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

Phone Technology Aids UAE Dating

Posted on August 8, 2005

Ahmed_bluetooth_userBBC NEWS — Jul 29 — Many of the Dubai's black-shrouded UAE girls say they cannot check out the latest fashions in Zara or sip a smoothie in a cafe without being bombarded with the phone numbers of hopeful admirers.  UAE population has increased roughly eightfold since 1975.  Traditionally, a young man's first amorous approach to a woman is supposed to be a marriage proposal made by his parents to her parents. Bluetooth is a feature built into some mobile phones which enables the user to transfer data to another wireless device nearby. But crucially, it also enables one person to contact another within a 10 metre radius without knowing their phone number.  Ahmed Bin Desmal's friends joke that he is a "Bluetooth king". The 20-year-old says he has used the technology to send notes to girls he sees in public places.  "In our country it's very rude to go up and talk to them," he says. "I sent some notes, they liked them – they took my number and they called me. I say nice things – I'm into poems." Saud, 22, met the girl he describes as his girlfriend two years ago on the internet, through instant messaging software. Although they talk on the phone, he has seen her only five or six times, by following her from a distance as she shops with her family in a mall. He says she's beautiful.  FULL ARTICLE @ BBC NEWS

Mark Brooks: A very different world.  Over here we have AdultFriendFinder in stark contrast. 

Speed dating! Women One Up on Men

Posted on July 27, 2005

TIMES NEWS NETWORK — JULY 26 — The time, place and reason are all just right. Leather couches, candle-lit ambience and a rainy weather on a Sunday evening, just the perfect time for romance and that is what the 30-odd people present here at a speeddating soiree are looking for! Well, for the guys attending, it’s great. As one of the 13 participants puts it, “You get the chance to meet 15 beautiful women in one night.” As for the girls? It’s not for nothing that they say girls just wanna have fun! We spot a group of four young 20-something enthusiasts who are all here, ‘just to have some fun!’ And a stray comment among those around: “Women are much more adventurous than men!” You bet! Girl:Hi! Guy: Hi! I am Manoj Girl: Hi! Manoj, I am Kiran. What do you do? Guy: Actually, I have come down from Dubai for a friend’s wedding. So, I am here for fun. (And the conversation carries on) BTW, we think this one has worked out. FULL ARTICLE @ TIMES OF INDIA

Mark Brooks: Speed dating is alive and well and working it’s way around the globe.

Singles-Space.com Launches Campaign Against Russian Dating Fraud

Posted on July 26, 2005

SinglesspacePRWEB — July 22 — There are two common forms of fraud on Russian dating sites. A lone scammer asks for money to get a visa or recommends a travel agency to extract money.  Singles-Space.com has invented several methods of unearthing scammers and blocking their progress.

Singles-Space.com Launches Campaign Against Russian Dating Fraud

Posted on July 26, 2005

SinglesspacePRWEB — July 22 — There are two common forms of fraud on Russian dating sites. A lone scammer asks for money to get a visa or recommends a travel agency to extract money.  Singles-Space.com has invented several methods of unearthing scammers and blocking their progress.

Userplane Enhances Mooble and Click2Asia

Posted on July 20, 2005

Click2asiaBUSINESS WIRE –July 20 — Userplane, the leading provider of live community software, today announced its deployment of Userplane Webmessenger and Webchat on Click2Asia and Mooble.

Mark Brooks: Mike Jones is super easy to work with and his applications are A1.  Well done Mike. 

Australian Singles Heaven

Posted on June 10, 2005

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD — June 10 — Australia is singles heaven with 4.7 million singles according to the 2001 census. Marriage rates are at their lowest in 100 years and Aussies are marrying later, divorcing more and have less time on our hands.  Nearly 1.5 million Australians (14% of people online) visited dating sites in April, a rise of 102% in two years according to Nielsen Net Ratings. Jupiter Research estimates that U.S. singles will spend $US516 million on online dating this year. RSVP, the largest Australian website, with 580,000 members, boasts that in five years it has "facilitated" nearly 900 weddings and about 8000 dates a week. New members can put up their profile for free but must pay $6 for a "stamp" to initiate contact by email with another member.  Fast Impressions, is positioned as a great night out for busy professionals.  FULL ARTICLE @ SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Japanese Alleged Offenses Tied to Online Dating Fell 9.2% in 2004

Posted on February 20, 2005

KYODO NEWS — Feb 17 — Alleged Japanese offenses related to online dating fell 9.2% in 2004 from the previous year to 1,582, while the number of victims younger than 18 in these cases dropped 15.1% to 1,085, reported the National Police Agency.  The declines were partly attributed to the introduction of a new law in September 2003 that bans online dating websites for soliciting sex involving minors.  The report showed that 96% of the victims accessed dating sites via mobile phones.  Warnings were issued to 47 website operators; cited for violations such as failing to stipulate that the sites were intended for adults. Prefectural authorities did not order any website operator to change their content. 

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

Mark Brooks: 96% of the victims accessed the dating sites via mobile phones!?!

Japanese Alleged Offenses Tied to Online Dating Fell 9.2% in 2004

Posted on February 17, 2005

KYODO NEWS — Feb 17 — Alleged Japanese offenses related to online dating fell 9.2% in 2004 from the previous year to 1,582, while the number of victims younger than 18 in these cases dropped 15.1% to 1,085, reported the National Police Agency.  The declines were partly attributed to the introduction of a new law in September 2003 that bans online dating websites for soliciting sex involving minors.  The report showed that 96% of the victims accessed dating sites via mobile phones.  Warnings were issued to 47 website operators; cited for violations such as failing to stipulate that the sites were intended for adults. Prefectural authorities did not order any website operator to change their content. 

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

Mark Brooks: 96% of the victims accessed the dating sites via mobile phones!?!

China; Relaxing a Taboo with Intimate Sex Survey

Posted on August 25, 2004

BEIJING (Reuters) – China is conducting its first nationwide female sex survey…organized by the Chinese Institute of Sexology and Chinese Medical Association via Sina.com…A smaller survey a decade ago concluded that 50% of Chinese women did not experience orgasm during sex…Attitudes toward sex relaxed after China began Western-style market reforms in 1978, unleashing a boom in adolescent dating, adultery, prostitution and other kinds of promiscuity.