An increasing number of video dating services let potential partners meet face-to-face are appearing on the web, with an Australian service called Skyecandy leading the charge. Research firm Hitwise reported that online dating sites attracted 0.6 per cent of all website visits in Australia. RSVP spokeswoman Lija Jarvis said 1.5 million Australians used online dating.
Founder of Sydney-based Skyecandy, Melonie Ryan, said the newly launched dating service worked with Skype, the online video and audio chatting service.
Skyecandy users can sign up for up to 10 five-minute online speed dates in a row, with partners chosen on their age, basic details and location. Users then spend a minute between dates rating participants on their friendliness and whether they’d like to exchange details to chat again. Ryan said the service had attracted about 18,000 users so far, with online daters in Australia and the United States the fastest to adopt it.
Solicitor Kristyna Drummond-Hay, 27, said she tried the service after finding it while looking for Skype software. The 27-year-old said online video dating was “nerve-racking at first”, but she quickly grew to like seeing her online dates live on her computer screen.
“I’ve been on dating sites like RSVP and Oasis Active and people write what they think a woman wants to hear, but in front of your face you can pick up on their mannerisms and the tone of their voice and judge how genuine they are,” Ms Drummond-Hay said.
Architect Barbara Beier, 35, volunteered to test Skyecandy in its early days and said the convenience of video dating won her over. (news source couriermail.com.au)
I personally enjoyed the site. It’s a good idea and has a high potential to grow as it’s based on Skype. As you can see there’s a tendency now to use huge running networks to profit by creating plugins.
Tags: online dating site, skype, speed dating
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