Category: All Worldwide (non UK/Euro/US)

Israeli Court Holds Dating Websites Liable

Posted on August 2, 2007

Cupid_israel_logo_2ILBS — Aug 1 — The Magistrates Court of Tel Aviv has found Internet portal and search engine Walla! and dating site Cupid liable for publishing personal data on a dating ad. The ad showed an anonymous figure looking for love using the yellow pages. The name, address, and phone number of a religious, married man, though, was associated with the figure. The court sided with the plaintiff, who argued that the implication damaged his reputation, and awarded him approximately $4,000.

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

Mark Brooks: Make sure you get the permission of users before featuring them in ads, on the home page, or in email blasts.

China Consumer Survey

Posted on July 30, 2007

China_surveyMARKET WIRE — July 25 — The Chinese economy is hot. Their stock market is up over 43% since March. There are over 380 million consumers in China between the ages of 18 and 34. These consumers prefer Chinese goods over American or Japanese goods. They are also more likely to research products via the internet and to surf, email, blog or IM according to a BIGresearch survey.

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

Mark Brooks: I just spent two months in China. Once people start using and trusting credit cards, and the online ad market matures, the Chinese internet dating market will dwarf the USA market.  However, for now the Chinese don't trust the internet, don't use credit cards (they use debit cards which don't allow monthly recurring charges), and ad buys aren't tracked on a CPM/CPC/CPA basis.

CHATdate VoIP Technology Gives New Spark To Online Dating

Posted on July 26, 2007

Chat_date_logoM NET — July 25 — Online dating service ChatDate is introducing video and voice into the mix using VoIP technology. The VoIP platform offers a 'video service so customers can chat through web cams. After nine weeks, CHATdate signed up 400 users. The service is currently free, may charge depending on advertising revenue. Video offers a one-on-one virtual date without leaving home.

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

Seeking Mr. Right Gets Tougher

Posted on July 19, 2007

ActorsCANADIAN PRESS — July 17 — May to December romances, such as the one between Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, could be the answer to the growing sex ratio imbalance in Canada. According to the latest census data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada, the national sex ratio is 95.9 men for every 100 women, down from 96.1 men to 100 Canadian women in 2001. The male-female ratio hasn’t been even in Canada for 35 years. Immigration could account for some of the imbalance. FULL ARTICLE @ THE STAR

Long-Term Relationships Aussie Site – Slinky

Posted on July 7, 2007

Slinky_logo325 PRESS RELEASE — July 5 — Slinky, an Australian singles website specializing in long-term relationships now has a short form. Instead of an in-depth process, Slinky has an express signup that takes about 3 minutes and is free. Users interested in a little more investment can expand this profile at a later time. FULL ARTICLE @ PR WEB

Chinese Embrace Online Dating

Posted on July 5, 2007

Chinese_couple THE MERCURY NEWS — July 5 — In a country where unmarried 25 year old women are considered over-the-hill, the Chinese are experiencing an American dating phenomenon. Companies like Baihe.com, Yeeyoo.com and Meetic.com.cn are part of one of China's hottest emerging markets, online dating. iResearch forecasts the market at $80 million and growing. The one problem is the lack of online payment options. Once this is fixed, says Andrew Conru of Friend Finder, all bets are off. FULL ARTICLE @ THE MERCURY NEWS

Mark Brooks: I'm in Shanghai right now – see www.seasonalparadise.com. Check out the rankings. iResearch has been kind enough to offer the monthly Chinese dating and social networking rankings to Online Personals Watch.

Dating Cards Fuse Physical & Virtual Connections

Posted on June 28, 2007

Admitandattraction_logo SPRINGWISE NEWSLETTER — June 27 — Bucking the online first meeting, now you can meet in person, and then go hunting the profile. Canadian Admit an Attraction prints Attraction Tickets members can hand out to invite someone they meet to check out their profile. If they approve, they can meet again later. Hitchoo, recently launched in Singapore, works on the same principle, sending members cards with a friendly "You made my day" on the front, and access details on the back.  It brings in more non-service users and saves face for those too shy to ask for the phone number.

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

4ppl Google Maps Mashup

Posted on June 28, 2007

4ppl_logo PRESS RELEASE — June 27 — Now 4ppl (Boonex) users can see the location of other members on a Google Map. They can even search for singles around them with an unmatched precision. A member can keep his/her location secret, by telling 4ppl about his/her city only. But, when they feel adventurous – they just go ahead and pinpoint their very specific location, up to a house they live in.

Mark Brooks: That's handy for stalkers.

Profession Based Matching on Shaadi

Posted on June 22, 2007

Shaadi_logoCLICK PRESS — June 19 — Shaadi.com launched a new feature, which allows members to search for a partner based on a preferred profession. Located in the Partner Search section of Shaadi.com, this tool can now be used by all to find professionals such as Doctors, Engineers, Chartered Accountants, Pilots, Actors or any other profession. FULL ARTICLE @ CLICK PRESS

The Cruel Business of Love in China

Posted on June 19, 2007

Chinese_love_2CHINA DAILY — June 19 — There's no shortage of companies looking to capitalize on the so-called "lovesick" Chinese youth, challenge to turn love into cash. There's 137 million internet users in China. 56 million are using the web to look for love or friendship, according to iResearch. The Chinese online "friends and dating" market reached 400 million yuan February 2007. Most multinationals are also looking to enter this fruitful market, either by acquisition or partnership, following the leads of Meetic buying YeeYoo.com and Match buying edodo. "The biggest opportunities will pass soon", said Mark Brooks, of Online Personals Watch. "Non-Chinese companies should move this year, or they will miss the Chinese boat."

READ THE FULL ARTICLE