Google has introduced the beta version of its new “My Location” feature for Google Maps for mobile devices. The My Location feature enables a mobile user to display their current location on the Google map on their device. The feature uses both GPS and non-GPS methods to determine a user’s location.
When GPS is available on a device the user will get a much more accurate reading of their location, indicated by a blue dot. If GPS is not available for whatever reason, the My Location feature takes information broadcast from mobile towers near you to approximate your current location on the map. Basically triangulation using cell phone towers. When the feature uses this method, it displays your location as a blue dot surrounded by a light blue circle. This light blue circle represents the amount of uncertainty about your location. Google claims that this method “comes pretty close (approximately 1000m close, on average).”
The My Location feature is available for most web-enabled mobile phones, including Java, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Nokia/Symbian devices.
I think the My Location feature will encourage more people to use Google Maps for Mobile. The feature will save mobile users time by allowing them to simply press a single button to find their location, instead of finding a nearby address and typing that into Google Maps as well as their search query.
The following is a video from Google about the My Location feature.
What do you think of the new My Location feature?