A method for acquiring positioning information includes receiving, at a mobile terminal (MT), downlink data in a plurality of downlink slot frames from a serving base station transmitting the downlink data over a first time period generally corresponding to the plurality of downlink slot frames. The MT experiences a relatively silent period during which the serving base station substantially ceases transmission to the mobile terminal during a second time period that defines a transmission power modification period. The MT also receives a preamble broadcasted by various neighbor base stations, the preamble broadcasted by such base stations occurring during a third time period which at least partially overlaps the second time period. The location or position estimate of the MT can be calculated based upon at least the preamble broadcasted by the neighbor base stations.