MapmyIndia launches Locate, a free Android app to track location of up to three users

MapmyIndia has announced the launch of a new people tracking app for mobile phones called MapmyIndia Locate.

The app helps users identify the location and to stay connected with their friends, family, staff, or anyone else. You can track in real time the location of up to three other users, who will need to approve your tracking request and have the MapmyIndia Locate app installed. Users can either manually check-in to places or the app automatically picks up location every 500 meters and shows it as auto-check in.

The app uses GPS, Wi-Fi or cell tower triangulation, whichever is available, in that order, to compute location, so it will also work with phones without GPS connectivity. In case a data connection is unavailable, the app caches the location periodically, and updates it as soon as the data connection becomes available.

Reports are accessible in the app and also through an online dashboard. The online dashboard also shows the location of your own phone, in addition to the users you've added. Detailed movement reports for people being located for the five previous days, including the exact date, time and address, are available for access on Web as well as from within the app.

If you are one of the three users being tracked, you can set settings like days of the week and time of the day when you wish to be tracked. This will be useful in scenarios where the system is being used for employee tracking, and the employees don't wish to be tracked (obviously) on personal time.

Commenting on the launch, Rakesh Verma, Managing Director MapmyIndia, said: "We are always anxious about our loved ones, such are the times we live in. There is speed, technology and more, but the safety of our friends and family always is a primary concern. Locate is an initiative that addresses the safety and security need of individuals and institutions. I feel that they would be immensely comforted knowing that their friends, family and staff are safe."

The app is available as a free download from Google Play. There's no word yet on whether enterprise users have an option of tracking more than three users for a fee.