Our rating: By: Personal Security Solutions Limited Version #: 1.01 Date Released: 2010-09-01 Developer: Price: 1.99 User Rating: Loading... Loading... Download App

Location based social networks are all the rage and everyone is coming to the party. Whether it is Foursquare, Facebook or Twitter, they all want to give you a way to show your friends where you are and what you are doing. Each service has its own twist and take on the idea. Personal Security Solutions has a little different look at location tracking. Their new iPhone app TrackMy is geared to be a simple bare-bones location tracker that trades games and points for security and ease of tracking users.

TrackMy can be a bit intimidating to use at first. Setting up your tracking and connecting with users isn’t immediately apparent. This is mitigated by the inclusion of a manual right in the main row of buttons when you start the app. This can be referred to as needed if you are the type that likes to jump head long into applications like I do, or if you prefer to read your instructions completely first then you can certainly do so. The other buttons give you access to the tracking and the following features of TrackMy.

Posting your location is as easy as selecting the location button, and then double tapping the pinwheel in the middle of the screen. TrackMy also has settings to allow TrackMy to autopost your location when the application is opened and also at a set interval; which is handy for those times you are in the car but want to map out a route, or allow someone to follow you.

The way people follow you is one of the ways TrackMy differentiates itself from the competition. People who also have the Trackmy app can connect with you and both of you must confirm the request. You have full control over who can follow your posts and can revoke someone at any time. The real convenience comes from the email option. You can grab an email from a contact in your iPhone’s contact list to send updates to. The email will have links to view the post in Trackmy or in Google maps, which means you can allow anyone to follow you without the need for them to download and use an app. This is great for sharing with people temporarily or for those that do not have iPhones.

The secure nature of TrackMy tends to preclude the sort of networking and friend discovery that other location based networks offer. There isn’t any way to see posts from users nearby without already knowing the users in person. For those that are concerned about the use of location information being publicly available, Trackmy offers a viable option to still put location tracking to good use. TrackMy users can request location updates from other TrackMy users so if you want to know where your friend is this makes it easy and the mapping feature will give you a compass style view that orients you toward your friends location. TrackMy offers a compelling outlook on location tracking that utilizes the features of the iPhone, while providing its users with an adequate level of security and control over their data.