Hello, and welcome to Online Personal Watch’s Weekly News Roundup. I’m Mark Brooks, and here are the latest headlines from around the industry.
This edition of the weekly news roundup is kindly sponsored by messmo media.
Plentyoffish.com is the top dating site in the USA, UK and Canada ranked by traffic, and is home to over 16 million singles. It has more traffic than Match.com and has a sole owner, Markus Frind who is quoted as saying that he works about 10 hours a week and usually has everything important accomplished in the first hour. Plentyoffish.com earns tens of millions of dollars a year and has an annual growth rate of 80% . Here's some more stats. Alexa Ranks Plentyoffish.com the 35th most trafficked site in Canada and 100th in the U.S. and the site serves up 2.4 billion page views a month. With so much success and so little to do, What's next for Frind you might ask? Frind was recently quoted in Vancouver magazine as saying "The science of dating is all BS" He aims to conquer the world of "scientific" dating.
Match.com has become the exclusive dating partner for eBay Australia. This hook-up provides Match with the means to gain access to eBay's 8 million Australian members.
Further in depth with Match.com; the online dating website managed to get an East coast class-action suit moved to the local area. Originally filed in New York, the litigation alleges that the "vast majority of Match.com members are canceled subscribers, or have never subscribed at all,". The company stated that the lawsuit "is without merit, and that they will defend it vigorously." With Match.com being the first and one of the largest global online communities for singles, they stand behind their product 100%.
Another hot topic in Internet dating news is unfair rates for processing. Did you know that escort services share the same merchant classification as dating sites. Check out merchant category code 7273. You'd think by now the dating industry deserves its own distinct classification. What's your opinion? Leave us your comments at OPW1.com.
The Peoplefinders Network has announced the new launch of iPhone apps "Stud or Dud" and "Are They Really Single". The apps are based off basic background information and are intended to provide singles with a quick, easy-to-view report to assist them with important decisions with potential love interests. These apps can be purchased for 99c each. Single reports are $9.95 and an annual unlimited report membership is $24.95.
Finally, you have until January 7th to get your voting in for the 1st ever Internet Dating Industry Awards. Let your voice be heard. Submit your picks for the best dating site, best matchmaker, best dating software provider, most innovative company and more. Awards will be handed out in a special ceremony on Jan. 28 during the 7th Annual Internet Dating Conference in Miami.
This edition of Online Personal Watch’s Weekly News Roundup has been sponsored by messmo Media. Make real money with mobile dating. Talk to Brendan O'Kane of messmo media.
That’s all for this week’s news roundup. For more online dating headlines and to listen to our interview with President and founder of Datebility Wayne Stillerman, head over to OPW1.com.
Tune in again next week as we bring you the latest and greatest from the world of online dating. No ads, no fluff, just raw news and CEO interviews. I’m Mark Brooks. Thank you.