andStartup

Loopt.Com - Your Social Compass

A very accurate tagline “your social compass”, unlike many other sites, Loopt.Com actually means it! Loopt offers software that helps you stay in the “loop” with your friends! By naturally, being your compass as to where they are. Although cell companies have proposed this idea in the past, making Loopt seem a little bit “Johnny come lately” on the subject of using GPS to keep track of how close your friends are to you in your hometown. However, Loopt remains unaffiliated, and supports over sixty different cell phones; this means of course that regardless of which company you’re with, you can still used Loopt.

GPS location is a major convenience when it comes to social meetings, getting directions to a particular event, and even responding to an friend’s need, or even emergency. However, to be fair, there’s still that creepy edge to it; many are concerned with the possibility that this might make it easier for stalkers to corner victims, after all, with just a phone number, they’ll be locating someone. It’s a bit disconcerting that someone might actually know exactly where you are. All in all, despite the one negative aspect, Loopt presents a very convenient and useful social tool.

What’s the concept?

Using GPS to locate friends, and chat with them.

Why should you care?

Ever been lost on the way to a party? This will make finding friends or even meetings much easier.

How do they make money?

Through monthly subscription plans, being bundled with other phone plans.

Will this company last 5 years?

Definitely; as the new 3G mobile phones start appearing more and more, this and so many more applications are going to enter the industry and be staying for a very long time.

Suggestions for improvements?

The only concern of mine is privacy issues, and they seem to be confident that their methods of privacy for their customers are up to par, but you can never be too safe, so hopefully, they’ll stay committed to updating their protective practices.