What is Locate & Message?
Locate & Message lets you find out where someone is and stay in touch with them by text message, all from within Connect Rocket. You don't need to wait on dispatch or other services.
In this article, the person you're trying to find or reach is called the subject. This could be a missing person or a bystander who called in.
It's especially useful in search and rescue operations, missing person calls, or any situation where knowing someone's location helps your team respond faster.
Two ways to start
Your organization's Locate & Message settings determine how a session begins:
- Locate first. The subject receives a text message with a location link right away.
- Message first. You text the subject first, then request their location when you need it.
Your administrator chooses which option applies to your whole account. For setup details, see Configuring Locate & Message.
How it works
You can start a session from the Connect Rocket web app, the mobile app, or by text message.
- Locate first: You send a Locate request to the subject's mobile phone. They receive a text message with a link. When they tap it, their phone shares its location with you, shown on a map in Connect Rocket.
- Message first: You send the subject a text message. When you need their location, you send a Locate request. The subject taps the link to share their location.
In both cases, you can keep exchanging text messages throughout, so you can guide the subject, ask questions, or stay in contact while help is on the way.
For step-by-step instructions, see Using Locate & Message – Locate Prioritized or Using Locate & Message – Messages Prioritized.
What you can do with Locate & Message
- See where a phone is. The location becomes more precise over time as the phone's GPS (its built-in location tracking) gets a stronger signal.
- Monitor battery level. Where available, see the battery level of the subject's phone to judge how long it may stay on. Android phones share this automatically. iPhone users are prompted to provide it manually.
- Message back and forth. Communicate directly with the subject without saving their number as a contact.
- Communicate across languages. With translation turned on in your account settings, messages are translated automatically for both sides, so you and the subject can each write in your own language. If a session starts with a Locate request, Connect Rocket uses the language of the subject's phone. If a session starts with a text message, you can set the subject's language yourself if you know it, or let Connect Rocket detect it from their reply. Once the language is set, Connect Rocket uses it for the rest of the conversation.
- Work independently of dispatch. Start a session in seconds, without going through another service first.
What you'll need
Locate & Message works with any smartphone that has GPS (location services turned on), a data connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi), and the ability to send and receive text messages. The subject doesn't need the Connect Rocket app. Everything happens in their phone's text messaging app and web browser.
For full details on requirements, best practices, and how location refinement works, see Locate & Message: Requirements and Best Practices.