Online Personals Watch

Virtual Dating Tools Introduced For Internet Dating Sites

PR-INSIDE -- June 23 -- The OmniDate online dating application is now available for dating sites to license and use. While using the OmniDate application, daters are represented by avatars of their choosing. The dates also get to pick a virtual place for their date, such as a swanky lounge, a laid-back beach resort, or a hip bar or restaurant. While the couple communicates through advanced text messaging, the animated avatars can laugh, act surprised, smile and even touch, adding a realistic dating dimension. FULL ARTICLE @ PR-INSIDE

Mark Brooks: Disclosure - OmniDate is a client of Courtland Brooks and sponsor of Online Personals Watch. 

See all posts on OmniDate

Anastasia Launches Video Chat

PR NEWSWIRE -- June 6 -- Anastasia International, the international introduction and romance company has recently launched video chat. Language is not a barrier, since Anastasia International offers live interpretation done by professional interpreters. FULL ARTICLE @ THE EARTH TIMES

 Mark Brooks: Most dating sites have IM now. Userplane and OmniDate are great options for plug-in IM's.  OmniDate is avatar based. (Disclosure: OmniDate is a client of Courtland Brooks)

Realistic Expectations Are Key To Online Dating Success

PRESS RELEASE -- June 2 -- Getting to know each other in the virtual environment before meeting in person helps singles adjust their expectations to realistic levels according to a Harvard study. The study found that people who had met on a virtual date before meeting in person had more positive experiences on actual dates. "OmniDate, our virtual dating application, confirms the findings", said Dr. Igor Kotlyar, OmniDate CEO. OmniDate provides a series of fun virtual sets: a lounge, a resort, a bar and a restaurant. When people are on a virtual date, their virtual characters move automatically at the touch of a keyboard. The couple can virtual laugh, flirt, and even touch. A video screen appears where the couple can play get-to-know-you games, which further stimulate conversation. FULL ARTICLE @ PR INSIDE

OmniDate Helps Daters Find Real Love In A Virtual World

CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- May 11 -- Paula Weisz's favorite place to take her dates is the Millennium bar. For her dates, she doesn't get dressed up, doesn't put on makeup, and doesn't even need to leave the comfort of her living room sofa. Weisz is among the growing number of people who are exploring virtual dating. "The gap can be filled by this simulated world that's safe, virtual and fun," said Ravit Abelman, who, with her husband Igor Kotlyar, founded both the OmniDate.com beta (showcase) site and the OmniDate program. "People can move from the online world into the real world and not be strangers." Through OmniDate, users choose avatars, that will represent them on their dates. Virtual dates can include touring a museum gallery, going to a bar, listening to the user's choice of music or even going to the beach. In 2006, researchers at the MIT Media Lab found that people who interacted with each other in the virtual world through avatars had better chemistry in face-to-face meetings than people who had only viewed profiles. Many sites, such as Woome.com and Speeddate.com, are using video chatting to make the online dating experience more realistic. But for some daters, being on video may be intimidating. FULL ARTICLE @ CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Also in COLUMBIA NEWS, THE TORONTO STAR and INDIANA GAZETTE . 

 Mark Brooks: Igor and Ravit have done a great job building a dating app that really gets daters more emotionally involved and connected. It's a lot more interesting than flat IM. OmniDate is a client of Courtland Brooks and sponsor OPW, btw. Let me know if you'd like a demo, or email Ravit directly.

Being Single Isn't Cheap

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE -- Apr 17 -- It's a simple fact that paying utilities, mortgages and rent can be more difficult enough without a second income. But for many singles, the actual expense of trying to meet a partner is just as much of a drain on the wallet. What if you could go on a first date without spending any money on new clothes or gassing up the car? That's the idea behind OmniDate, a Toronto-based free online service where couples have virtual dates before meeting in person. "It allows you to get to know someone without incurring the expense of getting dressed up and driving all the way to met this person who may or may not have anything in common with you", said Igor Kotlyar, president of OmniDate. FULL ARTICLE @ KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE

Can Technology Save Dating?

PRWEB -- Apr 7 -- A recent Harvard Business School study showed that virtual dating created favorable impressions of the other person and easier first meetings in the real world. "Virtual dating is a terrific icebreaker and a fun way to get to know each other," explained Igor Kotlyar, co-founder of OmniDate. Those interested in virtual dating can join the free OmniDate site, post a picture and profile, choose an avatar to represent them, peruse the other profiles and invite someone interesting on a "date." When the invitation is accepted, the two can meet in a variety of virtual settings. FULL ARTICLE @ PR WEB

Site Sponsor: OmniDate Service Review

OPW -- Apr 1 -- OmniDate's dating system is available for dating and social networks to use on their own sites. Here's Glenn Millar's review of OmniDate. You can email glenn@courtlandbrooks.com for more information on OmniDate. OmniDate supports Online Personals Watch and Social Networking Watch and is a client of Courtland Brooks. There are two complaints I hear a lot in the online dating world. One is that dating sites are all pretty much the same and kind of boring. The other is that it takes way too long to make an actual human connection. Potential mates start by exchanging emails, but it can often be weeks before they meet. When they finally do, if there is no connection, they feel like they have been robbed of time.

OmniDate, a new entry into the dating world, seems to address both these problems in a really fun and unique way. OmniDate is an avatar-based virtual dating system where each dater chooses an avatar as their alter-ego. The avatars meet in one of a number of environments such as a beach bar, a café or a hip night club for a one-on-one date.

As the daters type back and forth, their words appear as speech bubbles next to their avatars. This is already a bit more fun than traditional IMing, but here's where it gets really interesting. The avatars are able to show real emotions. Type in LOL and your avatar actually laughs. Hit the smile button and your avatar smiles. You can even blow your date a kiss or reach over and touch the hand of the other avatar.

The OmniDate site is a lot of fun, but it's primarily a consumer testing ground. OmniDate, the product, is actually a widget that other dating and social networking sites can plug in to get talked about, attract new users and make their sites stickier. OmniDate also has a very unique product placement advertising model. According to Dr. Igor Kotlyar, the creator of OmniDate, venues will be created around sponsors (think national coffee chain), and products will be subtly shown during the date, much like one would see in the movies.

The first time I tested OmniDate, I found it surprisingly refreshing. The date I had was fun and comfortable and I really got to know the other person very quickly. Other OmniDates I have had since seem to reflect this same pattern. I think this is a function of the design of the product. First, it's fun. Before my date and I jumped into heavy conversation, we had a good time just seeing what the avatars could do and which of us could be the silliest. She smiled. I laughed. She touched my hand. I winked at her. Then we took a little matching quiz that popped up in the background. (We matched 7 out of 10 questions.) All of these features really made us comfortable with one another so when we starting chatting about real things, it wasn't at all awkward.

But there was a much deeper benefit as well. One can be very anonymous on OmniDate and I believe this anonymity actually creates more intimacy. People tend to let their guard down when they are behind a mask. Think of any Halloween party you have been to and you understand what I am saying. The avatars allow people to express their true selves, because they feel as the other person can't see them. You certainly don't get this the first time you meet an online date at a coffee shop.

According to Dr. Kotlyar, who has spent his career studying human interaction, OmniDate was specifically designed to increase the likelihood of dating success for people who meet online, and this starts with the first live date. My short time on OmniDate tells me this is likely true. People are only going to meet offline if their OmniDate was fun. And when they do meet, these people are likely to feel that they have already bonded.

The users I have spoken to (ok, OmniDated with) on the site, seem to be very pleased with the product. They say it's very different than many of the online dating sites they have tried and they really look forward to spending time on the site. According to Dr. Kotlyar, the average OmniDate runs 20 – 40 minutes with some lasting over an hour.

Version one of OmniDate is a good product, but Kotlyar promises more features in the future. Right now there are 4 venues, but this will be increasing, including custom rooms that will be designed for individual dating sites. In addition, daters will soon be able to buy their date little gifts, such as virtual flowers or a virtual drink for a small fee, creating even more revenue possibilities.

Online dating changed the world because it gave people the ability to sift through many more people than they could have ever possibly met offline. However, it made really getting to know these people much more difficult. OmniDate has bridged this gap and truly is a Dating 2.0 product. I recommend this product both to daters and to online dating sites looking to differentiate themselves from the pack.

Will Singles Be Priced Out Of Dating?

PR WEB -- Mar 31 -- OmniDate offers singles an opportunity to get to know each other through a virtual date before they spend their hard earned money on what may be a wasted dinner or a movie. "Our goal is to help people move from the virtual to the real world, in a safe, affordable way that lets them meet their special someone", said OmniDate's co-founder Igor Kotlyar. FULL ARTICLE @ E MEDIA WIRE

OmniDate - Find Love Through Virtual Dating

SHALOM TORONTO -- Mar 21 -- OmniDate, a Toronto based dating site, offers an unique method for finding the right one - the virtual blind date. Ravit Abelman, an Israeli business woman, founded OmniDate with her husband, Dr. Igor Kotlyar. "The goal was to develop a product which would enable singles to "meet" in a comfortable atmosphere, without having to get dressed up and driving to a date with anxiety about possible disappointment." Users can curl up with their laptops on the sofa and do their dating from home. The characters respond to the writing text, they laugh, are surprised or serious. Key strokes produce various gestures such as shaking hands or sending a kiss.

Mark Brooks: OmniDate.com is actually a demonstration site for the OmniDate dating system. The technology is available for licensing, and an API is available for easy integration. Let me know if you'd like a referral to Igor and Ravit. OmniDate is a client of Courtland Brooks.

Internet Playing Middleman In romancing

INDIA TIMES -- Mar 7 -- Indian online dating revenue were $30 million in 2006 showing a growth rate of 50% year-on-year. Internet usage for online dating has increased from 9% in 2006 to 37% in 2007. In India, where up to 90% of all marriages are arranged, domestic online dating companies are racking up some impressive numbers. In US the online dating revenue was $900 million in 2007, and growing more than 70% year-on-year, according to Jupiter Research. The growth of various free dating sites like OkCupid, Matchdoctor.com, Bookofmatches, Smooth.com and CrazyBlindDate.com have driven the trend of online dating. The concept of virtual dating is gaining popularity, where sites like Mate4all.com or OmniDate.com are offering users the chance to date with the help of avatars in a place that resembles the real environment. Another promising technology is 'iovation' which helps online firms prevent fraudulent activities. FULL ARTICLE @ INDIA TIMES

Guilt-free Dating For Single Parents

PRESS RELEASE -- Mar 4 -- On OmniDate users can go on a virtual date, where they can laugh, talk and flirt, all from the comfort and safety of their home. "A woman can stay home on Saturday night and still "go out" on a great date", said Ravit Abelman, co-founder of OmniDate with her husband, Igor Kotlyar, Ph.D. For single moms especially, getting to know a person before an actual meeting can add an extra layer of security. Another advantage: it's easier to say goodbye to an avatar than to a person. The beta site launched in 2008, is based in Toronto, and has members across the U.S. and Canada. FULL ARTICLE @ 1888 PRESS RELEASE

OmniDate, Igor Kotlyar - OPW Interview

OPW INTERVEIW -- Mar 1 -- How does your dating site stand out from the crowd?  In a sea of ubiquitous features, OmniDate stands out as a feature that dating site owners can use to get their members talking.  It's an avatar based instant messenger.  Here's my interview with the founder/CEO of OmniDate, Igor Kotlyar.  (Full Disclosure: OmniDate is a client of Courtland Brooks)

What is OmniDate?
OmniDate is a simulated dating environment where two people go on a virtual date, in a bar or café, from the comfort of their own home. Imagine a cross between a 3D avatar chat and a highly-realistic virtual environment. It’s a fun way to facilitate a conversation after reading someone’s profile, but before you are ready to meet someone in person.

We’re introducing OmniDate as an application that can be easily integrated into a typical dating site. It keeps users engaged longer (typically 30 minutes or more per date on our test site) and thus, increases conversions and retention. OmniDate also offers dating sites several revenue opportunities: premium pricing, product placement advertising fees, and gift fees from users who want to buy their dates a virtual gift.

What is your founding story?
I’m an Industrial Psychologist by training and in my previous business we built simulation-based assessments for business applications. When I sold the business in 2006, I saw an opportunity to apply similar innovative concepts to the online dating world. I was aware of a Jupiter Research survey that said only 1 in 4 users was satisfied with online personals sites, and I felt “virtual dating” could help online sites engage their users better and provide a more satisfying experience. My goal is to help dating sites achieve these objectives.

When did you launch and how is it going so far?
We opened our beta site to the public a couple of months ago and we are receiving a lot of positive feedback from our beta users. They really like the “virtual component” and how it helps them get to know each other before meeting face-to-face. It creates a level of comfort when they meet other singles and it facilitates a fun interaction. We are already getting thank you notes from people telling us about great relationships they found through our application. I am particularly pleased to see that our application appeals to both genders and all age groups. Fifty-one percent of our users are women and one-third of our users are 35 or older.

How does OmniDate help online dating services make money?
Two ways actually – it provides sites with a terrific differentiator and a completely new revenue model.

First, OmniDate helps our partners capitalize on huge growing trends – such as virtual reality, animated entertainment and online games – with minimal work. OmniDate improves traffic and conversion rates because daters get excited about “virtual dating”. Among our users, virtual dates last 20-40 minutes each, with many going over an hour. We are also finding that a “virtual dating” experience is a great conversation piece and increases word-of-mouth referrals.

Second, dating sites can make money with OmniDate in both the traditional way, as a premium service, but also using with product placement advertising and virtual gifts. Think about being on a virtual date when the sailboat that goes by has a McDonald’s logo (paid product placement), or I “buy” my date a drink (which costs me a $1) and the waiter serves a Corona (more paid product placement).

What makes OmniDate interesting to consumers?
Going on a virtual date is less time consuming and emotionally straining than meeting every person who seems “perfect” in a profile. You can get a really good sense for a person by going on a virtual date. If he is funny, he’ll make you laugh; if he is interesting, he’ll capture your attention; if he is boring … well, you don’t have to sit through the date.

Also, it reduces stress and awkwardness associated with dating in general. It allows you to ease into a conversation and get to know each other better before you actually meet. And, OmniDate has a tremendous “cool” factor! Like the iPhone, it has a “gotta-have-it” appeal.

Tell me about some of the interesting product features.
There are many, but let me mention a couple. First, OmniDate’s “virtual dating” component has a very intuitive user design. It doesn’t require learning or “figuring out” on the part of the user. Actually, it doesn’t even require installation – it’s a web app. Second, our users love how the avatars respond to typed text. For example, as you type “lol” your avatar actually laughs out loud. Or you can reach over and touch the other person’s hand. Our users have a lot of fun with that.

How do you see the online dating business changing over the next 5 years?
You’re probably not surprised to hear that I see a trend toward more entertaining, richer communication online environments. I think online daters want more from their dating site than “search profiles” and “email a member.” They want to have more engaging ways to interact with other singles than “send a wink.” I can see how over the next 5 years, the industry will evolve from a “database” toward the “entertainment” end of the spectrum. I think we will see a proliferation of game-like experiences that will allow singles to get to know others in an entertaining way.

Do you see any applications for this product outside the dating business?
Right now we are focused on the dating market and the design of our current product reflects that. However, the technology itself can be used in any industry where people communicate with each other over the Internet and could benefit from a more natural interaction.

      

Alternate Dating Sites

CNET NEWS -- Feb 18 -- Worldwide there are more then 1400 internet dating sites. Given the market saturation online dating consultant Mark Brooks says newer sites are forced to innovate both in concept and technology. Want your avatar to meet mine? Try out OmniDate.com or let's find out if our voices are compatible. Log onto LoveDetect.com. Another one of those alternate dating sites is CrazyBlindDate.com. Prior to the date you only get to see a pixilated photo of your match and you can only communicate by texting through the site's cupid line. Unlike more established dating sites, webcam sites like SpeedDate.com, Woome.com and Camlink.com require very little personal information to get started. As long as people are out there looking for love there will be a website to cater to their needs, desires, fantasies and fetishes. SEE THE VIDEO HERE

Virtual Dating - The Future Of The Future

NBC -- Feb 25 -- Omnidate is a dating site, where you choose a virtual person to represent you in a 3D restaurant or bar. By clicking on a button, users can blow a kiss or even touch their dates face. Even websites not focused on dating like the virtual reality site Second Life have also become places for love. Igor Kotlyar, Omnidate: "By going through a virtual dating experience allows you to relax, have fun and really create a bond with a person before meeting them in real life." SEE THE VIDEO HERE

Mark Brooks: Dating sites need to give their users something to talk about.  Wether it be personality profiling, handwriting profiling, Love Detection, or avatar based IM.  Add something different to your site and inspire your users to yabber. (Full Disclosure: OmniDate is a client of Courtland Brooks)

Matchmakers, And Virtual Dates With Omnidate

CBC -- Feb 15 -- Andrew Lekas is a busy man looking for love and tired of the bar scene. So he's hired a matchmaker to do all the leg work. Ruth Fox, an It's Just Lunch Matchmaker: "What we basically do is set up fun first dates, easy first dates." It's Just Lunch hand picks a blind date and no need to worry about choosing a restaurant, its all taken care of. Now let's say you want to meet people in a bar but not leave home. Omnnidate is a virtual date where singles can interact in a simulated dating environment online from the comfort of their own home. SEE THE VIDEO HERE

The Hottest Trends In Online Dating

NETWORK WORLD -- Feb 7 -- No one knows online dating better than Mark Brooks, editor of OnlinePersonalsWatch.com. Brooks is a modern-day Cyrano -- he's a consultant to many of the Web's largest online dating sites as well as traditional matchmaking services. Network World interviewed Brooks about the hottest trends in online dating.

Q:How many online dating services are there?
MB: Hitwise has estimated there are 800-plus. I think that's about right for the U.S. A lot of them are affiliate sites that are driving traffic to the main dating sites.

Q: How has online dating affected traditional matchmaking services?
MB: Internet dating has warmed an entire generation of users to the prospect of getting help in dating and paying for that help.

Q: What new technologies are you are seeing in online dating?
MB: One of the biggest innovations is avatar-based instant messaging. One site that's pioneering the use of avatars is OmniDate.com. Another emerging technology is iovation, which helps online dating sites battle fraud. With iovation's Reputation Manager, one dating site can flag a person as abusive and throw them out and then let other sites in the online dating community know about it.

Q: How has online dating technology changed in recent years?
MB: Actually, online dating is in about the same place that it has been in for the last three years. One of the things I'd like to see is more technology being applied to personality profiling. In this area there are four companies worth mentioning: Perfectmatch.com; eHarmony.com; Chemistry.com; and True.com.

Q: Have social networkings like Facebook and MySpace cut into online dating traffic?
MB: The numbers show that less people are coming to Internet dating sites. According to ComScore the number of people who came to Internet dating sites in December 2007 was down 10% over the prior year. But I don't think it's the end of online dating. I think the lookilous have gone away.

Q:What are the hottest trends in online dating?
MB: One is the rise in Baby Boomers and also rise of free dating sites, such as Plentyoffish.com, DateHookup.com, OkCupid.com, Matchdoctor.com, Bookofmatches.com, Smooch.com and CrazyBlindDate.com.

Q: What do you see as the future of online dating?
MB: It's difficult to enter the market and be a large generic dating site at this stage. The only thing you can build today is a niche dating site, and even niches are hard to build. That's why we're seeing the rise of a bunch of companies that offer white-label dating services. One of these companies is Whitelabeldating.com.
FULL ARTICLE @ NEWORK WORLD

Internet Dating 2.0

TIME -- Jan 19 -- HonestyOnline takes the lie out of online. "It's an extra layer of protection to determine if a guy is Jack the Ripper with three wives," said William Bollinger, EVP National Background Data, a database used by HonestyOnline. At iDate 2007, vendors demonstrate ways to meet, court, virtual date and even marry without ever leaving home. OmniDate can place you in a virtual restaurant with an animated date. On Mobilove, I scrolled through profiles and sent text messages. Already 500,000 Americans have posted their pictures and mini profiles on their cell phones, and users are growing by 20% every month, according to Mobilove VP Nils Knagenhjelm. Thanks to Vumber you can get many numbers with only one phone. If the person dialing one of the numbers turns out to be a less than desirable caller, poof! the number disappears with a few keystrokes. "You can vanish without a trace," said Geoff Schneider, Vumber's EVP. Plenty of Fish, with 400,000 hits a day, was created by Markus Frind, who still runs it out of his apartment. He figured out people essentially exaggerate on profile answers. He follows a more sensible creed: actions speak louder than words. For example, Susie says she wants a solid, stable man who earns $100,000-plus but keeps clicking on profiles of muscle-bound bad boys. Plenty of Fish makes sure she meets plenty of underemployed weightlifters, and some of the stable ones she ignores. "People don't even realize we do this. They just know they are getting results," said Frind.  Chris Walker is experimenting with behavioral matchmaking. An early innovator, he started in the 1960s with punch card computer dating. After years of matching people, he now focuses on how people choose to spend their time. "The personal touch still blows away everything else out there," says Paul Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together, an old-school matchmaking dating service.  FULL ARTICLE @ TIME