Reachme is a Windows Phone app that offers a simple means of sharing your location with others. The app is a Microsoft Garage project and lets you send your location, along with turn-by-turn directions to get to that location. While sharing your location with Reachme is presented in simple fashion, to share your location the recipient will need a Microsoft Account, be listed in your contacts and have Reachme installed on their Windows Phone.
All of which does give Reachme a rather restrictive feel that will likely tarnish any appeal the app has to offer. The app has potential and I can see it coming in handy, but Reachme needs a option of sharing your location without the need for the recipient to have a Microsoft account and Reachme installed.
The layout with Reachme is laid out rather simple with your main page pinpointing your current location and options to share your current location or live location displayed across the bottom of the screen. There is a blue map pointer icon displayed in the upper right corner of the map that will take you to your send/receive history.
Reachme does have a few requirements for use that may hold the app back a little. For starters, the recipient needs a Microsoft Account and be in your People's Hub contact list. They will also need to have Reachme installed on their Windows Phone.
When everything is in place, sending your location is easy. Just choose to send your current location or a live location (updates as you move), choose your contact recipient, choose any landmarks you want to note and tap send. If you are choosing to send your live location, you can set the duration for how long the app will track your live location.
Locations can be saved as favorites for easy reference and named accordingly (work, home, campsite, beach spot, etc.).
Overall Impression
I like the foundation that Reachme has established but feel it may be too restrictive for many. There are plenty of location sharing alternatives that are not as restrictive to the Windows Phone platform that may be more appealing.
However, I do like the live location sharing abilities that Reachme offers. It offers you the ability to keep track of friends or family while traveling, out hiking or exploring vacation spots. I can see this feature coming in handy with those Windows Phone users who have teenage or pre-teen children who want the freedom to go off on their own but you still need to keep tabs on them from a distance.
I think Reachme would have greater appeal if it would include a feature to allow you to send your current location over email or SMS, regardless if the recipient had a Microsoft Account and has Reachme setup on their Windows Phone. It would add to the versatility of the app.
