Month: February 2005

Jambo Software Seeks Out Casual Connections

Posted on February 20, 2005

ZDNET — Feb 16 — Jambo Networks users start by registering and building a profile via the company's Web site. Tell Jambo anything you might want other folks to know, such as your alma mater, occupation or musical tastes, then Jambo assigns you an ID number and provides software that works with a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless networking connection.  Jambo contracts with organizations such as universities, trade show organizers and Wi-Fi hot-spot providers to sponsor its service in a given area. The software alerts users when someone with similar interests is within wireless range and starts an instant messager. "We'd love to partner with someone like Match.com," Jim Young said. 

The full article was originally published at ZDNet India, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: WiFi users will love this idea!  Proximity based matching will be huge fun, and huge business one day. 

Celebrities GuessWhatiHeard.com Launch Party

Posted on February 20, 2005

PRNEWSWIRE — Feb 16 — Celebrities flocked the Viper Room for Star Magazine’s Pre-Grammy party. GuessWhatiHeard.com was a main attraction for celebrities as they fashioned the sites latest slogans and attire. GuessWhatiHeard.com allows people to talk about their ex-friends, flames, business associates, and classmates. In turn, this information can then be used by others when considering whether or not to date, befriend, or do business with these very people. Founder Kelly Felix created the site after hearing websites such as Friendster and MySpace were boring.

Mark Brooks: Friendster is getting it’s act together.  MySpace is anything but boring.

Affiliate Marketing is a Leading Source of Spam

Posted on February 20, 2005

NEWSTARGET — Feb 16 — Much junk email likely comes from questionable spammers who are marketing legitimate websites.  Match.com uses carefully chosen affiliates to reach niche audiences according to Kristen Kelly; prohibits affiliates from using e-mail and gives itself wide leeway in deciding when to cut ties with an affiliate.  The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 makes a company liable for junk e-mail sent on its behalf if it should have known of the spam or it took no reasonable action to police its affiliates.  CAN-SPAM gives the federal government, states and ISPs wide powers to sue companies who hire spammers. 

The full article was originally published at Newstarget, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Many online personals companies ban affiliates from using emailing altogether.  Still, many rogue affiliates (spammers) still exist.

Wanted: 1 Million Men Looking for Long Term Relationships

Posted on February 20, 2005

BUSINESS WIRE — Feb 15 — Following the Valentine's Dr Phil in which he announced 1 million free memberships to viewers at home, over 90% of the signups were women.  To balance the number of women PerfectMatch.com is giving away two month memberships to men at http://www.tryperfectmatch.com.

Mark Brooks: I'll be reviewing PerfectMatch, along with True and eHarmony in the next One2One magazine.

Matchmaking Sites Crash on Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 19, 2005

HAARETZ DAILY — Feb 15 — As of Monday night, neither JDate nor any of the other sites operated by Spark were operating.  All the group’s Web sites explain that they are being updated and should be back online within a matter of hours.  Spark Networks commented that the problem is technical, originating in its servers in the U.S. Another thing crashed on the news: Spark Networks’ share price, which dived from 9 euros to 4 euros. But the company’s reassurances helped, lifting its stock back toward 6.5-7 euros.

Romance Changes With Electronic Conveniences

Posted on February 19, 2005

THE CAPITAL — Feb 15 — Cingular offers "Escape-A-Date," providing a way out when dates go bad. Automated voice prompts on a getaway: "If you want to be rescued, repeat after me. Say ‘Oh no, that sucks.’ Pause. ‘You want me to pick you up right now?’  Match.com registers 20,000 users a day. In the Washington-Baltimore area there are 230,000 active profiles; 57% men.  In a WeddingChannel.com survey last year, 12% of respondents said they had met online.  FULL ARTICLE @ THE CAPITAL

Aiming For Love Online; Sites Reviewed by Couples

Posted on February 19, 2005

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS — Feb 14 — Now there's even more help. Online dating sites are boasting they have uncovered the digital alchemy for amour, offering 'scientific' tests to help the lovelorn find their true soul mate. How good are they? We let four married couples try the tests at eHarmony, Yahoo Personals, Tickle and True. Each partner took the online personality tests designed to probe their psyches (fibbing a little to indicate they were single) and checked out whether the system matched them with their real mates. The results suggest that 'science' isn't always the last word when it comes to true romance. 

The full article was originally published at Mercury News, but is no longer available.

Aiming For Love Online; Sites Reviewed by Couples

Posted on February 19, 2005

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS — Feb 14 — Now there's even more help. Online dating sites are boasting they have uncovered the digital alchemy for amour, offering 'scientific' tests to help the lovelorn find their true soul mate. How good are they? We let four married couples try the tests at eHarmony, Yahoo Personals, Tickle and True. Each partner took the online personality tests designed to probe their psyches (fibbing a little to indicate they were single) and checked out whether the system matched them with their real mates. The results suggest that 'science' isn't always the last word when it comes to true romance. 

The full article was originally published at Mercury News, but is no longer available.

Happily Ever After… Internet Love

Posted on February 19, 2005

FRESNO BEE — Feb 13 — Match.com estimates it has helped 200,000 people find true love since it was launched in 1995. The widely advertised eHarmony.com, which debuted in 2000, claims to be the fastest growing online dating site, with 10,000 to 15,000 new users joining per day. The service also takes matchmaking credit for 10,000 marriages.  "I think the reason eHarmony works is that you don’t get to choose your matches. They are chosen for you."  Lapp says traditional dating is valuable for younger people because it allows them to develop social skills while learning about themselves and others. On the other hand, online dating makes better sense for older people because they already know what they are seeking in a relationship."  "The big advantage with online dating is that you can talk about God and sex and raising children and get that stuff out of the way early." "With traditional dating, you may not get into those discussions until your relationship is months down the road. And then you may end up having to figure out how to get out of the relationship." 

Picky Suitors Narrow Search to Niche Sites

Posted on February 19, 2005

SAN FRANCISO CHRONICLE — Feb 14 — Would-be entrepreneurs are opening niche sites because it would be virtually impossible at this point for them to compete head-on with established sites like Match.com or Lavalife.  A dating site for everyone.  http://www.datingforsmokers.com, http://www.veggiedate.com, http://www.singleparentmeet.com, cfpersonals.com (Childfree Personals), http://www.datemypet.com, http://www.paganconnection.com, http://www.disability-dating.com, http://www.datealittle.com  FULL ARTICLE @ SFGATE