Most phones, including blackberries will emit personal data to third parties if you don't take the necessary steps to prevent it. All smartphones, and most old fashion phones have features in them to allow other users to collect their data. Having a different brand name phone does not exclude the user. Most phones these days have it, and you have to turn it off manually on your phone.
That is why they didn't want Barrack Obama to have a black berry, well, that, and other reasons.
If you don't have a hobby phone now, you will after reading this.
If you have a smartphone. The only way to be sure its not tracking. Is to pull the battery.
Todays devices only appear to be turned off. They are on standby. Its a little paranoid....But
First sign of trouble in any situation though.. I would pull the battery and throw it away.
That goes for any smartphone. Prepaid or not. They are all gps enabled. Any good PI would compromise a hobby smartphone too.
Turn off the "location" in your smartphone. Yes, smartphone apps does track the different apps that consumers use for statistical analysis. But, as a consumer, you can prevent them from doing so. First, you need to turn of the "location" feature in your smartphone. This feature pinpoints your location. With this feature, it enables you to use many different apps. For example, if you open an app that shows you the different types of restaurants near you, and you click on that restaurant, then statistic data will be sent to the company that collects these data to show them then these restaurants are popular. This is similar to the Facebook app.
The second step is to turn off your "internet" feature. You can do this by turning on "airplane" mode. You do not have to take the batteries out of your cell phone. Just turn off the location and internet feature, and you should be okay. Basically, if you turn those two features off, you basically have a regular phone.
Even some hobby phone have "location" and "internet" features. It's better to get one of those old ass looking 1990 phones, that doesn't text and don't have any features to it.
For your "HOBBY" life, why not buy one of those "pay as you go phones"? You can purchase the phone and minutes at a drug store like CVS and that way there is no plan with your name attached to it? I think this is a good idea that is relatively cheap and keeps you safe too.
Sitara
These are the steps I have mentioned above. But, if you need proof, here it is. Also, I have provided you with your privacy rights as a consumer. This second link reiterates the website below, but, it's more detailed. A good section to visit is the "geotagging" if your not familiar with it.
http://www.syracuse.com/have-you-heard/index.ssf/2010/12/how_to_stop_your_smartphone_fr.html
This is why I'll stick with my Blackberry 
http://www.syracuse.com/have-you-heard/index.ssf/2010/12/how_to_stop_your_smartphone_fr.html
Most phones, including blackberries will emit personal data to third parties if you don't take the necessary steps to prevent it. All smartphones, and most old fashion phones have features in them to allow other users to collect their data. Having a different brand name phone does not exclude the user. Most phones these days have it, and you have to turn it off manually on your phone.
That is why they didn't want Barrack Obama to have a black berry, well, that, and other reasons.
blacker the berry the sweeter the juice.
gay president loves having black berries banging together.
Something .....