A system and method are presented for providing a differential location to a terminal. The system includes a service provider that can receive a request for a differential location service from the terminal at least partially over a wireless network, where the request includes a geographic area defined independent of a specific format. A mapping processor can receive the geographic area from the service provider, and thereafter transform the geographic area of the request to thereby define the geographic area in a predetermined manner. The mapping processor can send the geographic area defined in the predetermined manner to the service provider. Upon receiving the geographic area defined in the predetermined manner, the service provider can determine whether to provide the requested differential location service based upon a comparison of a current location of the terminal and the geographic area defined in the predetermined manner.