Free! – Google Latitude Keeps You Connected.

Google is hosting yet another free service
that comes as an add-on to GoogleMaps. It is called Latitude
and it promises to take "staying connected" to a new level. Integrated
with your driving directions and location services, you can now add friends
and choose to share your location with them while you are out and about.
Small icons will appear around your map with avatars (if the user uploaded
one) and a Twitter-esque update of what the friend is doing at his location.
The accuracy is the only issue that I have had a problem with, as the service
succumbs to the GPS, wi-fi and cell tower information from your phone.
If one is not available, it uses what it can get to be as accurate as possible
(from 30 feet to 3 miles).

If you are concerned about privacy, be comforted by knowing you can hide
your location from anyone at any time if you choose and an official request
must be sent through the user interface and get approval in order to become
friends with anyone and see their location; privacy is definitely not an
issue here. Google
Latitude is still an interesting
way to see what your friends are up to and maybe even rendezvous with them
if you happen to be near by!

About Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield is CEO of DCG Technical Solutions, Inc. providing IT Support in the Los Angeles area since 1993. DCG exists to help our clients choose, implement, and manage IT and cloud solutions that are cost effective and reliable. DCG's pro-active approach to IT is ideally suited for companies who depend on reliable IT infrastructure, but don't want to spend a lot of money to keep it that way. DCG was recognized among the Top 10 Fastest Growing MSPs in North America by MSP mentor. Brent has been featured in Fast Company, CNBC, Network Computing, Reuters, and Yahoo Business.