A first mobile device reports its current location in response to a message from a second computing device. The first mobile device extracts a source identifier and a location inquiry from the message and determines whether the source identifier and the location inquiry satisfy pre-determined conditions. If it is determined that the pre-determined conditions are satisfied, the first mobile device retrieves current location information from a location positioning module in the first mobile device and generates a message including the current location information. The first mobile device then sends the message to the second computing device. Upon receipt of the message, an instant messaging application of the second computing device is configured to visualize the first mobile device's location on a map application in accordance with the current location information extracted from the message.