USA TODAY — Nov 1 — Industrial tubing company, uTube, (17 employees, $12 million revenue) had to shut down its website because it was overwhelmed by 68 million hits on it's site in August. The lawsuit asks that YouTube stop using youtube.com or pay Universal Tube's cost for creating a new domain. It did not specify damages. "We were there first by 10 years," uTube CEO said. FULL ARTICLE @ USA TODAY
Month: November 2006
How to Perform a Background Check on a Potential Online Date
PEOPLE SEARCH NEWS — Nov 2 — When executed properly, a background check can tell whether someone is married, real age and if they have a criminal record. Try to probe your date for specific information such as his social security number or date of birth. If you do need to obtain some additional or basic information from your date to perform your background check, there is no need to panic. Casually asking questions like, "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" or "Where are you from again…were you born there too?" If your date is hesitant to give you this type of information, you probably should look elsewhere for Mr. Right.
The full article was originally published at People Search News, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: You've got to be kidding me. [Monty Python voice] "nobody expects the Spanish inquisition." Your comments please…
YouTube Mobile in 2007
REUTERS — Nov 2 —YouTube, the popular online video sharing site, said Wednesday it hopes to launch a service for wireless devices within a year. Chad Hurley, YouTube CEO, said video services on mobile phones was a key opportunity for the company. "Within the next year we hope to have something on a mobile device, it's going to be a huge market, especially for the video mind-set we're dealing with, it's a natural transition," said Hurley. In May, YouTube To Go launched, enabling users to upload clips directly from their mobile phones. Over 100 million clips are viewed on YouTube every day. FULL ARTICLE @ USA TODAY
Mark Brooks: Mark my words, the future online dating leaders who figure out how to mesh webcam based services with mobile phones. Mobestar (new, tanked stock), Enpocket (enabled Match), Trilibis (enabled Webdate), Plutolife (enabled Lavalife). These are the companies you should talk to if you want to take your dating site mobile.
Online Dating Book – Salon.com Sex Columnist
OPW — Nov 2 — Salon.com sex columnist, Virginia Vitzthum, has written a book, available February. "I Love You, Let's Meet: Adventures in Online Dating." She asks, "My sense is that online dating goes up in the cold months, even more so before Valentines Day. Do you know if that's true and where I could get a hold of solid figures?" Your comments please. – Mark BrooksMatch.com to Use Anonymous Voice Chat
CDT — Oct 31 — Online dating services may be convenient, but they're not the most personable way to meet a potential mate. What's been lacking, Match CEO Jim Safka believes, is a way for would-be couples to hear each other talk. Free for basic subscribers beginning Thursday, matchTalk will let users go online and signal if they're interested in speaking to each other anonymously, and securely, over their telephones. The system uses new computer-based phone technology that allows each person to call in to a central conference call of sorts, Safka said. The matchTalk system assigns the couple a unique number that they can use to talk to each other without fear of giving away their real telephone number or other personal details. Safka said such features are important to the future growth of Internet dating services. "Voice is really critical in determining whether you have chemistry with someone."
Mark Brooks: We'll see more online dating sites add voice connection services soon. I'm working with Vumber.com on a service designed for internet dating sites to offer voice connections and anonymous calling. A super simple, and higher converting service. Past services have been too complicated. I'm adding MatchTalk to my (CEO's eyes only) 45 point review of 17 other competing services (Grand Central, Jangl, Jajah, Useplane) right now. The most amusing service I came across recently was Getmooh.com.
The Strength of Weak Ties v2.0
PHYSICS WEB — Oct 31 — If you and your best friend stop talking to each other after a massive row, you might think that would break up your entire social network. In fact, researchers studying the communication patterns of 4.6 million mobile-phone users suggest that your social circle is more likely to break up if you lose contact with more casual acquaintances. FULL ARTICLE @ PHYSICS WEB
Online Daters Turn to Matchmakers
REUTERS — Nov 1 — Online daters, disappointed by potential partners lying about their age, weight or marital status, are paying thousands of dollars to matchmakers to discreetly "headhunt" and vet the perfect partner. "So many people have had nightmare experiences with people misrepresenting themselves," said Christie Nightingale, principal of New York-based Premier Match LLC. Her agency employs a team of women to scour social and business events for potential matches. Nightingale hand outs a list of "do's and don'ts" to her clients before they head off for dates — such as turn off your cell phone and don't talk about former partners. Some top-end US matchmakers — who charge up to $25,000 — also organise makeovers and relationship coaching for clients. The US-based Matchmaking Institute also trains matchmakers. FULL ARTICLE @ CHINA DAILY
Mark Brooks: Real world matchmaking services are severely flawed due to a lack of selection. Online dating services are severely flawed due to a lack of service. Who will get the marriage of the two right, first? The race is on. LoveAccess is working on it. Match is working on it. Great Expactations would love to do a deal. GE is making good money from converting leads generated from dating sites. Building a matchmakers infrastructure throughout the USA is no easy feat. But, the phone is your friend 😉 It's possible to roll out a quality, well priced phone-borne matchmaking service nationwide. I would love to see a hybrid service offer a ~$2500 a year service with a money back guarantee. Crazy, but possible, and very viral.
eBuddy Receives $6.3 Million Funding
PAID CONTENT — Oct 31 — eBuddy (35 million users), an Amsterdam-based online IM startup, has received about $6.3 million in a first round of capital from Lowland Capital Partners. It allows users of all major IM services to log in online and chat without installing the software. It is competing against the like of Meebo, Imeem, and Centova. eBuddy profitable due to ads on its site.
The full article was originally published at Paid Content, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: These are internet based services like Trillian.cc that allow you to login to all you IM's (AOL, Yahoo, MSN) through one interface…but online, with no software. Nice. I use Meebo. These services would welcome online dating partners.