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Match.com Adds New SpeedMatching
Service
(onlinedatingmagazine.com -
January 27, 2004) Match.com has
launched a new service called Online
SpeedMatching,
the first integrated online/telephone speed dating
experience enabling singles to easily meet and talk
to a series of dates without having to leave the house.
With Online SpeedMatching, Match.com members
login to an
electronic pre-scheduled SpeedMatching session on
the Internet where they may participate in 4 to 8 dates
per session. Online SpeedMatching participants engage
in a secure, four-minute "Get to know you" phone
conversation with their
first date before rotating to the second and third date, etc. During each phone
conversation, a profile, complete with age, location,
a brief biography
and photo of their date is displayed on their computer
screen.
"Match.com's
Online SpeedMatching is a very different, new, and
exciting way for singles
to comfortably meet and get to know numerous potential
dates from their own homes," said Tim Sullivan,
president of Match.com. "This integrated online/telephone
version of our popular SpeedMatching events is just
one of many technologies and services Match.com will
roll out in 2004 that will make online dating easier,
more engaging and more results-oriented. For singles
all over the world, we think it is going to be a great
year on Match.com."
How it works:
* Via the SpeedMatching
Website,
members pick a session at a date and time that
is convenient for them.
* Participants will receive two reminder emails prior
to the session with instructions about when and where
to login and start their first date.
* On the date and time of their session, participants
login to Online
SpeedMatching and are prompted to call a local
number. Once connected, the computer and the phone
call are synchronized.
* Participants receive an introduction to the process
as well as instructions and advice, including conversation
starters. They review the profile for their first
date on their computer screen prior to each live
phone session. A convenient on screen countdown clock
indicates when the first date will start and finish.
* Once the date starts, the two parties see photos
of their dates on the computer screen while they
introduce themselves on the phone. After the four
minute date,
each participant will be given another minute to
rate their date privately and indicate if they would
like
to have further contact with them. Ratings could
be "Yes
-- interested," "No -- not interested," or "Maybe
-- It's worth considering." Online SpeedMatching
will track mutual interest and send an email encouraging
future communication.
* After the ratings are completed, the participants
get to review the next profile and begin their next
date.
Match.com also offers live and local SpeedMatching
through its offline events business, MatchLive.com.
Currently available in 47 cities with plans to expand
in 70 cities in the U.S. and internationally by March
of 2004, SpeedMatching is an interactive live events
program that allows singles to engage in up to 25 mini-dates
in one evening.
According to Match.com, Online SpeedMatching
is a great complement to live and local SpeedMatching
because
members can
meet and talk to a series of potential dates even
when they don't have time get dressed up and go out.
A great
intermediate step between making contacts via the
Internet and live face-to-face meetings, Online SpeedMatching
helps singles quickly meet and make contact with
potential
matches during their search for someone special.
Online SpeedMatching members register online and are
able
to attend an unlimited number of scheduled events
for a monthly subscription fee of $24.95. The fee is
discounted
to $14.95 for current Match.com subscribers.
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