Locate a Simulated User (back to all tutorials)

Veriplace provides each developer account with simulated users. These users have fake phone numbers and pre-determined return locations.

There is no charge for using the Veriplace API with a simulated user. You may be charged for using the Veriplace API with other types of users. There are also certain types of users you will not have access to until your application is certified and published.

1. Step 1: Choose a simulated user

   

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   Go to Test Tools in the Developer Portal.

   Click on the Simulated Users link in the side navigation provided. There will be a table with a list of possible simulated users.

2. Step 2: Set a password for the simulated user

   

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   The user must opt-in to your application using the Veriplace Privacy Manager before becoming locatable. Due to the sensitivity of location data, the Privacy Manager requires password-based authentication to perform this opt-in.

   Click on the set password link for the simulated user of your choice and enter a new password.

   Passwords must be at least eight characters and contain at least one number and one letter.

3. Step 3: Try out the Token Test application

   

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   Before writing any code for your application, you can use the Token Test application we wrote to experiment with the Veriplace API. It will accept your application's credentials and use them to locate a user while pretending to be your application.

   Go to the Token Test application.

   Enter your application's Consumer Key and Consumer Secret, keep the Veriplace URL as-is, and select the Zoom location mode.

   Using Token Test is the one and only exception to the keeping your credentials secret. In general, you should never share your credentials with another application. If you ever suspect your credentials are no longer secret, you should delete your application within the Developer Portal and create a new one.

4. Step 4: Sign in to the Privacy Manager

   

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   Token Test will begin to exercise the Veriplace API by trying to identify which user to locate, using a process called User Discovery.

   User Discovery can work in one of two ways: by supplying a user's personally identifiable information, such as their phone number or email address, or by redirecting to the Privacy Manager and asking the user to identify themselves directly. Token Test uses the latter of the two.

   Once you are redirected to the Privacy Manager, enter the phone number of the simulated user you selected in Step 1 and when prompted, enter the password you specified in Step 2.

5. Step 5: Opt-in to your application

   

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   Once your simulated user has been identified, Token Test will redirect you to the Privacy Manager again so that you can opt-in to your application.

   The Privacy Manager will display your application's name and branding (if any), during this opt-in and provide options to control how the location is shared.

   Click the Share My Location button to continue.

6. Step 6: Wait for location

   

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   Obtaining location can take time, sometimes even a few minutes, though simulated users will usually return location fairly quickly. Token Test shows an animation while waiting for location to be returned by the Veriplace API.

7. Step 7: Done

   

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   Once Token Test obtains the location, it displays the location's longitude, latitude, and uncertainty. Address information will also be displayed, if available.