THE CENTER FOR MEDIA RESEARCH — Aug 28 — Communications will be the third-fastest growing of the 15 economic sectors from 2007 through 2011. Driven by alternative Internet and mobile media platforms, communications spending rose 6.8% in 2006 to $885.20 billion and is expected to reach $1.222 trillion by 2011.
The full article was originally published at Center For Media Research, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: It's time for internet dating sites to offer highly targeted advertising.
OC REGISTER — Aug 27 — A recent study of 740 women with online dating ads showed that the women exercised great caution when communicating with strangers and meeting them for the first time. However, for the 568 women who did finally meet their dates, 30% of them reported having sex on the first date and 77% reported not using a condom during their first sexual encounter.
The full article was originally published at OC Register, but is no longer available.
INTERNETNEWS.COM — Aug 27 — On Monday, eHarmony officially and seamlessly switched the databases that house more than 17 million users from Microsoft’s SQL Server to Oracle’s 10g. FULL ARTICLE @ INTERNETNEWS.COM
OPW — Aug 29 — Here’s an email ad to internal online advertisers that was sent out today, fyi.
KABC-TV — Aug 27 — MeetMoi and Match are two of the services that now allow you to flirt and date via mobile phone. Based on the location you text in, MeetMoi matches you up with those nearby who meet your criteria. Match offers an on-the-go equivalent to speed dating – flirt via text for up to 10 minutes at a time. Both services stress privacy and security.
The full article was originally published at KABC-TV, but is no longer available.
THE JEWISH EXPONENT — Aug 16 — A number of new online Jewish ventures have expanded the dating and social networking worlds. DoubleChai, which is geared towards Jewish widows and widowers; ShulShopper, for searching synagogues; kindnessaday, where one can make the world a better place; and JewTube are but a few of the latest niche sites.
The full article was originally published at Jewish Exponent, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: Jewtube!? I thought I'd link out to the 'Hebrew Hotties' section but the site is either a hoax or dead in the water. Only the home page comes up.
OPW — Aug 28 — Yahoo! Personals has settled Robert Anthony vs Yahoo Inc. (reported on by AP, and Reuters in Nov. '06). This is the date baiting case, you might recall, which Yahoo! Personals has vigorously denied from day one. Rather than draw things out, Yahoo has settled. In short: "Yahoo! does not believe it has done anything wrong and continues to deny all claims and allegations of wrongdoing asserted in the case, but came to an agreement with the Plaintiff to ensure it could focus on key priorities for the company."
Here's Yahoo!'s Statement and Settlement: Yahoo! denies the claims in the suit but agreed to pursue a settlement to avoid long litigation that likely would have interrupted our focus: building a great dating service. Our efforts to ensure a safe and secure environment are rigorous and are constantly improving:
(a) Yahoo! will maintain the "Report a Complaint" link on the profile detail pages.
(b) Profiles that have been inactive for a period of 120 days will be rendered unsearchable.
(c) When a user cancels their subscription, a screen will be presented giving them the option to delete the profile, render it unsearchable or keep the profile active. If the user makes no selection, the profile will automatically be deactivated.
(d) Yahoo! will maintain mechanisms to detect duplicate photos, abusive language and the revealing of improper personal information.
(e) Additional Terms of Service will be updated to inform users that that they may see profiles or other content which they feel were created by third parties, contrary to obligations in the applicable terms of services, guidelines and code of conduct, for purposes other than dating, including spam and commercial profiles.
(f) Yahoo! will modify its Additional Terms of Service to include disclosures regarding searchable Yahoo!-created test profiles that may be used when necessary to ensure service quality. The modifications will disclose how searchable test profiles, if any, are designated so that they are readily identifiable to users.
Mark Brooks: All internet dating sites are susceptible to cheats. The upper echelon sites put many measures in place to filter out the negative elements. Yahoo is also awarding up to $35 back to paid subscribers (from 10/1/04-8/3/07) who submit a claims form. All such members are being emailed. Here's a copy of the settlement.
PRESS RELEASE — Aug 25 — Confluxity provides baby boomers with a new way to connect. By combining dating and social networking features, such as friend networks, tagging, blogging, forums, photo albums, and maps of members near you, the free website allows individuals aged 45+ to gain better and broader insights into users' personalities than they would through regular dating sites.
The full article was originally published at Fast Pitch, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: Linking the viral traffic generating characteristics of a social network with the membership income generating capability of an internet dating site is akin to finding the holy grail for internet dating service providers. I've yet to see anyone accomplish the combination. If connectors know their friends are going to get 'hit up' for a monthly membership, they're not inclined to connect. Your comments please? Has your site achieved this magical combination?
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL — Aug 26 — People Interactive, the consumer Internet subsidiary of Mumbai-based People Group, is considering a 2009 public listing to finance acquisitions in the online classifieds and communities spaces. People Interactive, which owns matrimonial portal Shaadi and online dating service Fropper, may list either on NASDAQ or on the domestic bourses. In preparation for the public debut, the group will begin offering online services on the mobile platform. FULL ARTICLE @ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Mark Brooks: Westbridge Capital Partners invested $8 million in Shaadi back in March – more info here. BharatMatrimony is the other leading matrimonials service in India, fyi. Murugavel Janakiraman aka Muru is the CEO/Founder.
