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.
posted Sep 16th 2006 5:35PM
This is the perfect answer for my wife who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. It would be excellent for finding her when she gets lost and/or for locating the car which she has forgotten where she parked.
other than kids forced by parents, who would use this? medium to big corporations? who tell me, who. not I.
For dorks, no this is nothing cool. But I think this thing is great! Now i can keep track of my drug dealer. No more shoes hanging on telephone wires in front of my drug dealers house...BOOST MOBILE KEEPS IT REAL ON THE STREET!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BOOST! - The West Side is the best side.
I think it is something that could be useful. You call a friend.. Hey, wanna grab a bite to eat? Oh, we just go to "insert restaurant here", wanna come? Yeah sure, how do I get there? Oh wait, I'll just map it. See ya soon!
No more asking directions. You're phone will do that for you.
Broken link, https// without :
I downloaded this as soon as it was available and it's changed my life! It's the coolest thing ever. I have 12 friends on it now and I WANT them to know where I am. Big Brother - wasn't that a book written, read, and quoted by old scared people?
This is old news for us on the other side of the atlantic. TeliaSonera (Sweden) launched a identical service (actually titled Friend Finder) in 2001 , and it was a miserable failure. Nobody used it, and the service was terminated after a few years.
I would have liked this when I was 12 - 15 years old and only with my close group of friends. That's like 5 whole customers for 3 years!
As a parent, on the other hand, they need to make a 4 button phone with this tracker on it. And then I'll sign up while my child is say 8 - 12 years old. Maybe up to 17 depending on how good/evil he is. :)
I see some crazy ex-girlfriend problems popping up for sure, but if you've ever gone to a party where it's too loud for your contact to hear their phone or other wise incapacitated then this would definitely prove useful. It would also be great when trying to avoid someone... or tricking someone and leaving your mobile at home when you go out. Good job Loopt