Loopt, a social-mapping and communication service, announced a powerful third-party developer program designed to bring new location-aware services to Loopt enabled devices. The Loopt Developer Program arms developers with all the information they need to build a WAP, Web, SMS, or native mobile location-aware service, while managing all levels of privacy and security and making applications function cross-carrier and cross-device.

    Launching as a closed beta, the Loopt Developer Program will give developers access for the first time to Loopt's live location feed so that developers can create new services that leverage location-based capabilities. The Loopt Developer Program further extends the company's commitment to privacy and security innovation by offering developers the most intuitive and effective location privacy capabilities available today.

    Loopt plans to work with 15 to 20 projects from developer applicants in this beta and work closely with selected developers to bring these services to market. Another three to four additional projects will be selected for deeper integration into the Loopt service. Loopt's experience and leadership in managing the privacy and security aspects of live location is unmatched - and will further drive adoption of cutting-edge best practices across the industry.

    "We are thrilled to offer the first live location developer program that ushers in a new generation of context-sensitive mobile services," stated Sam Altman, CEO and co-Founder of Loopt. "If you have a great idea for a location-aware application and want to build it, the Loopt Developer Program will provide the software and infrastructure to create a proof-of-concept product. We'll provide a path for commercial release and monetization across carriers and devices for the best applications."

    Loopt will work closely with developer partners to ensure compliance to applicable industry model codes and best practices. Loopt is offering the only location information that updates even while a phone is closed yet still turned on, enabling real-time location services not possible with more traditional push or pull location requests. New Loopt applications could include anything from mobile location-aware ski and surf reports to location-based games and localized Web searches on a desktop computer powered by a Loopt enabled phone nearby.

    To participate in the closed beta of the Loopt Developer Program visit developer.loopt.com and submit a brief summary of how Loopt's live location feed would be used in the proposed application. Loopt is a mobile service that connects you to the people, places, and events around you. It's a closed network meant to be used with friends you see and speak to on a day-to-day basis. Many times a day, your friends are nearby and free to hang out without you knowing it. Loopt makes sure you never miss that opportunity for a spontaneous meet-up.

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