I’ve been preaching about geolocation apps for quite some time now. Whether it’s Foursquare, Gowalla, similar apps, services like Check.in, or any of the other geotagging apps we’ve covered, every geolocation app puts a fun twist on a very useful technology: GPS.

Glympse is the latest geolocation app I’ve become really excited about, because it offers a service that is extremely useful. Essentially, Glympse allows you to share your location with anyone for a specified period of time. It’s easier and faster than a phone call or text message, and it allows you to answer the question, “Where are you at?” without having to pull out your phone.

How Does Glympse Work?

Like I said in the title, Glympse is simple. After you install the app on your mobile device (more on that below), you can begin sharing your location with your friends or loved ones, or “send them a Glympse”.

To send a Glympse, simply select a contact from your list, set a duration (e.g. 15 minutes), and hit send. Anyone with an Internet-enabled phone or computer can receive a Glympse, with no software or setup required. You can send a Glympse to a specific person, several people, or even to Facebook and Twitter.

I also said that Glympse is safe, and by that I mean you have complete control over who sees you and for how long. Coincidentally, it also prevents you from having to call or text people while you’re driving just to tell them where you are. With Glympse, you can set the time limit beforehand and let the app do the talking for you.

Glympse’s website offers a very good simulation of how the app looks and works. For more information on what Glympse is and what it’s for, you can also check out this funny, yet informative video:

Other Features Of Glympse

With Glympse you can be sharing your location in real-time with others in seconds. There’s no sign-up, no passwords, and no social network for you to manage, and it works on a number of different devices, including the iPhone/iTouch, Android, Windows Mobile, and even the iPad.

As stated above, the recipient of your Glympses doesn’t need the app to get them. They can be sent to anyone via email, SMS, Facebook, or Twitter. Glympse will send a link to your real-time position and, optionally, your speed, destination, a message, and your ETA. It will automatically stop after the preset time period passes. You can even get a route from yourself to your friend’s current location/destination.

The video below does a great job of showing how the app works with Facebook and the iPad:

Where Can I Get Glympse?

If you are looking to install Glympse on an iOS device, you can get the app on iTunes. For Android users, you can check out Android Zoom or use the bar scanning app on your phone to scan this QR code:

If you are a Windows Mobile user, you can get Glympse here. Don’t have any of these devices? Glympse also has a beta program listed on their website for users who would like to get the app on their phone.

Conclusion

I think this is a really cool app. It is a really good use for geolocation technology and I think it’s something everyone can use on a weekly or even daily basis. Save yourself the hassle of having to answer a dozen calls from your friends asking, “When are you going to be here? Where are you?”. Send them a Glympse!

Anyway, that’s my two cents. I’d love to hear what you have to say about this app. What do you think of Glympse?