Mobile social network Loopt is making a big push this summer.
CEO Sam Altman already took stage at last week’s Stevenote prior to the unveiling of iPhone 3G. He was there to present the friend tracking software Loopt has been developing in time for the iPhone App Store launch on July 11th.
But while Altman describes Loopt’s iPhone version as the company’s best ever, he’s not overlooking the fact that many smartphone consumers still prefer the BlackBerry (and may even go for the BlackBerry Bold over the new iPhone). So Loopt is releasing software for BlackBerry devices as well, available here.
As with the iPhone, the BlackBerry software is free of charge. But unlike the iPhone, it will work on a variety of networks: Sprint, Alltel, T-Mobile, and AT&T.
See here for a full list of supported phones. Competitors include Whrrl, Brightkite, Zyb, and several others.
I wonder how this technology’s satellite viewing is different than current versions.
So I just tried to register on their site so I could download. In order to verify your phone number the site sends a confirmation code via SMS. Potential big problem for Loopt: my Blackberry is on corporate enterprise, which blocks SMS for compliance/security reasons. I called the number for Customer Support and they said there was no work around. I don’t know how many industries and companies have the same policy, but Loopt is pretty much closing the door on everyone who works in financial services until they figure out another way to let us use the app….
Also, they don’t actually have “Customer Support,” unless you count being handed off three times and end up with some chick named Chelsea who really doesn’t seem to give a crap… Good luck Loopt.
Can anyone perhaps tell me the usefulness of having to know where you’re friends are (location) by using this service?
The AT&T download link to the phone doesn’t work. Looks like it doesn’t work for any of the providers.
Hi PS –
We’re bummed to hear that your company blocks SMSs on your BlackBerry. As part of our privacy best practices, we have to send an SMS in order to verify that the person registering for Loopt is the owner of the handset. We really appreciate the feedback and are figuring out a work around for corporate enterprise users like yourself.
Apologize that we weren’t too helpful the first time around with the customer service call. Please contact us again at support@loopt.com with your phone number so we can try and make things right.
Team Loopt
Hi Jody -
Thanks for the feedback. Are you on a Pearl 8100 or 8300? We usually see download errors when users attempt to download Loopt using a legacy BlackBerry. We’re working on supporting those devices as well and hope to have that up soon.
Please email us at blackberry@loopt.com so we can notify you when those go live.
Team Loopt
App doesn’t seem to run on my 8310 running 4.5 os. Reports “Uncaught exceptions: java.lang.NullPointerException” when you try to run after installation.
Josh,
We haven’t yet tested our application on BlackBerry OS version 4.5 since it’s still in Beta. We appreciate the feedback!
Team Loopt
We’re sorry, Loopt is not yet available on Verizon.
BTW, that wasn’t meant to be negative… just a statement.
I don’t associated Verizon with cutting edge anything… I associate it with stability and ubiquity.
Scary app. Would never use it. Really, really intrusive. BigBrother 2.0.
I like Loopt, still waiting for my iPhone, but their idea sounds really ambitious which might actually work. I see it as something you use occasionally, not all the time, so its not completely invading your life and privacy.
But much like Facebook and Twitter it relies on scale and how many people you know use it.
They’re more likely to go for the Blackberry Thunder (assuming its real!) than the Bold if they are choosing between iphone and Blackberry
The success of the Thunder (if its real) will depend entirely whether they can pull off an equivalent user experience with touch
We put up with the crap virtual keyboard on the iphone, because of the amazing UI experience on the rest of it …. In the same way I put up with the terrible browser on the Blackberry 8800, because of its superb email/SMS handling and full keyboard (oh, and the fantastic 2 day battery life).
Good screenshots! Cool idea!
But..
I have had a horrible time trying to download it from day 1 on Boost. When I finally got it to work, I found out that I had to run it all the time and had no battery left to make phonecalls.
Like “Fisi” said, this is a novelty but why will I ever pay for it especially when only very few of my friends even can get it on their phones?
Sorry Loopt. Cool idea, Nice graphics, but Not ready for phonetime and you still need to come up with the right value for consumers like me.
JoAnn
Why isnt Facebook working on this? I dont want another social network!
Facebook should buy Loopt!
I love the idea of Loopt, and of most LBS services. They offer the user a great flexibility and a whole new idea regarding new services and products.
This article about LBS? Fake your location to save your life!
In general, here are some reasons on features we’ll love and hate from cellphones.
I love the idea of Loopt, and of most LBS services. They offer the user a great flexibility and a whole new idea regarding new services and products.
This article about LBS? Fake your location to save your life!
@Tom: Maybe Facebook’s 100+ engineers are finally being put to work and building a version of loopt’s software for themselves…why give all that MSFT money away to another company?
@Jason: Good point. This all just seems very strange to me. Apple, Google, Facebook… They are all seemingly handing the location gold mine to loopt.
Something about that guy at the wwdc keynote seemed off… Maybe it was his two shirts or his claim to be the worlds largest mobile social network.
I get the feeling we will be seeing more of “two shirt guy”. If he shows up at the facebook developer conference and Zuck hands him the keys to location, I’ll be shocked. Location is just an API call now!
I dont get it.
I tried to get Loopt on my Blackberry from Sprint – it didnt work. Then I tried to get it on my personal Verizon phone and I get a message saying it doesnt work on Verizon – but I read the press release that Loopt was available on Verizon a couple MONTHS ago!
So it doesnt work on Verizon and it doesnt work on Blackberry!! Can someone over there at Techcrunch do their homework on what is real and what it not? Your continued coverage of this company prompted me to waste 1.5 hours trying to get this thing to work which it clearly doesnt.
Neve mind Loopt – whats upo with Techcrunch – anybody home back there?
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App doesn’t seem to run on my 8310 running 4.5 os. Reports “Uncaught exceptions: java.lang.NullPointerException” when you try to run after installation.
If this will work for a Blackberry Pearl 8100, I will use it. But not yet I guess.
Yes, agreeing with most when they say that it sucks that it doesn’t work with BlackBerry on Verizon. I had it on my other LG phone with Verizon and loved it so much. Now I upgraded to a BlackBerry 8330 and now i can’t use it. Boo. Let me know when its added!!
Loopt is saying that there are technical limitations with verizons 8330 and that they are still working on it. It has been over a year now but they support ALL other cariers 8330s Whats really going on????
This is most likely due to the fact that Verizon blocks access to the built in GPS in their smartphone devices. This is so they can market their subscription based VZNavigator service, for an extra $10 per month (plus data)
Unfortunately VZNavigator is the only GPS app that will work on a Verizon smartphone (If you have a Blackberry, sometimes you can use Blackberry Maps, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t)
Loopt should allow you to use this if you are a Verizon customer. some of us have external/bluetooth GPS receivers!