TechCrunch are congratulating themselves for hooking themselves up to the Loopt social network system, arguing that they correctly anticipated its success. The fact that Apple have recently done an ad promoting the Loopt service, though, has clearly helped!
Did Apple promote the Loopt system because of its clear advantage over Facebook? Frankly, we
doubt it! On the one hand Facebook is so easy and so widely used. On the other hand, the small print reveals that this is a $$ earner for AT&T (and for Loopt? and therefore Apple in a you-scratch-my-back deal?)
And Loopt are mysteriously vague about this $-coupe. According to TechCrunch, since the Apple promo, Loopt have been getting”
tens of thousands of daily downloads
According to Loopt:
Loopt currently requires the use of SMS text messages. Standard data and messaging charges from your carrier apply. In the first couple weeks after registering for Loopt, Loopt will send you a few messages to confirm your registration.
(you will find this info at the bottom of the page at “Loopt pricing information“)
Why is Loopt so vague? – “a few“? – and how much does each message cost? And why does it take more than one?
Lets just think for a moment….
even if the “few” text messages that Loopt sends are free, the service is not.
That ads up to a nice financial windfall for someone – just AT&T?, Loopt and AT&T?, all three (Apple, Loopt and AT&T) are dancing around the Mulberry bush? And what of Techcrunch and others who are “partnering” with Loopt? Is this a financial arrangement where they get revenue shares for all those they sign up?
Because, frankly, we prefer Facebook. Why promote another social network? Which is why we suspect that $$ are in play. (If you don’t already know how to get Facebook on your iPhone, check out the excellent video below – with the bonus that it shows Myspace and Twitter for iPhone as well)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjNy_LBlkP4[/youtube]
OK, the map locater that Loopt uses is neat. But not neat enough for the expense of using Loopt.
Our conclusion: “Free to download” but expensive to run – why bother?