Share your trips and real-time location from Google Maps

"Where are you now?" and "What's your ETA?" Whether you're heading to a party or meeting up for dinner, you probably hear questions like this pretty often from family and friends. Soon Google Maps users worldwide will be able to answer those questions in just a few taps, without ever leaving the app.

Google Maps today announced a new real-time location sharing feature which will be available for both Android and iOS users. Users will be able to share their real-time location with anyone and the people they share with will be able to see the location on Android, iPhone, mobile web, and desktop.

Whenever you want to let someone know where you are, just open the side menu or tap the blue dot that represents where you are. Tap "Share location" and then select who to share with and how long to share and you're done! You can share your real-time location with your Google contacts, or even share with friends and family by sending a link on your favorite messenger apps.

When you're sharing your location, the people you've chosen to share with will see you on their map. And you'll see an icon above the compass on your own map reminding you that you're actively sharing your location. You can change your mind and stop sharing at any time it's entirely up to you.

Next time you're on your way or running late, you can share your real-time location and trip progress from navigation as well. During your next trip, tap the "More" button on the bottom on the navigation screen, and then tap "Share trip." When you share your trip with people, they'll see your expected arrival time and can follow your journey as you head towards your destination. Sharing automatically ends when you arrive.

"Location sharing on Google Maps is rolling worldwide over the coming week, and you'll be able to quickly let your friends and family know where you are and when you'll get where you're going. The answer to "where are you?" is only a tap away," said product manager Google Maps, Sanket Gupta.