Internet dating sites have proven to be one of the most popular aspects of the Web, and as with the gaming, adult-content and music businesses, many matchmaking companies are eager to transfer their wired successes to the wireless venue.
Webdate Inc. is launching its Webdate Mobile application on Western Wireless Corp. and U.S. Cellular Corp.’s CDMA2000 1x-based data networks, providing users with access to Webdate.com’s online dating profiles, chat and real-time messaging services through their wireless devices.
Webdate noted that it is adding more than 6,500 new members daily and recently ranked in the top 10 for social network sites, according to Nielsen-Netrating, with more than 1.25 million members.
“Webdate Mobile is a true extension of our Web-dating community with the same access to all of the features that are made available on their personal computer,” explained Abe Smilowitz, chief operating officer of Webdate. “Combine that with the security and privacy of mobile flirting, and you have the hottest dating opportunity on the planet.”
Western Wireless is providing access to the service through its Hello2Fun wireless data service for $1.50 per day or $3 per month, while U.S. Cellular customers can access the application through the carrier’s Easyedge data service for $3 per month.
In a similar venture, Telenor Interactive will provide nationwide mobile connectivity for interactive voice and text services provided by Voice Courier Mobile, owners of the service “Mobilehookup.”
“Text messaging is a fun, convenient way for people to connect and is a natural extension of the local and national dating/chat services we’ve provided since 1991. Innovation and a first-rate customer experience are a key focus for Mobilehookup, and so we’re thrilled that our patent-pending voice technology Talk Now provides users with a unique industry-leading service,” said Jim Brown, director of mobile for Voice Courier Mobile. “Telenor Interactive’s connections to leading mobile operators provide us with reach to over 75 percent of the U.S. mobile subscriber market from day one.”
SpotMeeting, a location-based service allowing singles to connect with each other, is also targeting the wireless dating game. “SpotMeeting is a service that enables singles to find dates on-the-spot wherever they are,” says SpotMeeting’s Chief Executive Officer Chester Yeum. “Simply put, SpotMeeting is the Location-Server for Singles.”
The company offers a platform-independent service accessible from any Internet-enabled device and boasts the service will address four key underachieving applications in the mobile industry: LBS, WAP/WAP-Push, text messaging and Wi-Fi hot-spot usage.
Early this year, Orion Information Services teamed with Air2Web to develop a dating service called SmartFlirts.com that works over the Internet as well as through text messaging. Mobile-phone users can register with the service using the text messaging short code FLIRTS. Match.com began offering a wireless application through AT&T Wireless Services Inc. last year, and text-messaging community company Upoc offers a variety of dating-style services.
