Category: Reporters – Sarah Perez
Cosmic: a Unique, Free Dating App Using Personality Quizzes
TECH CRUNCH – Cosmic, a new dating app from startup Friendly Apps, introduces a unique approach to dating profiles: instead of user-written bios, it offers a personality quiz. The answers, kept private, are then processed using machine learning to create a profile. Founded by Michael Sayman, an experienced app developer with stints at Facebook, Google, and Twitter, Cosmic aims to combat superficial dating app experiences and better capture a user's personality. Unlike other platforms, Cosmic doesn’t charge users for essential features like undoing swipes or seeing likes. The app, available in select countries, stands out by not having ads, boosts, or subscriptions. How it plans to monetize remains uncertain.
Background Check Provider Garbo Ends Its Partnership With Match Group
by Sarah Perez
See full article at Tech Crunch
Also read the Wall Street Journal article
Mark Brooks: Background checks are a very tough nut to crack and require extremely nuanced knowledge on how to combine numerous databases to properly serve our dating context. This challenge remains undone, but there are a couple of promising providers.
Google Pushes Match for More Money in Antitrust Battle
TECH CRUNCH – Google has filed a new motion to the court in its antitrust battle with Epic Games and Match Group, where it claims that Match Group owes additional fees beyond the $40M that had been previously set aside in escrow. Those funds are Google's cut of Match's in-app payments on Google Play that Match argues are "illegal under federal and state law" – something the court case will decide. By Google's calculations, the new figure should total ~$84M instead, based on Match's public earnings. The escrow account was one of a handful of concessions from Google to get Match to drop a temporary restraining order it filed after first suing Google, accusing the tech giant of wielding unfair monopoly power in its Google Play Store. Google also committed to not rejecting or deleting Match-owned dating apps from the Play Store for providing alternative payment options. As part of this agreement, Match was to place up to $40M in the escrow account in lieu of paying fees directly to Google for the in-app payments that take place outside of Google Play's own payment system while the courts decide whether or not the commissions Google charges app developers on in-app purchases are legal.
Tinder to Launch a ‘High-end’ Membership This Fall
TECH CRUNCH – Tinder is planning to launch a new premium membership, called "Tinder Vault", and a product refresh designed for Gen Z users. The premium membership will cost $500 per month and offer additional benefits beyond the existing offerings, making it an exclusive experience. This move was inspired by the acquisition of the high-end dating app, The League. Additionally, Tinder's product refresh will feature prompts, quizzes, conversation starters, and AI algorithms to improve user experiences.
Match Says It’s ‘Very Possible’ Apple-Epic Ruling Could Result in App Store Fee Relief
TECH CRUNCH – Match Group believes that the recent Apple-Epic Games antitrust appeals ruling may result in fee relief for developers on the App Store. Match Group's President and CFO, Gary Swidler, pointed to various battles Apple has been facing, including the recent antitrust investigation in the U.K. and the E.U.'s Digital Markets Act, which will impact App Store fees. Swidler suggested that Apple would have to decide whether it wanted to rethink its policies on a global basis or continue to set specific rules for each region. Match expects to see some sort of decision related to these questions over the next 12 months.
Google Tests New Play Store Ad Slot
TECH CRUNCH – Google is testing a new advertising slot on the Play Store. The new ad slot, similar to one Apple introduced two years ago, appears when Android users access the Play Store's search menu. While the slot previously contained personalized app suggestions, it now includes labeled ads. The tests have been observed in several global markets, indicating a broader testing phase. Google's move could boost its revenue from Play Store ads, especially considering recent concessions on Play Store commissions due to regulatory pressures. Although Google has not disclosed the size of its Play Store Ads business, it's expected to be substantial, given the platform's estimated revenue of $48B in 2021.
Tinder’s Verification Process Will Now Use AI and Video Selfies
Tinder Introduces Relationship Types and Pronouns to Attract Gen Z Users
Epic and Match’s Antitrust Case Against Google Heads to Jury Trial
TECH CRUNCH – A date has been set for a trial by jury in a significant antitrust case against Google involving its alleged abuses of power in the Android app market. Fortnite maker Epic Games and Match Group have accused Google of unfairly leveraging its market dominance and harming competition through its Google Play Store terms and practices. The case will now proceed to a jury trial on Nov 6, 2023. Epic Games sued Apple and Google in 2020 when it introduced a direct payment option in Fortnite to its iOS and Android apps, prompting Apple and Google to boot the mobile game from their app stores. Match Group had also sued Google over its Play Store practices, accusing Google of charging developers "exorbitant fees." Google shot back, saying Match just wants to get out of paying for the services it provides the company as part of its platform.