Finding a friend in a crowded location or locating someone in unfamiliar territory can be difficult. There are many friend-locating apps available in the iTunes App Store, but many need both parties to be iPhone users, or require registration or the creation of service-specific friend networks. The free navigating app Marco Friend Locator doesn’t require any of this.
Marco Friend Locator will find your location on a Google street-level map. Tap the giant green “Find your friend” button and select the contact from your address book to locate. Marco uses SMS to notify your friend that you’re looking for them, so an iPhone isn’t required.
If your friend doesn’t have Marco, they’ll still be able to access your location on a browser map, indicate their current spot by marking it with a pin, and watch as your pins move toward each other. To “polo,” or respond, they can drag their location pin to the correct spot if it displays incorrectly, or if they want to set up a meeting at a different location, which you’ll then see on your Marco map. Tapping your friend’s name gives you options to call, text or get Google directions.
Marco’s only last about 30 minutes, and are never shared with anyone other than the parties involved. Should you want to keep your location hidden, simply decline the request.
Like any GPS-reliant app, I wouldn’t put all my trust in Marco Friend Locator being able to find me or my friends when in a heavily-congested area, but this is more an issue with AT&T’s service than with Marco’s abilities.
