Mountain View, California — In a surprising move that marks search engine behemoth Google jump into the check-in bandwagon. According to the company’s mobile blog, on Tuesday unveiled an updated version of its Google Maps 5.1 for Android and included the ability for smartphone users check in to specific locations with Latitude, its feature for sharing your location with friends, as the Internet star jumped into the hot location-based services arena with Facebook, Foursquare and Gowalla.
The company’s newly announced feature of its Latitude Android app which will unquestionably pose a grave threat to Foursquare and other location-based social networking app. Google’s reasoning for this upgrade is that check-ins add context. With Latitude essentially enabling users to share their location with friends, as well as to keep tabs on their whereabouts, the addition of the check-in functionality will now enable users to share more detailed information about their location.
And to make the new feature different from the check-in service of other location-based social networking sites, the search engine titan has added some twists to their own check-in service. Now, rather than just seeing a pal is on a certain street, a user can figure out whether he is grabbing a drink at a coffee shop or buying a new vehicle at the adjacent car dealer.
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About the advantage of the inclusion of the check-ins to Latitude, Google software engineer Joe LaPenna said: “Now, check-ins let [friends] see the cool restaurant I’m trying in Taipei or join me for a latte at the cafe nearby.”
As for how it works, the check-in process can be about as discreet or obtrusive as desired. Some of the customizable features that have been included in the Latitude check-ins include: notifications to provide reminders to check in at a certain location; automatic update of a users’ whereabouts via automatic check-ins; and the check-out feature to keep people from fumbling with their phones or appearing to spend the night at Walmart.
In addition, Google has also incorporated Latitude into Place pages, the standalone sites pertaining to certain points of interest that provide basic info, links, and reviews.
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The new Latitude service works with a 5.1 version of Google Maps for devices running on Android software.
Unlike other smartphone check-in services, Latitude can use satellite positioning capabilities of handsets to automatically update where people are, according to LaPenna.
“You can talk to friends or finish your bagel without fumbling with your phone,” LaPenna said. “Once you leave, Latitude knows to automatically check you out of places so friends are not left guessing if you are still there.”
If you are curious whether there is any kind of incentive, Google has made it so that users who check into places often can secure statuses, including “Regular,” “VIP” or “Guru,” which would show up on the location’s Place page, a sort of mini website with an address, number, directions and other important information.
Competition in the check-in space is abundant. With several other companies — including Facebook, Gowalla, FourSquare, and BrightKite, among others — also allowing users to check-in and share photos of the businesses they patronize, the Latitude check-ins will further intensify the challenge in the check-ins arena. However, Google appears to be the only one with the combination of features that let you not only check in, but have notifications and the ability to check out, which could help the service attract new users — perhaps even from competing services.
To get the check-in feature, you need to update Google Maps on your Android phone. And watch the video demo below as well.