Photo Credit: Google.com

Google released the iPhone Google Latitude app in the Apple App store on Monday morning. Google Latitude allows you to find your friends based on their location. This app was previously introduced in 2009 but due to the inability for the iPhone to run multi-tasking until around six months ago, Google Latitude was unable to continuously share position with your friends. Since the April 2010 iOS update, the iPhone can now run apps like Google Latitude in the background even when the app is closed.

Unfortunately, if you still own the original iPhone or the iPhone 3g, you can not run the Google Latitude app. According to Google Software engineer, Chris Lambert,

“Today’s Latitude app was built from the ground up using iOS 4’s new multitasking capability to support background updating…you wll need iOS 4 and above on an iPhone 3Gs or iPhone 4 to use the app.”

The great part about the new version of the app is that it is completely opt-in, so you must have friends accept requests or you must add friends to your buddy list to begin to share your location. You also have the ability to turn off background updating to control your privacy. You can also sign out at anytime.

The “checking-in” trend has seen other applications in Facebook Places and other apps such as foursquare or GoWalla. However, the practical side of this app is fairly evident. For instance, you could use it to keep an eye on employees to ensure productivity as well as, other logistical applications.