Google has announced a new location based tracking (awareness) feature that will integrate with Google Maps being dubbed Latitude that is soon making its way to the iPhone. For now, it is being demoed on Google’s open source mobile operating system Android.
Google describes the new application as “being able to find millions of your friends on a map with the touch of a button. The video below shows just how Latitude works.
Latitude is a new feature of Google Maps for mobile, as well as an iGoogle gadget, that allows you to share your location with your friends and to see their approximate locations, if they choose to share them with you. You can use your Google account to sign in and easily invite friends to Latitude from your existing list of contacts or by entering their email addresses. Google Talk is integrated with Latitude, so you and your friends can update your status messages and profile photos on the go and see what everyone is up to. You can also call, SMS, IM, or email each other within the app. Check out the video below to see Latitude in action.
Google states that they have been hard at work to get this on as many smartphones as possible right of the bat, to maximize the amount of initial users. There are two main ways to get your hands on Latitude as it stands right now. The first is to visit google.com/latitude on your mobile browser to download the appropriate maps. Currently Android, Blackberry, Symbian S60, and Windows Mobile are supported, yet should be made available on the iPhone shortly through the Google Mobile App, and can be accessed through a simple update.
The second way to get latitude would be to go to http://google.com/latitude from your desktop browser and add Latitude to your iGoogle homepage. If you have Google Gears or use Chrome, you can opt to automatically share your location from your desktop or notebook sans the smartphone.
As MacRumors first points out, Loopt is a service which attempts to provide a very similar service as Google’s Latitude. Apple proudly let one of the representatives from Loopt come up and give a demonstration at WWDC 2008. The fact of the matter is however, that Loopt should not feel so great with something like Latitude headed for the iPhone.
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3 Comments to “Google ‘Latitude’ Coming to iPhone, Loopt Says Uh Oh”
Soon Schmoon. It’s been coming “soon” for the iphone forever. It’s July and it’s not out yet. At least Google should give a month target, even if they’re being overly conservative and can release early.
Vaporware is soooooo Microsoft.
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Why wait for Google? There are other great location apps available, with far more features, better UI and more privacy. As you mention Loopt (for US only) and more recently also Pocket Life globally. http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=319757953&mt=8
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Thanks HJames – I checked Pocket Life. Pretty cool actually – it’s like Loopt or Latitude, but available globally and on all carriers. AND users don’t need a gmail account. So the approach is actually strong. But what is strong against Google?
Will keep Pocket Life on my watch list though…
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