Google Tool Promises More Located-Based Services

Google yesterday announced a brand new tool for developers using its Google Latitude service.

The company said that the new open-source API would allow third-party developers to create applications that would offer more advanced location-based services than ever before.

Some examples of the technology given by Google include: "Thermostats that turn on and off automatically when you’re driving towards or away from home", and "Your credit card accounts to alert you of potential fraud when a purchase is made far from where you actually are.”

The search giant also stated that users will have more control of their location, meaning that users can choose when, where and how to use any application.

Ana Ulin, software engineer with the Google Mobile team wrote in a blog post: “We want to help developers build all these applications and more, but our first priority is keeping you, the user, in control over your location. That way, you only use it when, where, and how you choose.”