Many years ago it was normal to have a GPS device in the car to be able to make trips with route calculation, identification of points of interest, etc. However, cell phones have long been equipped with GPS, a chip that allows the device to be located using a satellite network. This function was mainly used to be able to use positioning and route calculation applications.
They have also been used to know where we are and that many applications allow us to access it to give us relevant information, such as nearby places or points of interest. Dating apps, for example, use it to show us people who share the same interests as us but are close to where we are. Additionally, in augmented reality applications, such as those that show constellations, it is necessary for these applications to know where we are. Other apps, like Facebook, use it to show us more relevant ads.
A little-known function is power share location from a specific app. Some people know that you can send your exact location at any time, but they don’t know that you can also share your location permanently, in real time. This is very useful when we are going on a trip and we want someone else to know where we are at all times, or when we are on our way to a place and we want someone to know exactly when we are. we’re going to arrive. This way we eliminate the need to occasionally ask yourself where you are going or how long you have left to get there.
Google Maps
One of the applications that allows you to share your location in real time is Google Maps, the only one on this list installed as standard on all mobile phones sold in Europe. Furthermore, It’s very comfortable since almost everyone uses it.
One of the advantages of sharing location in this application rather than another is that here The battery percentage of the data subject’s mobile phone is also shared., so we can know if the battery is dead or not, which would prevent us from continuing to see where it is. And if we want, we can click on the icon with his avatar to create a route by car or on foot or otherwise from where we are to where that person is.
To be able to share the location on Google Maps, you must click on the blue icon it marks where we are. Once there, select the option Location sharing. In the window that appears, you can select the number of hours you want this location to be shared, or select the option to share until it is canceled manually. This allows permanent location sharing.
The most used application for sharing location in Europe is probably WhatsApp, because It is the most used application by most people. The process is very similar to what was seen in Google Maps, with the difference that this time the instant location can also be shared, not just in real time.
To share it, we must Click the clip icon to attach an item. There we select Location and we opted for the option of Real-time location. There are three options, with durations of 15 minutes, 1 hour or 8 hours. Furthermore, we are allowed to attach a commentin case we want to clarify something.
Telegram
The last option to send our location to someone is Telegram, another of those applications that many people have installed, although it is not as popular as the previous two. The process is the same and, as in the other two, location permissions must be granted to the application to allow us to share location.
To share it, you must click on the clip icon to attach an element. There we select the option again Location and in the window that appears Real-time location. Again, there are three options, with the same durations as WhatsApp, 15 minutes, 1 hour or 8 hours. However, In this case we also have the Google Maps option to share until we deactivate the optionin case we want to leave it active or use it for several days, for example.
Privacy and location
All these functions are implemented to be able to share your own location with the people of your choice, but do not use them to follow someone without their consent. Just as happens when we share, for example, a photo album on Google Photos, from time to time we are reminded that we share the location with someone.
In this way, no one with our cell phone can share the location without informing us, because after a while a message would appear indicating it, and we would realize it. Of course, on top of that, following someone without their permission is not legal, and could be subject to a complaint.
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