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Loopt strikes deal with AT&T for background monitoring on iPhone

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 4th 2009 @ 4:42PM

Well, it's not quite the sort of background application that most folks have been hoping for on the iPhone, but Loopt has nonetheless scored something of a first for its location-based iPhone app. As Silicon Alley Insider reports, the company has struck a deal directly with AT&T that'll let it monitor your location whenever you have a network connection, regardless of whether you have the Loopt app open or not. That, as you might have surmised, is done entirely on a server-to-server basis, and it'll initially be made available as a part of free 14-trial program limited to 5,000 users, after which it'll run them and everyone else $3.99 a month (added to your AT&T bill). Feeling lucky (or quick)? You can put your name and number into the hat by hitting up the appropriate read link below.

Read - Loopt Always-On Location Trial Sign-up
Read - Silicon Alley Insider, "Loopt Location To Update In The Background On iPhone"

[Via MacRumors]

Sprint set to launch 'Friend Finder' location service

by Brian White posted Jul 18th 2007 @ 10:58AM

Sprint seems to be a huge fan of rolling out handset-based tracking and location services. It's latest, dubbed "Friend Finder," uses Loopt's technology to allow Sprint subscribers to get that social networking on while wireless. Like other LBS applications, the GPS chip inside that handset is used to update a customer's location every 15 minutes. Of course, all your friends must have Sprint phones as well as being Loopt customers, and friends have to grant access for you to track them. This is similar to Helio's Buddy Beacon service which launched in 2006. Cost? Sprint will make ya pony up $2.99 a month, and the service will initially work on 25 handset models from the carrier.

[via mocoNews]

Stalking simplified: Loopt's Mobile Friend Finder for Boost

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 16th 2006 @ 5:35PM

It seems there will likely come a day when everyone knows the latitude and longitude of everyone else in real time, we were just secretly hoping that we wouldn't see that day in our lifetime. Alas, Loopt's gone ahead and found a customer -- Boost Mobile -- for its friend-tracking system, which maps the location of buddies on a Google Local-like display. Happily, users must opt in before they can be tracked; once they do, the system will show current location, a settable status, and messages sent from other, uh, trackees. Of course, unless all your friends are on Boost, the system is of limited value, but we're pleased to know someone's out there keeping the Big Brother dream alive.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Update: Loopt would like us to let you know that their service is entirely opt-in, and that only approved users can track your whereabouts.