Google Latitude arrives on iPhone

Limited by Apple

24 July 2009 9:47 GMT / By Duncan Geere

Google has announced the long-awaited news that its location-tracking service is now available for the iPhone. However, it's subject to a number of limitations compared to its app on other platforms.

Firstly, it's a web app, which runs in Safari. It has the same core functionality as other Latitude apps - you can see where you are, where your friends are, and control who gets to see your location. It also has basic search and directions functionality.

Google says: "We worked closely with Apple to bring Latitude to the iPhone in a way Apple thought would be best for iPhone users. After we developed a Latitude application for the iPhone, Apple requested we release Latitude as a web application in order to avoid confusion with Maps on the iPhone".

Unfortunately, however, Apple prevents applications from running in the background on the iPhone. That means that for Latitude to update, you have to manually open it and force it to update, rather than the continuous background updating that Android, Symbian, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile users get.

The Latitude mobile app is available now for users in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. If you don't live in a former part of the British Empire, then Google "hopes to bring it to more countries soon".

Via: googlemobile.blogspot.com

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