Today, Loopt, one of the early players in connecting users to their friends based on location, is launching a new app that helps you meet new people, called Loopt Mix.
Loopt Mix (iTunes link) is a free app for the iPhone that lets you connect with people nearby that you don't already know, but might want to meet. With it, you create a profile (your e-mail address is never shown and you can choose to hide or show your age) and you can search for people nearby.
Your exact location is never shown and you can choose to hide your profile from public view at any time (so if you're on a date and you don't want to be bothered by potential new friends, or if you're trying to get stuff done -- you can turn off your public profile). See someone interesting nearby? You can send them a free message and see if they want any company or want to meet somewhere close-by.
You can post status updates showing what you're doing - so if you are playing basketball and looking for someone to join in, you can include that information so that would-be ballers can know to message you to join in on the fun. Meeting new people can be hard and the social web is supposed to make it easier. Unfortunately, that isn't always the case. Loopt Mix is aiming to fix that.