Loopt Maneuvers to Make GPS More Accessible

Please excuse the obvious irony in the above title, but it couldn't be left alone.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Loopt, it is a mobile social locating platform that is pushing many of the current boundaries in mobile social networking, not the least of which are privacy boundaries.  Loopt's biggest obstacle right now is getting GPS-equipped handsets into consumer hands and making GPS service somewhat affordable.

Though not much can be done on Loopt's end to force GPS-enabled handsets into consumer pockets, Loopt has just announced agreements with both Qualcomm and SiRF to make GPS significantly more affordable, according to Venture Beat.  Previously, GPS rates were based on the numbers of "dips" customers requested — each time a handest is positioned with satellites, that action is called a "dip."  The more dips performed, the more customers were charged.

The agreements with both companies will allow for users to access unlimited dips for a fixed rate.  That, of course, is entirely dependent on carriers adopting the new unlimited GPS fixed rate plans.  Venture Beat's MG Seigler feels like there's no question that carriers will adopt the unlimited dip plans; I'm very much inclined to agree.  

GPS, for many consumers, is an attractive yet foreign technology.  Though they might understand the potential implementations of GPS, pricing and the devices that carry GPS chips can be very different.  I think it's highway robbery to pay for in-dash GPS that many automobile manufacturers are selling these days with devices like the Dash offering competitive prices and attractive features.  Handsets will eventually offer the best mobility of GPS, but capitalism will, as always, make adoption a slow, confusing and expensive process.

Loopt's agreement with Qualcomm and SiRF should go a long way towards increasing cellular GPS adoption rates once carriers get on board.  Then again, it might be so good for cellular GPS that the public forgets about the rather sensitive issue of privacy that hasn't been resolved yet.  But hey, who am I to be a Debbie Downer?  Yay for fixed rate cellular GPS plans! 

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