Last updated: November 8, 2026
This policy explains what information the LastContact app collects, why, who it is shared with, and the choices you have. LastContact helps you find a mobile phone signal, using a map built from readings contributed by its users. In this policy, "we" and "us" mean LastContact, and "you" means the person using the app.
LastContact does not ask you to create an account, sign in, or give us your name or email address.
The person responsible for your information (the "data controller" under UK data protection law) is Martin Polley, a sole trader trading as LastContact, in the United Kingdom. You can contact me using the details at the end of this policy.
When you first open the app it creates an anonymous account with Google Firebase, so that the app can read and write to our database. It has no name, email address or password attached. The app also uses an anonymous customer ID from RevenueCat (see Purchases, below). These identifiers are stored on your device and are used only to run the app.
With your permission, the app uses your device's precise location, including in the background if you allow it, to record whether you have a mobile signal at that place, which type of mobile network (2G, 3G, 4G or 5G) you are connected to, and which network provider you use. Each reading is stored as a single map cell of about 20 by 40 metres together with the time of the reading. It is not stored with your name, your anonymous account ID or any other identifier. Earlier versions of the app also stored a session identifier containing the anonymous account ID with each reading; we have removed it.
These readings are the crowd-sourced data shown on the map, so they are visible to all users of the app. Because they carry no identifier, we cannot tell which readings came from you, and we cannot delete them individually.
The app also keeps your recent readings on your device for up to 48 hours so that it can show them on the map. These never leave your device other than as described above.
You can turn off location access at any time in your device settings. Without it the app can still show the map, but it cannot record new readings.
So that you don't have to choose your network provider yourself, the app makes a small request over mobile data to our server, which runs on Google Cloud Functions. The server uses the IP address of that request to look up which network it belongs to, using a database held on our own server, so no other company is involved in the lookup. The result is sent back to your device and saved there. We do not use your IP address for anything else, or link it to your readings. Google's standard server request logs record the IP address of each request, and these are kept for up to 30 days.
Purchases and subscriptions are handled by Apple. We never see your payment details. We use RevenueCat to check whether you have an active subscription: it receives your anonymous customer ID, your purchase and subscription status, and basic device information such as your country, device type and operating system version.
The app includes a free trial period. The date it started is stored in your device's Keychain, which means it survives deleting and reinstalling the app, so that the trial cannot be restarted. It is stored only on your device.
We use Google Firebase Crashlytics to receive crash reports, and Google Firebase Analytics to understand in general how the app is used (for example which features are used and how often). These services collect information such as your device model, operating system version, app version, crash details, an app instance identifier and an approximate location based on your IP address. We also record some diagnostic details about app sessions, such as device model and network provider, to help improve the signal detection.
If you turn on notifications, the app uses Firebase Cloud Messaging, which creates a token that identifies your device so that notifications can be delivered. We do not send marketing emails or messages.
The maps are provided by Mapbox. When the app loads or downloads map tiles, Mapbox receives technical information such as your IP address, device and operating system details, and the area of the map being requested. The Mapbox map software also sends Mapbox location and related telemetry data, which Mapbox says it de-identifies, anonymizes and aggregates, and does not use for advertising. You can opt out of this telemetry in the app by tapping the i button on the map and choosing Mapbox Telemetry. See mapbox.com/telemetry and Mapbox's privacy policy for details.
We do not sell your information, use it for advertising, or track you across other companies' apps and websites.
We use the following service providers, who process information on our behalf to run the app: Google (Firebase Authentication, Realtime Database, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging, Crashlytics and Analytics), RevenueCat, Apple, and Mapbox. Each has its own privacy policy.
Signal readings are shared with all users of the app as part of the map, as described above. We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights, or as part of a sale or merger of the business, in which case we will give notice.
We process your information because it is necessary to provide the app you have chosen to use (contract), because we have a legitimate interest in running, securing and improving it, and, for precise location, because you give your consent through your device's permission, which you can withdraw at any time.
You can delete your anonymous account from within the app, in Settings → Delete account. This removes the account from Firebase. Deleting the account does not cancel a subscription: manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID settings. It also does not restart the free trial.
Earlier versions of the app let you sign in with an email address, Google or Facebook. If you used one of those, we may still hold that email address and name in our authentication records. Contact us and we will delete them.
Under UK data protection law you have the right to ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, to have it corrected or deleted, to restrict or object to its use, and to receive it in a portable format. Because the information we hold is anonymous, we may not be able to find it without more detail from you. If you use Report an issue in the app's Settings, the email it prepares includes basic technical details, such as the app and iOS versions, your device model, network provider, permission settings and your anonymous support ID. You can read and change these before sending, and they help us find any information we hold about you. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).
Our service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom, including in the United States. Where this happens we rely on the safeguards those providers put in place, such as approved data transfer agreements.
We take reasonable steps to protect the information we hold, including restricting access to our database. We also use Firebase App Check, which uses Apple's App Attest service to confirm that requests come from a genuine copy of the app on a real device. Apple and Google process technical information about your device and app to do this.No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
The app is not directed at anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
The app and this website may link to other websites that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices, and we advise you to read their privacy policies.
We may update this policy from time to time. We will post the new version on this page and change the "Last updated" date. If a change is significant, we will also give notice in the app. Changes are effective when they are posted.
If you have any questions about this policy or your data, or want to make a request, you can contact us: