or lock your phone, it will send a text message. It only periodically looks for your location (every 30 mins) using GPS. If you want to force it to refresh it before that, by giving your number probably you are forcing this action based on your network.

It hasn't charged me anything. The text is only sent to you when you want to erase the phone (I think!) - never done it myself.

Yes..that's what I'm thinking too...Anyway, I thought that it would be possible to force it to refresh without sending sms. (I think this is possible in iOS am I wrong?)
Thank you for your time!

 

[rockstarzzz]

Yes..that's what I'm thinking too...Anyway, I thought that it would be possible to force it to refresh without sending sms. (I think this is possible in iOS am I wrong?)
Thank you for your time!

No clue about iOS, iMore might be a better place to ask about that.

 

[chapapak]

No clue about iOS, iMore might be a better place to ask about that.

Naahh, windows phone all the way. I'm going to experiment with "find my phone" and post later some results to share with the other users