Funny how the biggest startup (by far) of all YC-funded actually IS NOT a CRUD-powered website but a classic algorithmic software that solves your problem.
I hope the carriers eventually allow full IP access without extra extra charges, but I don't think they're ever going to give up the text messaging revenue stream. It's a tough problem, because they don't want to have to compete with VoIP providers on their own cellular networks.
And eventually we'll have the new network on the old TV frequencies that's open.
Loopt is an awesome service, and also not "just" a website. I have no doubt they'll be successful (assuming they execute), but the potential isn't nowhere close to Xobni's. Every Internet user is also an email user, and email is a mess. Big and hairy problem to solve, but I like how they pick which little pieces to bite off first.
Another YC startup I like a lot is Webmin: problems they solve are very real and I like their OSS approach. I use both webmin and xobni myself.
However, the point I was trying to make was that most valuable businesses that YC funded ARE NOT just websites, they actually do some heavy lifting, because too many guys here are too fixated of becoming next Reddit.
Loopt should keep a serious eye on the south korean market then, because it's currently the most advanced country with mobile phone technology. They all walk around watching real TV on their phone (not internet TV or else pseudo-TV). You can see a little of our own future just watching them.
I'm surprised they didn't mention Xobni for Yahoo! Mail: "And Web e-mail services like Gmail and Hotmail are growing much more rapidly than the desktop-based Outlook, where Xobni is planting its flag, for now"
Congrats, guys. I had to uninstall you last night, though, because it did slow my Outlook to a crawl. I may not be the best test case, though, since I have gigs of archived messages.
Matt, classy getting this to the NYT. Definitely a step up from Techcrunch.