Google Maps unveils My Location service for mobile

By Giselle Abramovich

November 29, 2007

New Google Maps allows mobile users without GPS to access location information

Google knows where you are – really.

The search giant has released version 2.0 of Google Maps for mobile that is loaded with My Location technology using cell tower ID information.

With Google's new My Location technology, users without GPS-enabled mobile phones can figure out where they are and what’s around them using location information.

GPS technology is supported on fewer than 15 percent of the mobile phones expected to be sold this year.

The My Location technology works with GPS-enabled devices as well. Google claims it delivers a location estimate faster than GPS, provides coverage inside buildings – where GPS signals can be unreliable – and doesn't drain phone batteries as quickly as GPS.

The technology takes information broadcast from cell towers and sifts it through Google-developed algorithms to approximate a user's current location on the map.

To download Google Maps for mobile with My Location, users can go to www.google.com/mobile/gmm/index.html.

Google does not gather any personally identifiable information or associate any location data with personally identifiable information as part of My Location. The feature can be disabled by anyone who prefers not to use it.

The My Location technology is available on most smartphones, including all color BlackBerry and Symbian Series 60 third-edition handsets as well as most Windows Mobile devices, newer Sony Ericsson phones and some Motorola instruments.