The use of 3G mobile technology for mobile dating is nothing new, and there are quite a few mobile dating projects around. However, if you live in Australia, here's an interesting mobile dating service that combines speed-dating and mobile dating into a single service. The service is called MeetMe (meetme.com.au).

How does it work?

Basically, based on your personal preferences disclosed during the registration process, MeetMe tries to find as many close matches as possible. You are then presented with a list of profiles that should match your personality and preferences, and are given the option to "meet" someone through a video call by announcing you are ready to accept calls. You then enter the most convenient time, and are notified about the arranged video call once the other person accepts. The idea is that you can know almost right away if you "click" with the other person by seeing them and talking to them during the short video call. The calls are set to last no more than two minutes. Once the call ends, you are prompted to give feedback and if both people give positive feedback the profiles are stored in favorites. You can always talk again later, at a time when you accept calls. Once initial contact is made, there is no time limit on your decision to take things further. It's entirely up to you. Neither of the calling parties' phone numbers are disclosed, therefore your privacy is protected at all times.

Apart from having to be in Australia, singles using this service are required to meet the following conditions as well:

• An Australian mobile number
• A 3G SIM card
• A 3G mobile phone with video calling
• Your service provider has enabled video calling on your account with them.

If you live "down under", or are traveling there, here's a neat way to meet someone interesting.

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Next2Friends, who brought us Intelligent Proximity Matching, are at it again. This time the company has announced availability of mobile video streaming for Blackberry Pearl and Curve devices, as well as the availability of Social Suite. Video streaming is already available on S60 and S40 devices, as well as on Windows Mobile devices, and this move widens the range of platforms which support video streaming by a lot.

It's now easier than ever for Blackberry users to stream their real life experiences to others, and even engage in some live online dating action. Together with Intelligent Proximity Matching, Blackberry users now have another powerful tool for dating. Instead of sending someone your picture, why not tell them what you want on video and in real time. If you're shy to talk ask someone to have a drink with you in person, this is just the tool you've been waiting for.

The service is free and users can download the application to their Blackberry once they've signed up on www.next2friends.com. Video captured through the Next2Friends application is automatically streamed to the user's personal video library where they can easily be shared with other members, or simply embedded on other websites, blogs, profile pages.

Sounds like a lot of fun, so if you are a Blackberry user, point your web browser to Next2Friends.com and start streaming.

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This may be interesting for daters (on and off-line) who want to be able to communicate with potential matches by voice. Even though this is possible in many ways online through dedicated services (mainly using multimedia capabilities of your computer), this is special in a sense that communication happens directly phone-to-phone, without special software, or VoIP. Basically, you can now have free call forwarding through a unique UK based number to up to five personal numbers, and all for free.

The service is called Personal Number, and so far is offering its free service to users in Europe and the US, even though it's actually a UK number you'll be getting by signing-up. They are offering this service for everyone who wants to add a layer of security over their personal phone numbers, and online daters can directly benefit from this.

The service can be further extended if you buy one of their Global SIM cards, which enables you to receive calls anywhere in the world, and also make calls charged from your prepaid account. All this is available in over 50 countries thus far. If you are interested, registration is quite simple and free, simply fill out a short form, and have detailed instructions emailed to you. You'll be assigned a UK personal number which you can then use for many purposes like dating, and feel safe at the same time knowing your actual personal number is not visible to the other party.

[Via: 3G.co.uk]

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We published a post about Next2Friends a couple of months ago. To refresh your memory, Next2Friends uses Bluetooth technology to allow you to be matched with someone in your vicinity using what's called Intelligent Proximity Matching.

The company has just forged a partnership with web series Drawn By Pain (written and directed by Jesse Cowell), to bring a 360° experience around its upcoming Tribeca Cinemas feature-length version screening on October 4th, 2008 (press release).

Citizen journalists and fans will be video capturing pre and post show atmosphere while streaming live video, creating real-time opinion polls, and uploading event photos straight from their mobile phones.

What's the connection with dating? Well, if you are a fan of Drawn by Pain, you'll surely meet a lot of singles there who share your taste, and even if you're not, let me go back to the previous point - there will be singles there. Once at the event, power up your Next2Friends account, and use Intelligent Proximity Matching to meet someone interesting. Should be fun!

It's all happening on October 4, at Tribeca Cinemas in New York City. Tickets are $20, so if you're interested make sure you get them on time.

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Nearly everyone nowadays owns a cell phone and much of the drama of dating and relationships takes place through text messaging: pick-ups, conversations, foreplay, fights and even breaking up occur in a series of short messages.

Sometimes one couple will not even have a single moment of face-to-face conversation.

Communication studies professor Rebecca Sullivan says that this phenomenon has good points and bad points. It depends on weather a person can adjust to this modern way of dating or not.

She says, "We have entered a whole new realm of tiered dating."

"It used to be you'd have a phone call and if it worked out, great. Now, you go from e-mail to text messaging to 'OK, I'll let you into my Facebook site,' to 'maybe we might actually have a phone call and then a coffee date.'"

At this point the dinner date has not even been addressed.

Sullivan says, "On the one hand, for the anonymous encounter aficionado, the times have never been better. But for the person seeking a relationship, you've got to really jump through some hoops. There are a lot of gateways towards your perfect mate now."

[Via: canada.com]

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