Google's new tracking technology

Google has developed a latest tracking technology named Latitude, which let's cell phone users share their precise location with specified users.

With Google Latitude, you can:

• See where your friends are and what they are up to
• Quickly contact them with SMS, IM, or a phone call
• Control what your location is and who gets to see it

Enjoy Google Latitude on your phone, PC, or both.

"What time are you going to be home? Have you left work yet? Is your wife at the restaurant that you're going to meet at? Those are very common questions every day and this is a great tool to let someone know, are you late? And so you can be more efficient with your time and maybe ease some friction in social interaction with people," said Steve Lee, Google Product Manager.

Overview

Share locations

Location sharing starts only when both you and a friend agree. Invite friends via email or easily add them from your Gmail contacts.

Control privacy

You can share, set, or hide your location - or turn off Google Latitude - from the privacy menu. You can also hide your location or share only a city-level location with certain friends. 

Share status

Create a status message and upload your photo within Latitude. It also syncs directly with Google Talk. Check your friends' status messages to see what your friends are up to.

Contact your friends

Quickly contact your friends with an SMS, IM, or phone call. You can also get directions to lead you to your friends.

To start out, Google Latitude will work on BlackBerry and Windows Mobile 5.0 and eventually with Apple's Iphone and iTouch.

However, it won't be as easy as user thinks as revealing location on Latitude is a matter of choice. It allows a user to hide from specific people or disappear altogether.