Google announced on Monday that its Latitude application is now available for the iPhone.
Latitude, introduced in November 2009, is a location-aware mobile application that allows users to share their current location with friends. Locations are then mapped using Google Maps and users can control whether their location is shared or not. The application has been available on devices running Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian for months. Google previously made a web version available but has now introduced a fully native application for iPhone users.
Latitude allows users to:
- See where their friends are
- Share their location continuously with whomever they choose
- Contact friends by phone, text message, or email
- Control their location and privacy
"Latitude’s focus has always been on one goal: make it simple to stay in touch with friends and family by sharing where you are with each other. Simple setup. Simple sharing without fumbling for your phone," writes Chris Lambert, software engineer at Google. More than 9 million people are currently using Latitude. The service is 100% opt-in and requires a Google Account. Google"s iPhone Latitude application was built from the ground up using iOS 4"s new multitasking abilities to support background updating.
Google Latitude is now available from the App Store in over 15 languages and 45 countries.