Loopt, a popular and increasingly well known social-mapping and communication solutions provider, is putting its specialized services to use in partnership with mobile marketing firm Mobile Spinach to serve up a new and highly localized mobile advertising experience that integrate offers, coupons and discounts from local businesses and small retailers.
For now, the efforts will be targeted in select markets beginning in San Francisco and expanding to New York and LA shortly thereafter. How will the joint partnership initially work?
According to Loopt: “For example, Blowfish Sushi, a Sushi restaurant in San Francisco, offers any signature roll for free, which typically costs $10-$15 per roll. Or Palio D’Asti, an Italian Restaurant in San Francisco’s Financial District, offers an exclusive 30% off dinner this week only. Loopt users can simply show their phone message at the restaurant to receive these discounts.”
Although Loopt’s newest localized mobile marketing endeavors will have limited reach at first, Loopt presently has approximately million registered users, with their services reaching all major US carriers and dozens of handsets and smartphones like the iPhone.
Apple, however, may ultimately provide more hindrances than opportunities for Loopt, which could meet resistance from the App Store’s new policy that applications incorporating location to deliver targeted mobile advertising will be rejected outright.
