Google Latitude Tracks Your Location History

<h1>Google Latitude Tracks Your Location History</h1>Author: <a title="Sparxoo" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/sparxoo/122834.htm">Sparxoo</a> While most people use Google maps to get directions or look up an address, few realize the many other options available using the Maps feature. One such application is Google Latitude, a more social feature which enables users to track location history and discover the world around them. On Wednesday, Google announced added features to the Latitude location application that will make the tool more powerful than ever. Now, users can not only keep track of their past locations, they can also be alerted to their friends’ current locations if they’re nearby. This type of application is a growing trend in the world of Web-enabled mobile devices and smartphones. When Latitude was introduced in February, users could only track their own location history. Now, it’s made more interactive, and also is now a direct competitor with established geosocial networking applications. These services enable friends to connect on yet another level, adding an interesting twist to traveling and even doing everyday errands. An added bonus is the ability to read reviews of places you’re going that have been left by your friends, or discovering nearby locations that may be of interest. It’s not quite Twitter, Facebook, or Yelp. Instead, it combines all three – a perfect mashup of each network’s most popular features. Nearly every phone is now GPS enabled. In the next few years, the majority of cell phone users will be toting smartphones and data plans than regular cell phones. In September it was reported than in a period of only six months, the iPhone grew in worldwide smartphone market share from 33 percent to 40, with BlackBerry close behind. While location-based services have only been adopted by a small number of users, the growth of their technologies will most likely signal a growth in user growth as well. In order to get the most of these programs, users must be connected with many other friends. And while millions of people have smartphones, not everyone is looking to participate. Users of these applications are spearheading growth in adoption rates by convincing their friends to join, and also by others who may see an update from a friend on Twitter or Facebook. Still, Latitude isn’t the first of its kind. The following geosocial networking applications give users a chance to participate with their friends away from the computer – and right in their own backyard. Loopt – Loopt allows users to share information about where they’ve been, what they did, and how often they visit certain locations. Users can leave reviews about each location, compile a journal of where they’ve been, and easily integrate it with a blog or Web site... To read more about <a href="http://sparxoo.com/2009/11/13/google-latitude-tracks-your-location-history/">Google Latitude</a>, go to <a href="http://sparxoo.com/">Sparxoo, a digitla marketing, branding and business development blog. </a>About the Author: Sparxoo is a business blog that inspires breakthrough by tomorrow’s leaders. We are a strategy consulting firm with a pulse on marketing, branding, and development.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/networks-articles/google-latitude-tracks-your-location-history-1455177.html" title="Google Latitude Tracks Your Location History">Google Latitude Tracks Your Location History</a>

While most people use Google maps to get directions or look up an address, few realize the many other options available using the Maps feature. One such application is Google Latitude, a more social feature which enables users to track location history and discover the world around them. On Wednesday, Google announced added features to the Latitude location application that will make the tool more powerful than ever. Now, users can not only keep track of their past locations, they can also be alerted to their friends’ current locations if they’re nearby.

This type of application is a growing trend in the world of Web-enabled mobile devices and smartphones. When Latitude was introduced in February, users could only track their own location history. Now, it’s made more interactive, and also is now a direct competitor with established geosocial networking applications.

These services enable friends to connect on yet another level, adding an interesting twist to traveling and even doing everyday errands. An added bonus is the ability to read reviews of places you’re going that have been left by your friends, or discovering nearby locations that may be of interest. It’s not quite Twitter, Facebook, or Yelp. Instead, it combines all three – a perfect mashup of each network’s most popular features.

Nearly every phone is now GPS enabled. In the next few years, the majority of cell phone users will be toting smartphones and data plans than regular cell phones. In September it was reported than in a period of only six months, the iPhone grew in worldwide smartphone market share from 33 percent to 40, with BlackBerry close behind.

While location-based services have only been adopted by a small number of users, the growth of their technologies will most likely signal a growth in user growth as well. In order to get the most of these programs, users must be connected with many other friends. And while millions of people have smartphones, not everyone is looking to participate. Users of these applications are spearheading growth in adoption rates by convincing their friends to join, and also by others who may see an update from a friend on Twitter or Facebook.

Still, Latitude isn’t the first of its kind. The following geosocial networking applications give users a chance to participate with their friends away from the computer – and right in their own backyard.

Loopt – Loopt allows users to share information about where they’ve been, what they did, and how often they visit certain locations. Users can leave reviews about each location, compile a journal of where they’ve been, and easily integrate it with a blog or Web site...

Sparxoo is a business blog that inspires breakthrough by tomorrow’s leaders. We are a strategy consulting firm with a pulse on marketing, branding, and development.

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/networks-articles/google-latitude-tracks-your-location-history-1455177.html

Article Tags: blogging, brand marketing, brand strategy, branding, business, business development, business plans, consulting, digital strategy, entrepreneur, growth, market research, marketing plan, social media, startup

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

Getting to Know Google Chrome - #4 - Dealing with Downloads

Play

Explore the World with Google Earth - #3 - Taking the Long View

Play

Google Dashboard Gives You Control Over Your Privacy and Data

Play

The Google Android Demo

Play

How to Use iPhone Apps - LocateMe

Latest Networks Articles
More from Sparxoo

How can I manage internet bandwidth usage in company network?

By: Bruce Geng | 29/11/2009
Traffic Shaping and Prioritization is becoming more and more common in the corporate market. Most companies with remote offices are now connected via a WAN (Wide Area Network). Applications tend to become centrally hosted at the head office and remote offices are expected to pull data from central databases and server farms.

What is keyword weighting from the submissive hosting blog

By: shimon Clare | 28/11/2009
Educational Blog is where we will try to explain to you

How to Buy Cheap Aion Power-leveling Online? Some Practical suggestions

By: QQ1219307636 | 28/11/2009
Some Practical suggestions on how to Buy Cheap Aion Power-leveling Online? A good Aion power-leveling site should meet the following four points from wow-gold-team.com:

646-363 exam

By: Alice | 25/11/2009
646-363 Exam Description The 646-363 CXFA exam is intended primarily for Cisco Channel Partner Account Managers. The exam tests a candidate’s knowledge of: 1)The features and benefits of wireless, security, and routing and switching products and solutions. 2) How Cisco’s products and solutions are integrated into a customers network. 3) The competitive differentiators and positioning of the products and solutions. 4) The features, benefits and value of the Cisco Smart Business Communication Sys

jn0-100 dumps

By: Alice | 25/11/2009
Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA-JUNOS) Exam Number/Code : JN0-100 Exam Name : Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA-JUNOS) Questions and Answers : 161 Q&As;Update Time: 2009-10-20 Price: $ 99.00

70-298 exam

By: Alice | 25/11/2009
Our 70-298 practice exams and study questions are composed by current and active Information Technology experts, who use their experience in preparing you for your future in IT.

000-025 study guide

By: Alice | 25/11/2009
Certinside is your best friends! Certinside offer free exam demo, if you have any IT exam troubles , you can go to certinside and ask for help ! Good luck!

Network Consulting & Integration Services Market

By: Bharat Book Bureau | 24/11/2009
Bharatbook.com added a new report on "Network Consulting & Integration Services Market 2007-2010" forecasts the market size of network consulting and integration services over the period 2007-2010.

Social Capital and Friend 2.0

By: Sparxoo | 24/11/2009 | Internet Marketing
What is the meaning of a friend in the digital space? Does the definition of a friend change from one social network to another? Is a friend on Facebook any different than a MySpace friend? The value of user connections vary from one social network to another, which ultimately impacts social capital building strategies. Let’s first examine the differences between two...

Social Capital 101

By: Sparxoo | 24/11/2009 | Internet Marketing
Social Capital 101 “Let me introduce you to someone who might be able to help you.” Some people build their entire reputation around this one line. As Malcolm Gladwell outlined in his breakthrough work, The Tipping Point, those who say this line most often are called Connectors. Essentially, Connectors are match makers. They have an enormous amount of…

Can MySpace Re-Invent Itself?

By: Sparxoo | 20/11/2009 | Internet
While MySpace’s rival, Facebook, consistently breaks monthly traffic records, the teen social network is on a steady decline. That is not to say MySpace does’t have a sizable audience. The teen social network has an estimated monthly traffic of 54.3 million, according to Quantcast.com. But 54.3 million is a steep 35% drop from their peak at 83 million in...

Microsoft Office 2010 Moves to the Cloud

By: Sparxoo | 20/11/2009 | Leadership
When Canadian company i4i sued Microsoft this past August, watchdogs in the software community predicted that the move would encourage Microsoft to bring up their plans for a move to cloud computing much earlier than planned – and it looks like they were right. In addition to the announcements of a new and improved version of Internet Explorer and a major update of the Silverlight runtime platform at this week’s Microsoft at the…

Marketing a Social Cause

By: Sparxoo | 19/11/2009 | Non Profit Organizations
Every year, businesses across the country participate in charity events, sponsorships, community development programs and other social initiatives. There is a trend towards doing more, beyond just writing a check. It’s about putting down the checkbook and rolling up your sleeves that will award you more attention to not only your charity, but to...

The Impact of the Web on Sustainability

By: Sparxoo | 19/11/2009 | Non Profit Organizations
The web has impacted nearly everything: from the way we do business to the way we keep in touch with our friends. The web has also changed the way we contribute to our communities. It is a tool for organizations to help individuals realize their impact — whether it’s beautifying their community or donating to...

Connecting to the Creative Geek

By: Sparxoo | 18/11/2009 | Blogging
The rise in Twitter users has been nothing short of remarkable. It has captured world-wide media attention and consequently sparked an explosion of users — from approximately 2 million monthly visits a year ago to 27 million today. In our exploration of social media, we have draw several parallels to...

YouTube Direct Enlists Citizen Journalists

By: Sparxoo | 18/11/2009 | Video
YouTube announced Tuesday that it will be making it easier for citizen journalists to submit news and events to established news organizations. YouTube Direct bridges the gap between new (YouTube) and traditional media by empowering consumers with an accessible tool to submit video while providing established media a rich resource for breaking news...