Loopt
Encyclopedia
Loopt is a company based in Mountain View, California
, United States
. Loopt produces mobile Location-based service
s that allow users to discover the world around them, and find and enjoy the friends, places and events around them.
Phones supporting Loopt include iPhone
, BlackBerry
, Android and Windows Phone
. The Loopt services have more than five million registered users and partnerships with every major U.S. mobile phone carrier. Loopt applications offer a variety of privacy controls. In addition to the core features of Loopt, users also have the ability to integrate Loopt with other social networks, including Facebook
and Twitter
.
The company was founded in 2005 and received initial funding from Y Combinator
. Loopt has completed Series A and B financing led by Sequoia Capital
and New Enterprise Associates
. Loopt board members include TiVo
-founder Mike Ramsay and Greg McAdoo
of Sequoia Capital
.
, a venture firm specializing in early stage startups. That summer, Stanford sophomores Sam Altman and Nick Sivo worked to build the first prototype of Loopt. They were later joined by Alok Deshpande as well as two of Sam’s childhood friends, Rick & Tom Pernikoff.
Loopt received US$
5 million in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital
and New Enterprise Associates
and struck a deal to launch the service on Boost Mobile
devices in September 2006. Boost Mobile featured Loopt in a series of commercials that are most known for the “Where you at?” tag line
In August 2007, Loopt expanded the service to select Sprint
phones, and in June 2008, to Verizon
. Loopt announced support for most GPS-enabled Blackberries on June 13, 2008. Loopt received US$8.25 million in Series B funding in July 2007.
In February 2008, Loopt and CBS
did a deal to deliver location based advertising
. Seven months later, Loopt released an opt-in feature in Loopt's iPhone application called, Loopt Mix, which uses location-based services to enable iPhone users to find and meet new people nearby.
At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference
in June 2008, Sam Altman
presented the Loopt application for the iPhone
. Loopt for the iPhone became available to US customers of the Apple iTunes
App Store on July 11, 2008. The application is not yet available in other countries.
In the summer of 2008, Loopt sponsored Black20.com's The Middle Show with host Dave Price.
In October 2008, Loopt was sued by Earthcomber for patent infringement. The case was dropped by Earthcomber in March 2009.
In February 2009, Loopt expanded service again to select AT&T phones, making it the first service since SMS available across all major networks.
In March 2010, Loopt launched an upgraded version of its iPhone app, incorporating place and event information to its Pulse database, bringing in content from ZVents, Metromix
, and SonicLiving. These are added to existing content partnerships with Citysearch
, Zagat, and Bing.
In March 2010, Loopt launched a product called Loopt Pulse, exclusively designed for the iPad.
In April 2010, Loopt launched an upgraded version of its BlackBerry
app. The upgraded version includes the same places and events upgrade previously launched in March 2010 for iPhone
users.
In December 2010, Loopt launched Loopt version 4.0, which featured a completely updated design
services, similar to the likes of whrrl
, buzzd
, and brightkite
, show users where friends are located and what they are doing via maps on their mobile phones. It is available on select devices across Sprint/Nextel, AT&T, Boost Mobile, Verizon, and MetroPCS
, as well as the iPhone, Android and the BlackBerry.
Mobile application: the Loopt software provides real-time location updating (with the exception of the iPhone until OS4.0 ships - see below). Users can update location and status and share with friends. Loopt is currently supported on over 100 different phones across all major carriers.
In April 2010, Apple announced iOS4.0, which will allow background real-time location updating on Loopt iPhone app. Loopt has indicated they will support this as soon as Apple ships OS4.0
for the iPhone ships in summer 2010. Apple's OS 4.0 Announcements - Loopt's Perspective
Loopt works regularly with select organizations that focus on privacy & security including: The Family Online Safety Institute (board member); ConnectSafely.org; Ponemon Institute; Electronic Frontier Foundation; National Network to End Domestic Violence; Progress & Freedom Foundation's Center for Digital Media Freedom; Internet Education Foundation; and Cyber Safe California by the California Office of Privacy Protection (member, advisory committee). Loopt sits on the CTIA's WIC Leadership Council and was an active participant in the creation of the CTIA LBS Best Practices.
More details are on Loopt's privacy pages.
notice states that users can control who receives geo-location information via privacy settings.
When Loopt released its native iPhone application on July 10, 2008, the software quickly gained notoriety for sending Short Message Service
(SMS
) invites to users' address book
s without, it seemed, the user's knowledge. More upsetting, the SMS service failed to respond to the industry required STOP message. Merlin Mann
complained, "I'm getting SMSs from Loopt users asking me to be their friend or whatever. I never asked for this. SMSs cost money."
On July 14, 2008, Loopt posted to its blog that the mass invites could be attributed to a confusing user interface, and they are working on an improved invitation flow. The comments, however, point out they continue to ignore STOP messages (a command that automated text-message services use which is supposed to allow people to control whether they receive messages). Respect for STOP was announced July 15, 2008, and on July 17, 2008, Loopt released an updated version which addressed the issues with the confusing user interface.
Other Services
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Loopt produces mobile Location-based service
Location-based service
A Location-Based Service is an information or entertainment service, accessible with mobile devices through the mobile network and utilizing the ability to make use of the geographical position of the mobile device....
s that allow users to discover the world around them, and find and enjoy the friends, places and events around them.
Phones supporting Loopt include iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
, Android and Windows Phone
Windows Phone
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
. The Loopt services have more than five million registered users and partnerships with every major U.S. mobile phone carrier. Loopt applications offer a variety of privacy controls. In addition to the core features of Loopt, users also have the ability to integrate Loopt with other social networks, including Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.
The company was founded in 2005 and received initial funding from Y Combinator
Y Combinator
Y Combinator is an American seed-stage startup funding firm, started in March 2005. Y Combinator provides seed money, advice, and connections at two 3-month programs per year...
. Loopt has completed Series A and B financing led by Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital is a Californian venture capital firm located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. The Wall Street Journal has called Sequoia Capital "one of the highest-caliber venture firms", and noted that it is "one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture-capital firms"...
and New Enterprise Associates
New Enterprise Associates
New Enterprise Associates is a global investment firm focused on venture capital and growth equity investments. With approximately $11 billion in committed capital, NEA is among the largest venture firms. The firm invests in three broad industry sectors: information technology, healthcare, and...
. Loopt board members include TiVo
TiVo
TiVo is a digital video recorder developed and marketed by TiVo, Inc. and introduced in 1999. TiVo provides an on-screen guide of scheduled broadcast programming television programs, whose features include "Season Pass" schedules which record every new episode of a series, and "WishList"...
-founder Mike Ramsay and Greg McAdoo
Greg McAdoo
Greg McAdoo is a venture capitalist at Sequoia Capital in Silicon Valley. Greg specializes in internet services, mobile, energy and technology investments. Greg currently serves on the board of Achates Power, Airbnb, Bump Technologies, Clustrix, Imageshack, Loopt, Powerfile and RockYou...
of Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital is a Californian venture capital firm located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. The Wall Street Journal has called Sequoia Capital "one of the highest-caliber venture firms", and noted that it is "one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture-capital firms"...
.
History
Loopt began with seed funding from Y CombinatorY Combinator
Y Combinator is an American seed-stage startup funding firm, started in March 2005. Y Combinator provides seed money, advice, and connections at two 3-month programs per year...
, a venture firm specializing in early stage startups. That summer, Stanford sophomores Sam Altman and Nick Sivo worked to build the first prototype of Loopt. They were later joined by Alok Deshpande as well as two of Sam’s childhood friends, Rick & Tom Pernikoff.
Loopt received US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
5 million in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital is a Californian venture capital firm located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. The Wall Street Journal has called Sequoia Capital "one of the highest-caliber venture firms", and noted that it is "one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture-capital firms"...
and New Enterprise Associates
New Enterprise Associates
New Enterprise Associates is a global investment firm focused on venture capital and growth equity investments. With approximately $11 billion in committed capital, NEA is among the largest venture firms. The firm invests in three broad industry sectors: information technology, healthcare, and...
and struck a deal to launch the service on Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile is a brand of wireless prepay service run by Sprint Nextel, operating within the Sprint Prepaid Group along with Virgin Mobile USA, Assurance Wireless, and payLo by Virgin Mobile. Boost Mobile uses GSMand iDEN networks...
devices in September 2006. Boost Mobile featured Loopt in a series of commercials that are most known for the “Where you at?” tag line
In August 2007, Loopt expanded the service to select Sprint
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
phones, and in June 2008, to Verizon
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
. Loopt announced support for most GPS-enabled Blackberries on June 13, 2008. Loopt received US$8.25 million in Series B funding in July 2007.
In February 2008, Loopt and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
did a deal to deliver location based advertising
Location based advertising
Location-based advertising is a new form of advertising that integrates mobile advertising with different mobile technologies. LBA uses different types of tracking which is beyond the scope of this article. The technology is used to pinpoint consumers location and provide location-specific...
. Seven months later, Loopt released an opt-in feature in Loopt's iPhone application called, Loopt Mix, which uses location-based services to enable iPhone users to find and meet new people nearby.
At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference
Worldwide Developers Conference
The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, commonly abbreviated WWDC, is a conference held annually in California by Apple Inc. The conference is primarily used by Apple to showcase its new software and technologies for developers, as well as offering hands-on labs and feedback sessions...
in June 2008, Sam Altman
Sam Altman
Sam Altman is a co-founder and CEO of Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application. Loopt was founded during Altman's sophomore year at Stanford University where he studied computer science with a focus on security and machine learning...
presented the Loopt application for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
. Loopt for the iPhone became available to US customers of the Apple iTunes
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
App Store on July 11, 2008. The application is not yet available in other countries.
In the summer of 2008, Loopt sponsored Black20.com's The Middle Show with host Dave Price.
In October 2008, Loopt was sued by Earthcomber for patent infringement. The case was dropped by Earthcomber in March 2009.
In February 2009, Loopt expanded service again to select AT&T phones, making it the first service since SMS available across all major networks.
In March 2010, Loopt launched an upgraded version of its iPhone app, incorporating place and event information to its Pulse database, bringing in content from ZVents, Metromix
Metromix
Metromix is a network of local entertainment websites backed by a joint venture between media companies Gannett and Tribune Co. A guide to local restaurants, bars and clubs, events, concerts and movies, Metromix is currently available in over 60 markets. In late 2009, the company launched 27 new...
, and SonicLiving. These are added to existing content partnerships with Citysearch
Citysearch
Citysearch is an online city guide that provides information about businesses in the categories of dining, entertainment, retail, travel, and professional services in cities throughout the United States. Visitors to each of Citysearch's local city guides will find contact information, maps, driving...
, Zagat, and Bing.
In March 2010, Loopt launched a product called Loopt Pulse, exclusively designed for the iPad.
In April 2010, Loopt launched an upgraded version of its BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
app. The upgraded version includes the same places and events upgrade previously launched in March 2010 for iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
users.
In December 2010, Loopt launched Loopt version 4.0, which featured a completely updated design
Products and services
Loopt's geosocial networkingGeosocial networking
Geosocial Networking is a type of social networking in which geographic services and capabilities such as geocoding and geotagging are used to enable additional social dynamics. User-submitted location data or geolocation techniques can allow social networks to connect and coordinate users with...
services, similar to the likes of whrrl
Whrrl
Whrrl is a social location-based game developed by the Seattle-based company Pelago, Inc.Whrrl has a recommendation engine that uses algorithms and users' votes to surface relevant recommendations...
, buzzd
Buzzd
Buzzd is a location-sensitive city guide and social network for the mobile phone. Users are able get real-time information on bars, restaurants, clubs, retailers and events in their area...
, and brightkite
Brightkite
Brightkite is a location-based social networking website that is available on any mobile device. Users "check in" at places by using text messaging or one of the mobile applications and they can see who is nearby and who has been there before. The service was created in 2007 by Brady Becker, Martin...
, show users where friends are located and what they are doing via maps on their mobile phones. It is available on select devices across Sprint/Nextel, AT&T, Boost Mobile, Verizon, and MetroPCS
MetroPCS
MetroPCS Communications, Inc. , formerly known as General Wireless, Inc., is an American mobile phone service provider. It operates the fifth largest mobile telecommunications network in the US, with 8.9 million subscribers as of May 2011...
, as well as the iPhone, Android and the BlackBerry.
Mobile application: the Loopt software provides real-time location updating (with the exception of the iPhone until OS4.0 ships - see below). Users can update location and status and share with friends. Loopt is currently supported on over 100 different phones across all major carriers.
In April 2010, Apple announced iOS4.0, which will allow background real-time location updating on Loopt iPhone app. Loopt has indicated they will support this as soon as Apple ships OS4.0
IPhone OS version history
Apple provides updates to the operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch system through iTunes, similar to the way that other iPods are updated, and touts this as an advantage compared to other mobile phones and devices...
for the iPhone ships in summer 2010. Apple's OS 4.0 Announcements - Loopt's Perspective
- Loopt for the iPhone and Android: This is Loopt's core application—the most updated and versatile. With Loopt, you can find friends, discover places and get rewards/deals.
- Website: Loopt provides a web portal which is synchronized with the mobile version of the service.
- Facebook application: The application was developed in 2008 for users to share location with friends in the FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
network.
- Twitter and Facebook integration: Status updates with a location link can be sent via Loopt to a user's Twitter status or Facebook status.
- Loopt Star is a mobile game that rewards people for frequently checking in to particular places. In late 2010, all Loopt Star functionalities were rolled into the core Loopt app on the iPhone and Android (accordingly, Loopt Star was removed from the iPhone App Store and Android Marketplace).
Privacy
Loopt is permission-based and users share location information only with their selected friends, networks, and services. Loopt users can turn location-sharing on or off at any time on a friend-by-friend basis or for all friends at once.Loopt works regularly with select organizations that focus on privacy & security including: The Family Online Safety Institute (board member); ConnectSafely.org; Ponemon Institute; Electronic Frontier Foundation; National Network to End Domestic Violence; Progress & Freedom Foundation's Center for Digital Media Freedom; Internet Education Foundation; and Cyber Safe California by the California Office of Privacy Protection (member, advisory committee). Loopt sits on the CTIA's WIC Leadership Council and was an active participant in the creation of the CTIA LBS Best Practices.
More details are on Loopt's privacy pages.
SMS invitation issues
Users of Loopt must register their cell phone number, full name, and date of birth. Loopt's privacyPrivacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
notice states that users can control who receives geo-location information via privacy settings.
When Loopt released its native iPhone application on July 10, 2008, the software quickly gained notoriety for sending Short Message Service
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
(SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
) invites to users' address book
Address book
An address book or a name and address book is a book or a database used for storing entries called contacts. Each contact entry usually consists of a few standard fields...
s without, it seemed, the user's knowledge. More upsetting, the SMS service failed to respond to the industry required STOP message. Merlin Mann
Merlin Mann
Merlin Dean Mann III writes the blog . He received a B.A. from New College of Florida, and he currently resides in San Francisco, California with his wife, Madeline Mann, and their daughter, .-Writing:...
complained, "I'm getting SMSs from Loopt users asking me to be their friend or whatever. I never asked for this. SMSs cost money."
On July 14, 2008, Loopt posted to its blog that the mass invites could be attributed to a confusing user interface, and they are working on an improved invitation flow. The comments, however, point out they continue to ignore STOP messages (a command that automated text-message services use which is supposed to allow people to control whether they receive messages). Respect for STOP was announced July 15, 2008, and on July 17, 2008, Loopt released an updated version which addressed the issues with the confusing user interface.
See also
- Location awarenessLocation awarenessLocation awareness refers to devices that can passively or actively determine their location. Navigational instruments provide location coordinates for vessels and vehicles. Surveying equipment identifies location with respect to a well-known locationa wireless communications device...
Other Services
- BrightkiteBrightkiteBrightkite is a location-based social networking website that is available on any mobile device. Users "check in" at places by using text messaging or one of the mobile applications and they can see who is nearby and who has been there before. The service was created in 2007 by Brady Becker, Martin...
- Facebook Places
- Fire EagleFire EagleFire Eagle is a Yahoo! owned service that acts as a store for a user's location. It was created at Yahoo Brickhouse by a team which included among others Tom Coates, Simon Willison, and Seth Fitzsimmons....
- FoursquareFoursquare (service)Foursquare, stylized as foursquare, is a location-based social networking website for mobile devices, such as smartphones. Users "check-in" at venues using a mobile website, text messaging or a device-specific application by selecting from a list of venues the application locates nearby...
- GbangaGbangaGbanga is a mixed reality, social gaming platform for mobile phones developed by Zurich-based startup, Millform AG. The platform runs on real-time locative media, developed in-house, which means that the gaming environment changes relative to the players real-world location...
- GeomiumGeomiumGeomium is a location-based social networking website, and iPhone application. Unlike many other location-based services which focus on a single type of information, such as places or events, Geomium combines places, events, deals and people all into a single application. It aggregates its...
- Google LatitudeGoogle LatitudeGoogle Latitude is a location-aware mobile app developed by Google as a successor to their earlier SMS-based service Dodgeball. Latitude allows a mobile phone user to allow certain people to view their current location. Via their own Google Account, the user's cell phone location is mapped on...
- GowallaGowallaGowalla is a location-based social network. Users 'check in' at Spots in their local vicinity, either through a dedicated mobile application or through the mobile website. As a reward users will sometimes receive virtual "items" from check-ins. Items have developed to become a promotional tool for...
- HotlistHotlistHotlist is a geo-social networking aggregator that enables users to coordinate plans with friends and discover what will be happening at millions of popular venues all over the world...
- KoprolKoprolKoprol, since 25 May 2010 called Yahoo! Koprol, is an Indonesian social networking service, allowing users to connect based on location. Mobile users can use the site as a positioning service, without the need for a GPS receiver...
- ScvngrScvngrSCVNGR is a social location-based gaming platform for mobile phones. The application has both a consumer and enterprise component. Companies, educational institutions, and organizations can build challenges, the core unit of their game, at places on SCVNGR from the web. The service also supports SMS...
- SocialightSocialightSocialight is a location-based social media platform that lets people and editorial publishers connect rich media content to real-world physical locations. Its users can create, browse and share virtual "Sticky Notes" tied to any location worldwide...