Here at TechCrunch we’re big believers in mobile social networks. In February I wrote about how the iPhone is the perfect ecosystem to have it’s own social network (awesome device and software, location aware, elitist users). And in April I showed a teaser of an upcoming social network from Loopt that did everything I had asked for: iPhone only to start, location aware so that you could meet new people around you.
Loopt has now launched all of those features, and they’ve built a special version of the service just for TechCrunch. Once you’ve added the application to your iPhone you can see where your friends are and what they are up to. And you can also meet TechCrunch Loopt members who are near you even if they aren’t your friend yet.
Sign up here, or do a search for LooptTC on iTunes (links to iTunes apps currently don’t work).
The meet feature is called Mix and is shown in the video below. Once you turn it on it will show you other users who are around you, and some basic information about them. You can message those users (and you can also block anyone who’s being annoying).
This will really come in handy at TechCrunch meetups and events. The network will show you which of your friends are nearby if you are having trouble finding them. And as you meet new people you can see a little bit about them on your phone (picture, name, where they work, etc.). If you connect, you can add them as a friend.
The application will show you other users who are nearby (up to 15 miles away). And we’ve added one special feature as well – all users will see my profile and location wherever I am in the world, even if its on the other side of the world. Right now, for example, I’m in Anacortes, WA hanging out at my parents home.
If you are already a Loopt member, you can still join the TechCrunch network in the Mix settings.
To date the big social networks have ignored location awareness on mobile devices, probably over privacy concerns, which I believe is their Achilles Heel. Look for that to change as this new crop of mobile social networks gets traction.
Disclosure: Just to be 100% clear, this should be considered a sponsorship and will be noted in future Loopt coverage.
Nice viral promo Mike…lol
Social networks in mobile….OMG
No support for Canada?
How about if you could connect people to the n’th degree? Let’s say Loopt could hook up with Linkedin and using their social web to find out who is close and how I am connected tot hat person. Wow, that would be cool!!!!
We already do that we 6 degrees of separation … iphone app coming soon
this is kind of huge.
* Must be a US resident. See terms and conditions for full details.
Not in UK iTunes store – why? What do you need to put this global? The maps already exist…
i’d pay for something that does the opposite. cloaks my presence making me undetectable to all monitoring.
just because i’m paranoid doesn’t mean you’re not all out to get me…
Imagine how many PR people will now be able to conveniently “bump into” Mike Arrington at the grocery store, bar, dentist office, etc. now that they have a way to find out where he is.
Sort of the Silicon Valley equivalent of a paparrazi stalking
A mashup a this feed data (geolocation of TechCrunch reporters) with Google Maps might make a great Y-Combinator startup. See in real-time where your favorite TechCrunch reporter is and what he has done today!
Answer burning questions like “Does Mark Hendrickson get paid enough to eat lunch at Chevy’s or is does his salary relegate him to El Gruellense?” (El G is the cheapest restaurant in Atherton, 69-cent Tacos!)
it’s also the tastiest
Didn’t work for me. I got an SMS message on my iPhone, clicked on it and went to a loopt page that had nothing clickable on it. Since I have a loopt account, shouldn’t it have come in via loopt?
Hi Josh,
Unfortunately links to the app store aren’t currently working. You need to go to the app store and search for “Loopt TC” to download. Or if you already have the latest Loopt update (v1.1) you can add TechCrunch to your profile from the Loopt Mix feature.
Sweet ap! Cant wait to try it out!
Just throwing this out there. Any chance that Loopt is paying you guys to acquire users for them?
If there’s a $2-3 CPA deal, it could be significant payout for TechCrunch.
It’s only fair you disclose this if this is the case.
@Paparazzi: That mashup you talk about: http://unype.com
Our iPhone version is coming out soon and we can also create a custom network for TC, if TC is an equal-opportunity promoter
Mick nice promo, never seen!!!
You have passed the line, you are not good here
Ah–thanks Shari. I did it through Mix. That worked Pretty cool…
It is kind of annoying that loopt isn’t yet available in the UK. I don’t see why?
will do
Why the separate version to download and not just the ability to join a TC group? I take it this eludes to a future enterprise business model ala Yammer.
very interesting to see you guys take social networking to the mobile platform.
will work great on the cheap laptop project that tech crunch is working on as well. Great IT project guys, keep up the good work.
Great idea… but I am wondering if these guys are heading to the dead pool. They spent time and resources to market to all 50 people on TechCrunch that will install this application?
While they are doing that I believe a company down the street named Facebook added features to and stabilized there iPhone app. Did anyone else notice that Facebook added a map with people and lines connecting those people on there homepage?
Too bad the iPhone battery life is so terrible that if you leave “location services” ON all the time the battery won’t even last the pathetic half-day that an iPhone with “minimal usage” currently does.
iPhone… Perhaps an even bigger letdown than Cuil.
Ohh… it’s only in America. So much for the “G” in GPS.
hmm, I would like to try this.
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unfortunately does not work with my non US phone number ;(
MyBlogLog launched something like this earlier this year at the first Graphing Social conference in SoCal. It was during that brief Yahoo renaissance when all of the company’s lawyers were busy fighting off the Microsofties at the gate and internal teams, for just a moment, knew what it was like to freely launch their ideas.
Sadly, the lawyers eventually turned back inward and MyBlogLog Mobile (or MeetSpace as it was originally called) was immediately killed. Life in the big city, eh?
iphone, gphone, xphone, loopt=deadpool.
SeeMyWhere is a new location sharing service that has some features in common with Loopt but also has some key differences you might find interesting.
With SeeMyWhere, you broadcast your location and have it displayed on a map. Unlike Loopt, your location is updated in real time, all the time, until you tell it to stop. Loopt requires manual updates.
You can also share your location with anyone – you’re not limited to sharing with SeeMyWhere users. When you sign-up, you’re assigned a unique URL that is accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
SeeMyWhere does not use text messages or emails to keep in contact with you. We’ve heard from a lot of Loopt users who don’t appreciate the daily text messages. The application is very light and runs in the background until you hit “off.”
I invite you to take a look – SeeMyWhere.com. If you just want to see how it works, type my name in the box: Juston. If you want to add this service to your phone, visit SeeMyWhere.com on your phone and click “Sign up.” Note that it only works on Blackberry phones right now. We’re adding support for many more phones in around a month.
Feel free to contact me about SeeMyWhere – juston@seemywhere.com
Juston
doesn’t work in australia……. there is more of the world than in the US!
I know Michael is not a huge fan of the great snowbank north of the border, but that’s not a reason to block us from your party… (I know it’s Joost’s choice but I put pressure where I can). There are polar bears here, heading south because no more ice. They walk in every directions, try to mate, and any mobile social netwoking help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Yes, no support for Canada.
We will have to retaliate by getting Pamela Anderson to win the next election.
Awesome.. oh wait, no, it’s limited to a tiny segment of society (those stupid enough to buy an iphone). The vast majority of users aren’t invited.
Duh! It doesn’t support international numbers! How I am supposed to create an account, then?
I am in Taiwan! How can I use it with my local Taiwan mobile SIM card?