Verizon Wireless customers can now access Loopt’s interoperable location-based service.

Loopt enables friends who opt-in to be located by other friends and see what they are up to. Via detailed, interactive maps on mobile phones, friends can connect while on the go, navigating their social lives by orienting them to people, places and events. Users also can choose to permit sharing of location updates, geo-tagged photos and comments with friends in their mobile address book or on online social networks, communities and blogs.

“Loopt helps Verizon Wireless customers stay connected to friends and share their location in a fun and interactive way,” said Ryan Hughes, vice president of digital media programming for Verizon, in a statement. “Loopt enhances our customers’ real world experiences by helping friends stay informed of their friends’ lives.”

Loopt is 100% permission-based and users share location information only with their known friends via private networks.  In addition, Loopt users can turn location-sharing on or off at any time on a friend-by-friend basis or for all friends at once.

Loopt is available beginning today on select Verizon Wireless phones for $3.99 a month. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset to access the virtual store.