Collecting Location Data from Apple iOS Devices

How SOTI MobiControl administrators can locate iOS devices (either with live location or recent coordinates) from the web console.

iOS devices can use SOTI MobiControl location services if they have the SOTI MobiControl device agent installed. The device agent must be launched at least once and have its location services set to Always in iOS location services settings.

You can choose between two accuracy levels:

• Optimal battery performance: Less accurate but consumes less power. Reports significant changes in the device’s location when connected to an active cellular network.
• Optimal location accuracy: More accurate but consumes more power. Uses assisted GPS data from the device (GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular network).

Important: When actively locating the device, the device agent must be in the foreground. However, location-tracking data can be collected while the agent is in the background.

Pre-requisites:

To collect location data, the SOTI MobiControl administrator must have:

• iOS device(s) with iOS 9.0 or higher and the SOTI MobiControl Agent App installed.
• SOTI MobiControl 13.0 or higher.

Collecting Location Data

1. Creating a Data Collection Rule:

a. Launch the SOTI MobiControl web console.

b. Select the hamburger menu in the top left, then select Policies.

c. Under the Policies menu, select Data Collection.

d. Navigate to the Apple tab.

e. Right-click Data Collection from the sidebar and select Create Data Collection Rule.

f. Follow the wizard's instructions:

• • Enter a name for the Data Collection rule, then select Next.

• • Select the device(s) and/or device group(s) that the rule should target, then select Next.

• • For optimal performance, select Optimal Location Accuracy and Report location data to the server in the background. Set Location accurate to within and Record location when device moves to preferred values, then select Next.

• • Select preferred values for data truncation on the device and database, then select Next.

• • Select Finish on the summary page. The rule should now appear on the left sidebar.

Preparing the iOS Device to Send Location Data:

Important: The SOTI MobiControl agent must be re-launched after the data collection rule is targeted to the device.

• • If this is the first time the device is launching the device agent, select Allow While Using App to facilitate location tracking.

• • If not, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings and search for MobiControl.

2. Select the Location tab.

3. Select Always from the options and enable Precise Location.

Viewing the Device Location Data from MobiControl Web Console

• Location data will now be logged by SOTI MobiControl and can be viewed in the SOTI MobiControl web console.
• If the device agent is in the foreground or the iOS device is in Lost Mode, selecting the Location tab, then Locate will show the device’s real-time location (live location).

• If the device agent is not in the foreground, navigating to the Collected Data tab and searching for Location as the collected data type will yield the device’s recent coordinates.