REUTERS — Match.com, already embedded in 32 countries with 15 million active members, is offering a virtual solution for the maritally challenged in the world’s second-largest economy. "Of our members, 80% said they’re looking for a serious relationship or marriage," said COO Joe Cohen. Cohen estimated Japan’s online matching business will exceed $200 million in total revenues in four years. Despite a tradition of "omiai," or partner introduction, many Japanese have gone off-line in their family and career paths, keeping the nation’s marriage rate flat and raising the average marrying age to nearly 30 for men and over 27 for women.
Category: Outlets – Reuters
China; Relaxing a Taboo with Intimate Sex Survey
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.
Friendster Hires Former AOL Exec to Lead Ad Sales
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Friendster, a privately held Web site that links friends for dating and activities, on Monday named Charles Barrett (AOL, Yahoo) as vice president of sales, overseeing all aspects of advertising sales. Friendster is eyeing advertising as a way to make money.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ — …Charlie will oversee all aspects of advertising sales. His first initiatives will include building a world-class national ad sales team and creating new revenue producing programs. In addition, he will also be responsible for ad operations.
Women Say Single Life Is Better?
BERLIN (Reuters) – More than 80% of single German women are perfectly happy without a man in tow and say living solo gives them more freedom to do what they want, according to a survey for Stern magazine. Coming amid mounting political alarm about Germany’s low birthrate and aging population, the survey of 1,003 women showed only 2% did not enjoy their solitary lifestyle and 36% opted to stay single because it was more fun. Almost half the women said they preferred single life because it was easier to keep their homes tidy and 36% said with no man on the scene they didn’t have to endure watching sports on television. MYWAY NEWS
Evite Revamps Web Site, Mulls Social Networking
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Evite, an online party invitation and event planning service, expects to roll out a new version of its Web site on Monday and is considering adding social networking features, the president of the InterActiveCorp (Nasdaq:IACI) unit said…Evite has a few million users and aims to break even this year. IAC, which also owns Expedia and Citysearch, has made a goal of improving local services on the Internet, although it has not had major success.
Google Sued Over Orkut Code
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Google said late on Wednesday that it has been sued by Affinity Engines, which alleges that Google’s Orkut social networking site is built with code stolen from its company. …Google, which is preparing a much-anticipated initial public offering, said Affinity’s claims are without merit. …Affinity further charged that Orkut Buyukkokten had promised he would not build a rival social-networking service at Google.
‘Mr Right’ Wants to Take His Time Tying the Knot
NEW YORK (Reuters) – There’s good news and bad news for aspiring brides: Many young men still want to marry, but most prefer to put it off until they are good and ready. "Most men are the marrying kind," said Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, a director of the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University in New Jersey. …49% of single men 25-34 would tie the knot tomorrow if the right woman came along. 53% said they are not interested in getting hitched any time soon. …Many young men are waiting until they have a good education and a firm financial footing. Meanwhile, they want to enjoy the single life.
Wanted: New Friend, Must Have Bluetooth
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Student Gracinia Lim has made new friends thanks to mobile phone software that alerts her to compatible people nearby. She is an early customer of a service in Singapore called BEDD that uses Bluetooth wireless communications to scan strangers’ phones for their personal profiles. The application joins a swelling number of Internet and mobile phone based services that offer to widen people’s social networks. …"People spend tons of money at dating and matchmaking agencies or on personal ads — for a small amount of money, this software could help change their lives," Carlton said. (57c / month)
The Funny Odds of Online Dating
NEW YORK (Reuters) Thu Jun 10 – Rick, a Web site developer from Columbus, Ohio, remembers his divorce nearly four years ago with an extra tinge of bitterness: His ex-wife remarried the same day, to a man she met via the Internet. Rick later tried his own luck at a Web dating forum. Review sites listed.
Monster Picks Up Tickle for $90 Million
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) May 24 – Monster Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:MNST – news), the parent of job-hunting site Monster.com, on Monday said it bought Tickle Inc., which offers online tests to help people land their ideal job or mate, in a deal valued at more than $90 million.