Google Maps isn't just a way to get where you're going. It's a way to keep an eye on your employees.
On Thursday, Google uncloaked a new service dubbed Google Maps Coordinate that lets businesses track the activities of remote workers -- such as traveling sales staff and field technicians -- by tapping into GPS devices on their cell phones. For instance, says Google, a cable TV company could follow the progress of their field techs as they move from home to home repairing cable connections.
According to Dan Chu, the Google product manager overseeing Coordinate, the service is designed to be as straightforward as possible. "In the enterprise, there's a tendency to over-engineer and over complicate," he says, referring to technology build for big businesses. "A huge emphasis for us is to make it really simple."
It's a common message from Google. With services such as Gmail and Google Docs, the company aims to provide a new breed of online business software that streamlines what you get from traditional business software outfits such as Microsoft, IBM, and Oracle.
Tools for overseeing remote workforces have long been available from companies such as Trimble, IBM, and AT&T. Google says the Coordinate is different not only because it's simple, but because it lets businesses customize how it works on their own. Typically, Google says, customization is handled by the software vendor.
The common complaint with Google services that in moving company data to the web, they pose problems of security and privacy. But according to Chu, all Coordinate data is encrypted not only when it's on the wire, but when it's stored on Google's servers.
Google has also tried to counter concerns that such a service could be used to track employees when they're not on the job. According to Chu, a phone can be set to drop its connection to Coordinate at certain times, like when employees get off work.
The service requires an local application that's installed on phones. Initially, this app will only available for Google's own Android operating system, but Chu says a version is on the way for Apple's iPhones and iPads.
[This article was updated to clarify the release of the Android app]
