Parents will soon know where their kids are on Google maps thanks to new phone software which is about to be released.

With an upgrade to its mobile maps, Google hopes to prove it can track people on the go as effectively as it searches for information on the Internet. The new software dubbed "Latitude" will enable people with mobile phones and other wireless devices to automatically share their whereabouts with family and friends.

Google is doing its best to avoid a backlash by requiring each user to manually turn on the tracking software. The software puts a picture of the person on Google's map by using mobile phone towers, global positioning systems or a Wi-Fi connection to deduce their location.

The software will run on Blackberries and devices running on Symbian or Windows Mobile. It will also operate on some T-1 Mobile phones running on Google's Android software and eventually will work on Apple iPhone and iTouch.

It is expected that the service will be used to make sure that kids are where parents think they are.