Internet Marketing, News,
Google Map Live Location: Share Your Real-Time Location
March 31, 2017
Rajat Tyagi
With Google you can share real-time location on Map with your friends, relatives & co-workers and while doing so you’ve full control over your profile privacy. This feature is available on both Android as well as iOS devices.
Google, the tech giant, has recently rolled out a new feature of sharing your current position popularly named “Real-time” location sharing. This feature is now available for all Google Maps users. It will help you share your real-time position with other people, so that they can track your position.
Initially, this feature was available only for G+ users. But, they discontinued the feature, a few weeks ago.
The announcement of this new feature was made through teaser news last week. As promised, Google rolled out the new feature on 27th March, 2017. Since then, several users have noticed this feature on Google Maps while others remain unaware.
How this Feature Works?
- While using Google Maps, you will find a ‘New’ flag in the navigation bar.
- Click on the flag to allow your positon to be shared.
- The recipient will first receive a notification/alert that you are trying to share.
- By clicking on the unique link on the notification message, they will be able to land on Google Maps and will be able to track your location for the set period of time.
- Your real-time position will be instantly shared with your contacts via a text message or any app on your phone.
- Then, the person will be able to track your position successfully.
- You can set the time limit until where and when the person can track your position.
Some of its Highlights
Timing:
- Usually, the default setting of timing is either ‘one hour’ or ‘until you turn this off’.
- You can easily increase or decrease the timing as per your requirement.
- Once the time is over, the person will not be able to locate you further.
- You can even toggle it off before the time is up.
Sharing:
You can share your position with one person or with multiple people like your friends and relatives at the same time. You will be able to see all of them on the top of your screen. For each one of them, you will get a unique sharing link, which will help you to manage them individually.
Mobile friendly:
This feature is available on both Android and iOS. Irrespective of any mobile phone you will be able to use it and if you have not seen it until now, then you need to go for an update. You must have the latest version of Android and iOS on your mobile to experience this feature on Google Maps.
Interestingly, at the same time Facebook announced ‘Live’ location sharing feature. Stan Chudnovsky, head of product for Messenger did not commit to a time frame and stated, “we’re working on the right things”. Immediately after that they came up with one more feature similar to this feature, known as Facebook’s ‘Nearby Friends’ feature. This feature enables your Facebook friends to locate your exact position on a map, if you give permanent or temporary permission to a friend.
But in case you forget to disable the location sharing permission, you will be open to get tracked and stalked. The same risk exists in this feature. This feature is extremely useful, but it can turn out to be a nightmare. If you keep your application on in the app, then there are high chances that you are going to face huge trouble. To avoid such difficulty, the app has started sending emails reminders every three weeks to inform the users that their current position is visible to selected users.
How to Use the App in Different Situations
This feature is very handy and can be used easily under different situations. Are you driving and need to share your estimated time of arrival (ETA)? Or do you want to stop someone from knowing your location? Based on each situation, your app usage mechanism will change.
If you have a Google Account
- Add your Gmail address to your Google contacts
- Open Google Maps app in Android and iOS and log in
- Click ‘Menu’> Click ‘Add People’> Choose time frame> Click ‘Select People’> Choose them> Click ‘Share’
If you do not have a Google Account
- Open Google Maps app on Android or iOS and sign in
- Click ‘Menu’> Click ‘Add People’> Click ‘More’> Click ‘Copy to clipboard’> People with this link can track your position for the time frame you choose or up to 72 hours
If you want to share using another app
- Click ‘Menu’> Click ‘Add People’> Click ‘More’> Select another app to share your position
If you want to stop sharing your position
- Open Google Maps app and sign in
- Click ‘Menu’> Click on ‘Remove’ button just beside the person name you want to stop the sharing
If you are driving- Share your E.T.A
- Open Google Maps app and sign in
- Set a driving destination on it
- Start navigation
- Click ‘More’> Click ‘Share trip progress’> Choose a person from list to share> Click ‘Share’
- Position sharing will automatically stop once you reach the destination
- In case you want to stop it earlier click ‘More’> Click ‘Stop sharing’
If you want to see someone else location
- Open Google Maps app on Android or iOS and sign in
- Click ‘Menu’> Choose a name or icon> Click ‘More’> Refresh to see the last updated location of the person
If you want to stop seeing someone’s position
- Sign in Google Maps app
- On the map click a person’s icon> Click ‘More’> Click ‘Hide from map’ to hide temporarily or ‘Block’ to hide it permanently
If you no longer want to hide someone
- Open Google Maps app
- Click ‘Menu’> Click ‘More’> Click ‘Hide from map’> Click ‘More’> Click ‘Show on map’
Many users who have reported this feature in their mobiles considering it as a positive step taken by Google as it is allowing better connectivity and enhancing the security. People will feel safe to travel anywhere anytime, as they will be connected to their near dear ones through this feature. We still need to explore the real cause of introduction of the feature and also need to figure out how we can use it in a better manner.
Recently, this feature has been brilliantly utilized by Kolkata bus service. Google has teamed up with West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) to share real-time position of the buses and their arrival timings on Google Maps. In Google map, people will be able to enter their destinations and get directions. Then they can even click on ‘Transit’ icon to get the real time information of bus routes and timings. They have claimed this will help people to plan their trips accordingly.
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