What does an iOS user see when they receive a Locate request?
This article shows what an iPhone (iOS) user sees when they receive a Locate request. It's useful if you want to know what to expect, or what to tell a subject before you send the request. The experience is the same whether your account starts sessions Locate first or Message first. In a Message-first session, the subject sees it when you request their location.
Step 1 — Receiving the text message
When a Locate request is sent, the subject receives a text message containing your Initiation Message and a link. Depending on their iPhone and messaging app, the link may appear with a preview image or as a plain web address. Both open the same page. It helps to tell the subject to expect a link.
You can customize the Initiation Message. See Configuring Locate & Message. The Initiation Message is translated only when the subject's language is already known.
Step 2 — Sharing location
When the subject taps the Locate link, a Connect Rocket web page opens in their browser. Everything from here on happens on this page. Depending on the settings on their iPhone, the browser may ask them to allow location access.
The page appears in the subject's language, which is normally the language of their iPhone. This doesn't require translation to be turned on. If translation is on and a language was already set or detected for the conversation, the page uses that language.
If location services are turned off on their iPhone, Connect Rocket automatically shows them how to turn them on.
Step 3 — Refining location and sharing battery level
Once the subject allows location access, Connect Rocket gets an initial location. A countdown timer shows while Connect Rocket refines the location over the next 120 seconds (2 minutes).
iPhone users are also asked to set their battery level using a slider, then select Submit to share it with you. Because of how iPhones work, battery level can't be shared automatically. The subject can skip this step, and location sharing continues either way.
Step 4 — Confirming battery level shared
After the subject selects Submit, the screen confirms that their battery level was shared. Location refinement continues in the background.
Step 5 — Completion
When the location has been obtained, the subject sees your Completion Message on the web page. You can customize it. See Configuring Locate & Message. Use it to give the subject next steps or reassurance. If translation is turned on and the subject's language is known, the message appears in their language.
