JR Raphael, IDG
Location sharing can be a fantastically handy way to keep tabs on friends, family members, or even sales reps out in the field during the workweek — with everyone’s active knowledge and willing participation, of course.
And while Google Maps is what actually powers all of Android’s location-sharing prowess, the Google Contacts app has gained a helpful bit of integration with that system in recent years.
Specifically, you can now see and manage live, real-time location sharing with anyone right from within the Contacts app on Android. Just open up any individual contact within the app, then tap the Location Sharing icon beneath their name and image to get started.
Once the person agrees to share their location with you, you’ll see a map showing their current physical position right within their contact profile — and, in an especially useful twist, you’ll also see their up-to-the-minute location within the Google Contacts “Individual contact” widget, if you opt to add such a widget for that person onto your home screen.