WIRED — Mar 7 — MoSoSos (mobile social-software services) are the mobile equivalents of Friendster and LinkedIn. They help users find old friends, or potential new ones, on the go. Dodgeball: Currently rolled out in 22 U.S. cities, and with about 15,000 users, is the standard-bearer. It works, explained founder Dennis Crowley, by having users check in with text messages announcing where they are. Anyone on a user's friends list who is within 10 blocks gets a message that his or her pal is nearby. The "crush" feature allows users view profiles. If the object of a crush is nearby, he or she gets a message to that effect. Playtxt: 6,000 members key in the postal code where they want to be found when they're on the go. Founder is Andrew Scott. Jambo: Utilizes Wi-Fi hotspots to connect its members. Highlights similar interests. Plazes: Based in Germany. Anyone with a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop can define a "plaze;" usually a hot spot.
Month: March 2005
Turning the Tables on Male Order
SF CHRONICLE — Mar 6 — When I got the press release on my desk, I balked. "Why Russian Women Make the Best Brides" was the eye-catching announcement of a "Russian/American dating forum" to be held in the Bay Area. Parody; http://www.mailorderhusbands.net. Daryl from Illinois: "My name is Daryl. I will be turning 18 in September. My parents are kicking me out after December and I'd like to meet a woman with a lot of money so we can have fun. I like women between 18-45, but would consider older if we do not have to touch a lot." FULL ARTICLE @ SFGATE
Mark Brooks: ^ And now for something completely different ^
On-line Dating: It Depends on Where You Fish
MIDDLETOWN PRESS — Mar 6 — Match claims to have 15 million members, 1.1 million of which pay. ~40 million US people a month are believed to have visited dating Web sites in 2004 (Jupiter). Says Elissa Gouge, of The Relationship Company, a match making business, "what I hear the most is that we just save people so much time. If they don’t want to spend hours and hours on the computer, then we’re a good alternative," Gouge said. "If a woman tells me she’s 140 pounds, she’s 140 pounds — she’s not 300," Gouge said.
Mark Brooks: Certified photos; less surprises, happier online daters.
Regulation of Online Dating Services Sparks Controversy
ECOMMERCE TIMES — Mar 8 — Match states it considered but rejected the idea of conducting criminal background checks because national criminal databases are incomplete and criminals can avoid detection by signing up with a fake identity. Last week, a bill was introduced in the California legislature that created additional controversy. This bill calls for a fine of US$250 for each day that an online relationship service provider fails to disclose to all online visitors living in California that it does not conduct criminal background checks. It could apply to "compatibility" or "social referral" services, such as Classmates. The jury is still out, but it's clear, most likely, a number of these initiatives will come into law. FULL ARTICLE @ ECOMMERCE TIMES
Bill to Regulate Online Dating
DESERT DISPATCH — Mar 7 — "We are using True’s bill as a template," said Odisho, aide to assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills. She said that Pavley intends to expand its provisions to non-Internet dating services as well. Earlier this year, a North Hollywood man pleaded no contest to felony identity theft charges and authorities said he had obtained upwards of 150,000 Choicepoint (Rapsheets.com) records through a fake business. Choicepoint had not been forthcoming about the identity theft peril that was created when it’s database was compromised.
Online Dating Sites Quarrel Over Background Checks
TECHWEB — Mar 3 — True has taken on the rest of the online dating industry in pushing state legislators to require matchmaking sites to conduct criminal background checks on members or post a warning that no such screening has been done. "We believe this legislation would save lives and prevent rapes, robberies and assaults," Herb Vest, True CEO. "I believe this raises the bar on the industry and it would bring many more single people, currently not using online-dating services, into our industry, once it's perceived as safe." Kristin Kelly, Match PR Director said, "It's special-interest legislation whereby you are taking a market differentiator of a particular company, and, through legislation, enforcing it on the rest of us." Nevertheless, True insists it will push on with its campaign, expecting some states to sign some type of regulation by the summer. The rest of the industry plans to keep on fighting, with Match.com leading the charge.
Mark Brooks: True has lit a PR firestorm by shooting for the soft underbelly of the industry and then playing David and Goliath with Match.com. Great PR ploy, but what will be the long term effects of inviting political attention? Your comments please…
Friendster Befriends Blogs–and Fees
CNET — Mar 3 — Friendster earned some notoriety for firing a blogger…and is now bringing bloggers into the fold–and hoping to collect fees in the process. Friendster launched a beta of Friendster Blogs. The underlying technology is provided by Six Apart (TypePad). The default option is $4.95 per month.
The full article was originally published at CNet, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: Finally, some meat on the bone. This should help Friendster recover some lost ground from MySpace. OnlinePersonalsWatch is built on TypePad btw.
LinkedIn Introduces Fees
CNET — Feb 28 — Business social networking site LinkedIn (2 million members) will soon begin charging employers $95 per job listing, nudging social networking into the uncertain terrain of paid services. LinkedIn has 300,000 job listings and expects to top 1 million by summer. Users will be able to see which of their contacts knows someone who's hiring. The Palo Alto company scored $10 million Series B funding round (Greylock) in October, and $4.7 million (Sequoia) in November 2003.
The full article was originally published at CNet, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: OPW covers 'online personals' which includes internet dating, social networking and business social networking.
Craigslist to Beam Ads One Light Year Into Space
SILICONVALLEY.com — Mar 1 — Craigslist plans to collect millions of ads and beam them into deep space May 15, accompanied by a videotaped greeting from craigslist founder Craig Newmark. "We believe there could be an infinite market opportunity.'' Users consent by checking a box next to their listings: “OK to transmit this posting into outer space.'' CEO Jim Buckmaster won an eBay auction over the weekend — at $1,225 — for the chance to send a message into outer space. Rumor has it that Hollywood has already commissioned a TV show about the event — called “List in Space.''
Mark Brooks: Jim/Craig, what side of the light do your mushrooms grow on? A brilliantly bizarre word-of-mouth/PR ploy in keeping with characterful Craigslist.
New eHarmony ‘Everlasting Love’ Ad
BUSINESS WIRE — Mar 1 — In keeping with the campaign theme of "Everlasting Love," eHarmony's new TV and radio spots (from Donat/Wald) feature the popular Natalie Cole hit, "This Will Be." From December 2003 to December 2004, the total number of registrants grew 125%. December 2004 subscriptions grew by 69%.