Loop Mobile to split from AdultShop and raise $5m though IPO

Stuart Corner
Monday, 30 April 2007 06:24

Your IT - Mobility

Loop develops proprietary platforms for the creation and operation of mobile social networks, enabling the uploading and viewing of pictures and videos, personal profiles, live chat threads, private messaging, and other features.

However users do not need any proprietary software on their handset, only a browser. Hoffman told iTWire: "We think the flexibility of using a browser is going to be greater than having proprietary software with all the issues of backward compatibility and keeping that up to date."

Hoffman said: "We could add location based services to our suite...We have had some discussion with some carriers about doing that but users are pretty smart in letting each other know where they are using texting so it may be a very clever solution for something which users can do anyway."

Loop's focus is on 3G networks and the youth and young adult markets. Today the company's flagship mobile social network product, MOKO (formerly Kink Kommunity), is implemented across the 3 Mobile networks in Australia and the UK. The company claims to have "a solid pipeline of further opportunities with carriers in Europe, North America and Australasia."


Loop also provides white-label mobile social networking and community services for third-party brand and content owners. Loop operates the ChatZone services on Telstra's NextG network for Telstra's Australian Football League, National Rugby League and V8 Supercars content. Loop also provides a social network service based on the 2007 Big Brother program, in conjunction with 3 Mobile Australia, Channel TEN and Endemol Southern Star. The service went live on 22 April.


Loop says it has placed particular emphasis on the development of its capabilities for the review and moderation of all content on its social networks, thereby being able to meet increasingly demanding regulatory requirements.