As a blackberry user, I generally feel a little left out of of the location-based apps world. FourSquare only provides a mobile site for BlackBerry users (but has an Android app). BrightKite has an innovative BlackBerry app, but it’s not nearly as feature-rich as its sister iPhone app. Today, location-based social network Loopt is making a major upgrade to its BlackBerry app.
The new version of the app has one significant feature that even trumps the iPhone app: background location updating. So even when the app isn’t running, your location will be updated in real-time in the background. Loopt’s new app also pulls in local content about restaurants, bars and events from Zagat, Citysearch and the Loopt community, creating a local search engine within the app.And you can rate places you visit as well from the app.
The app is also integrated with Pulse, which is Loopt’s new feature that recommends hot places, hot events, and lets you know what your friends are up to. As we wrote about previously, Pulse is a direct reaction to competitors like Foursquare and Gowalla which are built around that very idea. The feature will also be part of the Loopt 2.0 iPhone app, which should be released shortly.
Loopt for the BlackBerry will also include local coupons from retailers nearby. As we’ve previously covered, location is compelling tool for business models involving things like coupons. Loopt is taking full advantage of this and has struck deals with partners to serve up virtual coupons when users of Loopt are nearby a restaurant. And you can share your updates and location with friends, see where your friends are on maps, view and comment on their updates. Loopt is available for free for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, BlackBerry Bold 9000, and the BlackBerry Tour smartphones on RIM’s App World.
The whole background location update for the BlackBerry is a huge plus since the iPhone does not allow third party apps to run in the background. Loopt recently launched new feature that allows you to get around this obstacle by pinging your phone to get your location with the help of the carrier. But that service costs extra money, which is a huge barrier. Stalqer, a new location based social network built around Facebook, also has found a way to run its app in the background.
No Loopt for Storm? It wasn’t in the App World as of 5 minutes ago.
Or the Curve 83×0 series BBs? Are they using something from the latest BB OS or have they just not tested the newest version on other BB platforms?
If you’re interested we have a free location app for both BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. It allows you to send real time location data via the browser to any service that needs/wants it. More info at 5o9inc dot com
I can’t agree with you more on lacking applications for Blackberry’s. I wonder how the app affects battery life …
wait a moment.
what about Google Maps for BB?
Google Latutude is included.
I think you can get into the Foursquare Blackberry Beta by just emailing them and asking.
I believe it is
team [at] foursquare [dot] com
I’m still waiting for Loopt for Palm Pre/WebOS…
+1
Loopt has now had multiple false starts and lots of PR to go along with each false start. At what point do the VC’s start to pull the plug?
I can’t get beyond the myopia of apps like this … it’s so “inside baseball” … do so many folk use something like this because they want to “discover the world around” them? Just walk outside, have a fracking adventure and leave your narcissism back home.
and they have very good name, success guaranteed.
Name Check powered by The Life Design Company
“Loopt”
This business will be run by yourself, with peaceful energy and good signs. Any kind of difficulties can be solved, and this company will definitely be successful.
This name is supportive.
Hey dickhead, stop spamming the comments!
I think 4quare and Yelp apps that have some of this functionality are useful, but apps like loopt just scare me. It’s just stalker-ware. If had children I wouldn’t allow them to get these types of apps. Just tooooo scary.
I don’t use BB
It is exciting to see Loopt also embracing the power of persistent location.
Xtify enables applications, like Loopt, with the code that enables that persistent location sharing. We do this on Android, Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Mobile.
Xtify offers marketers, businesses, and developers the tools and services to extract, store and take action based on a person’s current (or historical) locations – eliminating the need for investment in complex infrastructure.
Always knowing where someone is facilitates location-powered marketing and promotions, location-aware business services and CRM, and location-informed customer targeting.
Josh
jschiffman@xtify.com
Feature not a company.