Category: Uncategorized

PR WEB — Mar 14 — tBlog has launched tMatch "Thought Matching" system brings users together basedupon the whole of their profile and blogs, matching similar personalities based upon likes, dislikes, hobbies and life outlooks. RELEASE @ PR WEB

PR WEB — Mar 13 — Lobbyists for the big Internet dating mega-sites succeeded in persuading the proponents of the new mail order bride law, "International Marriage Broker Regulation Act" called IMBRA, to carve out an exemption for them over other smaller online international dating services. IMBRA went into effect this month. IMBRA was quietly inserted onto the back of the widely-applauded Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to help prevent domestic violence. It quickly passed the Congress, and was promptly signed by the President.  It requires any U.S. mail order bride company, now called an "International Marriage Broker" or IMB for short, to first secure from any gentleman customer extensive background information such as criminal and domestic violence history. next, the law mandates that the IMB provide a copy of this to the foreign lady client in her native language.  Last, the IMB must obtain a signed, written consent from the lady as to that specific man before her "personal contact information" is released and the couple can communicate. Penalties on the IMB; up to $25,000 civil fine and up to 5 years in federal prison.  Federal court has issued a Temporary Restraining Order against enforcement of the IMBRA law for now on the IMB in that case. RELEASE @ PR WEB

Mark Brooks: Small personals sites are relying on the big sites to lobby for them.  Caution…  Eventually a law might pass which more adversely effects smaller dating sites.  Smaller sites should take more of an active role in lobbying against hindering/unfair legislation.  http://www.ideaoasis.org could be a nice entity to assist in that coordinated voice.  Your comments please…

PR WEB — Mar 13 — Zorpia.com, a social networking website with a focus on photo sharing, has reported results for the last 6 months. Revenue rose five-fold and the user base increased by 75%.   Advertisers are Google, Yahoo, AdBrite, Aptimus, Revenue Science, Revenue.net, and Zango.  1.8 million members worldwide.  Nearly 45% joined Zorpia over the last 6 months.  The majority of users are 15 to 25. 18 is the peak age.

ALL HEADLINE NEWS — March 10 — Google will pay $90 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the search engine charged inflated advertising rates because of rampant click fraud.  Damages are available to any website that can show fraudulent charges dating back to 2002, and can use the credit towards future ads on Google's network. 

The full article was originally published at All Headline News, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Top dating companies spend six figured every month on Adwords and Overture.  How to prove fraud?  Any comments?

T-NET — Mar 10 — AirG, a leader in powering mobile communities, has signed an agreement with Cingular, (54 million subscribers), to offer the CoolTalk (7 million members worldwide) mobile community.  CoolTalk users can connect and make new friends, instant message and view picture profiles.  FULL ARTICLE @ BC TECHNOLOGY

TECH WEB — Mar 9 — Using a Java-enabled phone, Cingular subscribers will be able to share with other Rabble members text and photos, which are posted on a user-created "channel" and content to popular online blogging services.  Rabble is also available through Verizon Wireless and MetroPCS.  In an October survey, fewer than 10% of U.S. mobile subscribers had used their phone’s browser to get news and information, send a photo message or purchase a ring tone, according to EMarketer. Cingular Wireless subscribers can find Rabble in the "Media Mall" that’s accessible on their mobile phones for $2.99 a month. 

INQ7 — Mar 10 — On Thursday, operatives arrested a suspect who allegedly shot dead four people in San Pablo City two months ago.  Rexson Hizon, 27, was positively identified by a survivor of the attack, based on pictures posted on the suspect's Friendster account.  Hizon's Friendster account showed him holding a revolver which fitted Belen's description of one of the guns used in the killing.

The full article was originally published at INQ7, but is no longer available.

PR WEB — Mar 10 — Have lawmakers fully read IMBRA?  Are they aware of its implication, prejudice and its lack of common sense to protect immigrant women from abuse?  Visit http://www.online-dating-rights.com.  US District Judge Clarence Cooper out of the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division issued the TRO on March 7, 2006, barring the government from enforcing the International Marriage Broker Act of 2005 against European Connections & Tours Inc. A Preliminary Injunction Hearing in this matter is now scheduled for March 20, 2006. (European Connections & Tours, Inc. vs. Gonzalez, et al., No. 1:06-cv-00426-CC, U.S.D.C., N.D. Ga.). Citizens Against Dating Discrimination (CADD) stance is that IMBRA fails to protect immigrant women from abuse and also violates American men’s privacy rights in the process. This law requires international dating webmasters to be policemen and collect background information on male members. The law requires this background information to be forwarded to any lady a male wants to meet at the introduction stage without regard to his privacy.  CADD maintains that it is not fair for giant sites like Match.com to be exempt from doing background checks. RELEASE @ PR WEB

Mark Brooks: IMBRA provides fuel for online personals background checks legislations fire. 

Mar 13 — I'm starting a list of social networking sites.  Notable social networks with good traffic.  Here's the starter list.  What am I missing?

U.S.A. – Bebo, Facebook, Flickr (pics), Friendster, Hi5, MOG, MSN Spaces, MySpace, MyYearBook, Orkut, Piczo, Sconex, Tagworld, Tribe, WAYN, Xuqa, Yahoo 360, Zorpia

Business Networks – CollectiveX (for groups), Guanxi (China), Ryze (USA), Tianji (China)

Beyond USA – Arto.dk (Denmark), ASmallWorld (Euro), Cyworld (South Korea), Epuls.pl (Poland), EveryonesConnected (UK), Faceparty (UK), Fropper (India), Grono (Poland), Hyves (Netherlands), IRC Galleria (Finland), Mixi (Japan), Nexopia (Canada), Passado (Euro), Playahead (Sweden), ProfileHeaven (UK), Rate.ee (Estonia), Studivz.net (Germany's Facebook), Yeeyoo (China), Yeskee (China), Yonja (Turkey)

Niche – Dogster (uh, dogs!?!), Golfspinner (Golfers), Joga (Soccer), Xianz (Christians), Zaadz (Change the World)

Anti-Social Networks – Isolatr, Snubster

Myspace Add-ons – Blingboo, Coshed, Gotomyproile, Modmyprofile, Myspacehive, Zobbler

New Sites – Dogears.net (US Universities), Palopia (students), Panjea (music, media player)

WEB PRO NEWS — Mar 7 — MyYearbook.com was created by a pair of high school kids during Spring Break 2005. Among the unique features are what you'd expect from a yearbook staff–voting for best butt and such-but users can also bully, flirt, or secretly admire someone; get a locker, share music and homework; and check to see if a classmate lives nearby with similar interests. myYearbook is currently outdrawing its competitors for the 12-17 year-old demographic.

The full article was originally published at Web Pro News, but is no longer available.