After a trial period that lasted several months, Google has begun gradually rolling out the real-time location sharing feature to the Google Messages app for Android devices.
This feature allows users to send their real-time locations to contacts directly within conversations, without having to exit the application or resort to other services.
When this feature is activated, an interactive map appears in the conversation, and the recipient can zoom in to see the sender’s location in real time, making it easier to coordinate during meetings or share locations with family and friends.
Users can access Real‑time location sharing by tapping the “+” button within any Google Messages conversation, then selecting “Real‑time location.”
Next, options will appear to set the sharing period, such as one hour, the rest of the day, even manual pause, or a custom duration defined by the user.
When the location is sent, the other party receives a notification in the conversation with a live map that enables them to track the user’s location directly, and the feature relies on location data from the “Google Maps” system to update the location during navigation.
An advantage to compete with others: This addition puts “Google Messages” in a better competitive position with other messaging applications such as “WhatsApp” and “Telegram”, which have supported live location sharing for years. With the spread of this feature within the “RCS” protocol used in “Messages”, the application becomes a more attractive option in the modern communications environment.
This feature comes within a larger group of updates, including other features such as support for “@” mentions to tag friends in group chats, in addition to a Recycle Bin folder for restoring conversations, which reflects Google’s efforts in developing the chat experience.
Full control: Despite the practical advantages, Google emphasizes that users retain full control over location sharing, as they can stop sharing at any time and choose how long they want to share their location, which reduces privacy concerns.
This feature is especially useful when coordinating get-togethers with friends or informing family members of your location while traveling or navigating in new places, without the need to send static location links or use other applications.
Gradual rollout: The live location sharing feature is currently available to users of stable and beta versions of Google Messages on Android, and it is expected to be gradually available to more users over the coming weeks, while some other features are still being tested at various stages before full launch. (Erm News)
