Google Maps may be adding new location sharing features

Google Maps is certainly one of the most used Android apps, and it looks like the company is planning to add a few big features in the near future. A new report claims that an internal test build shows that the app could be adding some location sharing features.

The report, from Ausdroid, says that this internal Google Maps version now has a “friends” section in the menu that will allow users to show their buddies where they are currently located. The report says that the app allows for new friends to be added, and others to be removed from the list. There’s also a new “navigation sharing” option in the app’s settings that can be turned on and off.

The report also shows a “hands free faster route” option that, when turned on, will allow the app to ask the user to say “Yes” or “No” if it finds a quicker way to get from A to B. Finally, Google is apparently working to store searches and direction info offline, which could make Google Maps run faster.

Keep in mind that this report is based on a build of Google Maps that is supposed to be under internal testing. As a result, any of its features may or may not actually appear in future public versions of the app.  However, these new additions under development would certainly be welcome ones for users when and if they are officially released.