Month: November 2007

Facial Recognition System For Dating Sites

Posted on November 13, 2007

381791_eyealikePRESS RELEASE — Nov 12 — ActiveSymbols has just released a facial-recognition search engine that gives online daters the ability to search for mates who look like celebrities, but the company ultimately hopes its technology will be used for larger issues, such as helping law enforcement track down child molesters. The founder of the company is the former VP of Marketing at Kiss.com. The product called Eyealike Face Search allows the user to upload a photo, analyzes the facial features, compares them to hundreds of thousands of photos on the web and then presents the closest matches. The public beta site currently accesses 300,000 images on dating sites. FULL ARTICLE @ EARTHTIMES

Mark Brooks: Upload your photo and the system will show you what celeb’s you look like. Upload your dream girl/guy’s photo, or a celeb’s photo, or a combination of photos, and the Active Symbols system will find similar looking singles from Match.com and AmericanSingles.com for you. No doubt Match and Spark Networks are keeping an eye on this site to see if it has legs, and grows on its own. If it proves popular and pressworthy, expect to see it on Match soon. One of the most viral services Match ever introduced (and later removed) was the Weattract physical matching system.

Matchmakers In China To Be Government Regulated

Posted on November 13, 2007

Map_of_chinaCHINA DAILY — Nov 10 — Signing service contracts and providing fixed business venues will become mandatory for matchmakers, a Chinese official said on Friday. The move will be a major part of the country’s first national guideline to regulate matchmaking services. China has more than 20,000 traditional matchmaking agencies and clubs and over 6,000 dating sites. Dating websites are used by 130 million people, more than 10% of the country’s population. FULL ARTICLE @ CHINA DAILY

Mark Brooks: In China there’s a preponderance of real world matchmakers. Internet dating sites are still something of a novelty. Baihe, Marry5 and SinoFriends are examples. China is instituting laws to keep its brick and mortar matchmakers in check. In the USA the Matchmaking Institute is forming a group to help set standards for matchmakers. 

Veridate Offers Background Checks For Dating Sites

Posted on November 13, 2007

Veridate_logoPRESS RELEASE — Nov 9 — Veridate has launched a new identity verification service that is marketed directly to the end-user and can be used across a variety of dating sites. Veridate verifies a member's personal info and criminal history and then provides them with a Veridate ID icon to be placed on their profile telling viewers they have been subjected to a background check and do not have a criminal record.

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

Mark Brooks: There was a flood of background check providers touting their services a couple of years ago.  Seems like most of them have left for greener pastures (HR checks).  At the 2006 internet dating conference Honesty Online teased us with their men in white coats offering blood tests and home visits. Now they're offering inexpensive background checks. Mate1 is offering them to their users.    

U.K. Online Dating Rankings Update

Posted on November 13, 2007

HitwiseOPW — Nov 12 — The Hitwise U.K. Rankings are updated. Here are the changes: BeNaughty.com moves up from #10 to #6 and pushes GirlsDateForFree and Loopy Love to #7 and #8. Passion.com entered the chart and is at #9. FriendsReunited Dating is #10 and pushes Telegraph Dating is off the top 10. PlentyofFish remains at #1, with Gaydar at #2.

OnlinePersonalsWatch Toolbar Update

Posted on November 13, 2007

Opw_toolbar_4OPW — Nov 12 — You can now install our updated Online Personals Watch toolbar to get the latest news delivered directly to your browser and easily access the interviews, and the official site rankings. The toolbar offers:

  • A drop down box listing clickable titles of the most recent posts from Online Personals Watch and Frequent Flirters and Social Networking Watch
  • An email notifier alerting you to new emails
  • Weather forecast
  • Google search box
  • Internet radio

2 Years, 25 Guys, My True Online Dating Story

Posted on November 9, 2007

BookPRESS RELEASE — Nov 8 — A woman, who chronicled her dating experiences over two years, has released an ebook.  "This is like Sex and the City, but it’s real. These are the stories your friends won’t tell you – the real-life ups, downs, love, lies and everything in between", said the author Nicki Milano. The book is available for $15 at http://www.waycoolebooks.com. FULL ARTICLE @ WEB WIRE

Studies Show Online Dating Becoming More Accepted

Posted on November 9, 2007

Online_datingTHE POST — Nov 8 — More than 120,000 marriages a year result from online dating, according to a report by Online Dating Magazine. The magazine estimates that 20 million people use at least one online dating site each month.  According to a 2006 Pew Internet report, 31% of Americans know someone who has used online dating.

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

BharatMatrimony Now Available on Nokia Phones

Posted on November 9, 2007

BharatlogoTOP NEWS — Nov 6 — BharatMatrimony is now available on Nokia phones through Nokia’s Catalogs, a mobile "shopping mall" that provides content, applications and services and is customized for each local country.  Eventually the mobile product will include features such as support videos, images and voice introduction, and a click-to-call facility — all in multiple Indian languages.  FULL ARTICLE @ TOP NEWS

BharatMatrimony Adds Voice Recording

Posted on November 7, 2007

BharatlogoPRESS RELEASE — Nov 7 — BharatMatrimony.com launched an enhanced voice service that allows members to describe themselves in their own voice and post it as part of their profile. Users can listen to the expectations of prospective partners over the phone or on the computer. The service is free.

The full article was originally published at Free Press Releases, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Members call in to a number and leave a message which is attached to their profile. I know some sites have tried this in the past and been disappointed with the results. Time to try it again. The internet and voice will conjoin soon. Keep it super simple and you'll get usership. Its also time to consider anonymous calling. The majors are signing up now 😉 Jangl, Zing.dm, Ccube and Jajah are services to consider. Email me at mark@courtlandbrooks.com for a copy of my 20 point analysis of them.

CrazyBlindDate Launches

Posted on November 7, 2007

Crazyblinddate_logoTECH CRUNCH — Nov 6 — For people who want a date immediately, CrazyBlindDate launches today in Boston, NYC and San Francisco after testing in Austin. Users sign up, answer some quick questions and indicate times and neighborhoods they are available for a quick date, even if it’s short notice. The site matches people up and sends them a text message telling them where to be. Thirty minutes before the date daters can contact each other through the secure system. All dates are in public places and can be double dates as well. The company also owns free dating site, OKCupid. FULL ARTICLE @ TECH CRUNCH

Mark Brooks: I hope they pull it off. I love this idea. What do you think? Your comments please…