Microsoft launches new safety app for Windows phone users

The new app Guardian enables users to switch on a 'track me' feature that lets friends and family track them in real-time

Technology giant Microsoft today launched a new application 'Guardian' with safety features, exclusively for Windows Phone users.

Guardian enables users to switch on a 'track me' feature in the app that lets friends and family track them in real-time using Microsoft Windows Azure cloud services and Bing Map APIs, the company said in a release.

Guardian users can call for help through an 'SOS' alert button and also connect to security agencies, police and hospitals easily via this app in times of crisis, it added.

It took more than six months for a team of Microsoft employees in India to develop the safety app in the Microsoft Garage, the company said.

Microsoft Garage is a global employee innovation initiative that gives Microsoft employees an outlet to explore ideas.

"Guardian is a robust personal security app with more safety features and capabilities than any other comparable app available to Indian smartphone users today," Microsoft IT India Managing Director Raj Biyani said.