Loopt for iPhone bests Google Latitude, gets background update access

Silicon Alley Insider reports that Loopt has become the first third-party application on the iPhone to support background updates when the application is not running. The company has struck a deal with AT&T to provide its location-based technology any time there is an available network connection. iPhone users will pay $3.99 per month to AT&T to transmit real-time location data to friends.

Silicon Alley Insider says that the deal gives Loopt a distinct advantage over competitors like Four Square and Google Latitude, applications that will not have access to the same background processes. With Latitude, users have to manually check in, while Loopt calculates new locations on its own.

The service is being offered for a 14-day trial basis to the first 5,000 users who sign-up to test it. Users interested in becoming involved with the trial can get involved here. [via EngadgetMobile]