The official Google Blog has announced that its location-based Latitude service is on it’s way:

with Latitude, not only can you see your friends’ locations on a map, but you can also be in touch directly via SMS, Google Talk, Gmail, or by updating your status message; you can even upload a new profile photo on the fly. It’s a fun way to feel close to the people you care about. [...] Ready to share your location? If you have a mobile smartphone, visit google.com/latitude on your phone’s web browser to download the latest version of Google Maps for mobile with Latitude. Latitude is available on Blackberry, S60, and Windows Mobile, and will be available on Android in the next few days. We expect it will be coming to the iPhone, through Google Mobile App, very soon.

Interesting that it’s coming to the App Store available Google Mobile App (which added the Voice Search feature recently) and not the built in Google Maps app (which Apple develops and would require a firmware release to update).

See the video above for important privacy information. And we have to ask, is this a fun and convenient toy, or the next step towards “Big Brother” all hidden up in “Little Brother” clothes? Is Google parsing all your friends’ and family’s location useful, or terrifying?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Google Latitude to Let the iPhone Track You and Your Friends…!

Dieter’s been saying for a long time that Google hearts the iPhone — and why wouldn’t it, it delivers an incredible amount of mobile eyeballs for advertising. We’ve also said that the ultimate edge the iPhone enjoys over Android is that while Google produces great service for both Android and the iPhone, Apple only produces for the iPhone. The iPhone gets the best of both worlds. Latest case in point, iPhoneYap (via Apple Insider) has posted extensive screenshots of the new Google Maps 2.2, and it looks like we’re getting:

• Public transit directions (including schedule info)
• Walking directions
• Street view
• Location Sharing

Sampling of images after the jump, see the full gallery at iPhoneYap

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

More iPhone 2.2 Google Goodness: Transit, Walking, Street-View, and Share Location!