Google’s Latitude will probably win, just by using the “Google” brand power
Google’s new location-sharing service called Longitude (screenshot off site at right) does not sound like it will be the best service, just the wagon most everyone will jump on.
Brightkite and Loopt have both been on the market for a while and offer good service, but Google’s Latitude brings — well — Google. After using both Loopt and Brightkite here are my thoughts on location-sharing apps, and now, Latitude’s arrival:
- Loopt focuses on a younger crowd by its marketing as a friend-finder and service called “the mix.” In the mix, that users must choose to join, any one near you can see whatever details you want — and it allows searching by sex, location — basically coming across as a semi-dating service.
- Brightkite is the more mature location service. The application seems to target an older set, perhaps ages 24-50. My best evidence: I found a few of my similarly-aged friends on Loopt, but I found all my Twitter (2.0, nerdy crowd for the most part) on Brightkite. Brightkite’s service is also more grown up than Loopt — taking away “the mix” feature and adding a clean interface, solid integration across all cell phones (Loopt is on select phones), and a focus on posting notes and photos about location (rather than just posting “here I am.”
- Latitude will likely be the most-widely adopted of location services. The service was announced yesterday and is currently available for people online, with the ability to set location only for users of Chrome or Google’s Gears. They seem to have a good start on privacy settings, but really this must be up-front and clear when users set up their accounts online or on mobile phones. Based on the iGoogle gadget of Latitude (all that’s available now), I’d say it focuses just on location — rather than conversation and context about a person’s location. Maybe I’ll be surprised when Latitude is out for the iPhone and I try it out — in that case I’ll write a follow-up (probably either way I’ll follow up). But, at this point, I feel Brightkite is the best service to use — but I have a sneaking suspition that either: Google will win most users because of its name brand, or, most people will never jump on board with these services due to privacy concerns or not seeing an immediate way that this type of application is helpful or entertaining.
Related posts around the inter-webs:
Google’s official word on Latitude
Garmin to offer more phones focused on location
FastCompany article, like most other Latitude stories, heralds Latitude as the next big thing
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