can a webpage on a mobile browser ask/get users location from the phone?

Is there any way that a webpage can make a request for the users location from the android / iphone device ?

Since all I need is the users location, I am trying to figure out if there开发者_如何学编程 is anyway I can bypass developing a native app and use some nifty html5 call to just get the users location so all a user would need to do is visit my webpage and provide permission to access his/her location?

Yes. Webkit browsers on Android and Iphone support geolocation. The Google maps api has some great info on it.

Have a look at the Google Maps API (http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/javascript/introduction.html), particularly the sensor parameter...may give you want you need.