Mobile dating

Mobile dating services, also known as cell dating, cellular dating, or cell phone dating, allow individuals to chat, flirt, meet, and possibly become romantically involved by means of text messaging, mobile chatting, and the mobile web.

These services allow their users to provide information about themselves in a short profile which is either stored in their phones as a dating ID or as a username on the mobile dating site. They can then search for other IDs online or by calling a certain phone number dictated by the service. The criteria include age, gender and sexual preference. Usually these sites are free to use but standard text messaging fees may still apply as well as a small fee the dating service charges per message.

Mobile dating websites, in order to increase the opportunities for meeting, focus attention on users that share the same social network and proximity. Some companies even offer services such as homing devices to alert users when another user is within thirty feet of one another. Some systems involve bluetooth technology to connect users in locations such as bars and clubs. This is known as proximity dating. These systems are actually more popular in some countries in Europe and Asia than online dating. With the advent of GPS Phones and GSM localization, proximity dating is likely to rise sharply in popularity.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle in 2005, "Mobile dating is the next big leap in online socializing." More than 3.6 million cell phone users logged into mobile dating sites in March 2007, with most users falling in the under 35 age range.

Some experts believe that the rise in mobile dating is due to the growing popularity of online dating. Others believe it is all about choice, as Joe Brennan Jr., vice president of Webdate says, "It's about giving people a choice. They don't have to date on their computer. They can date on their handset, it's all about letting people decide what path is best for them."

Drawbacks

Some avoid these services for fear that the technology could be used to electronically harass users. Another issue is "asymmetry of interests", i.e. attractive member receives excessive attentions and leaves, which may result in deterioration of membership. The pictures are very small and cell phones are still a step behind computers in their ease to use. At the 2012 iDate Mobile Dating Conference, the first ever consumer focus group for mobile dating apps unanimously reiterated the same complaints from years prior.

Mobile Dating Market

Mobile dating began to take shape in 2003. ProxiDating was one of the first dating services using bluetooth. In 2004 Match, Webdate and Lavalife were the mobile dating early leaders. 2006 was the year of skepticism, and bad mdating user experience. It wasn't until the iPhone arrived in 2007 that mobile dating took off. 2010 was the year mobile dating becoming mainstream. In 2012 mobile dating is now overtaking online dating. Match.com and POF.com now see over 40% of their log-ins coming from mobile phones. The mobile dating market is expected to grow to $1.4B by 2013.

3G Dating is emerging as 3G networks and Video Mobiles become more widespread. The potential for one-to-one video calling offers additional safety and helps ensures members are real.

In the dating market, both online dating sites are adding mobile web versions and applications to phones. Some sites are offered as mobile only for Phones and Pads, with no access to web versions.

Mobile Dating Platforms

In 2012, author and online dating expert Julie Spira ranked the top mobile dating apps for users.

1. Mingle2.com
2. MeetMoi
3. Cupid Plc
4. Speed Date
5. Zoosk
6. SKOUT
7. eHarmony
8. Are You Interested?
9. Grindr
10. Flirtomatic

References

Articles

• Tech Crunch Article on Mobile Dating Market
• Dating moves from the PC to the mobile
• Mobile Dating meets 2D Barcoding
• Mobile Dating Report
• Mobile Video Dating can be great but you have to find the right signals
• Mobile Dating: Find Love With Your Smartphone