So my first idea was to combine a microcontroller with a GSM and a GPS modul. There are a lot of these modules over at Sparkfun, for example. Looking through their shop I found the Telit GM862, which is a GSM modul with an built in GPS receiver. That is what I wanted. And they sell great break out boards to make it easier for hobbyist to access these modules.
Here are some of the features of this GSM-GPS module:
- Quad band GSM
- 17mA average stand-by, 3.5mA in low-power mode
- 250mA average operating current
- SiRF III GPS Receiver Built In
- Data, Voice, SMS, and Fax
- Data speeds up to 57.6kbps
- Supply voltage : 3.4-4.2V
- CMOS Camera Capable
- Python Interpreter built-in
Voice means you are not limited to mobile tracker applications. You could attach a speaker and a microphone to build a complete mobile phone!