Trilibis, creators of WebDate Mobile, have released data on WebDate users. You may have read that WebDate is going back to a free model, after unsuccessfully attempting to shift to with paid memberships the past few years. Webdate Mobile remains $4.99/month.
Mobile dating popularity growing: In December 2006, there were 91,700 Mobile Webdate users, up 23% from November 2006, which was up 24% from October 2006 demonstrating a rapid growth in the subscription-based mobile dating model.
Eager to find love: Users sifted through 6,751,000 mobile web pages in December 2006, suggesting that prospective singles browse the mobile website extensively.
Looks still count: “Picture Viewing� is the most popular feature, followed by “Profile View.�
Any time is a good time: Unlike PC-based dating, which occurs primarily before and after work, the ease and convenience of mobile dating shows users constantly browsing from 9 am to 10 pm.
Women like mobile more: Compared to PC-based dating, which is dominated by male users, more women use mobile to find love. In fact, Webdate Mobile is comprised of 42% women and 58% men, as opposed to online dating where women typically comprise only 30% of the user base.
“Slump Days? No Way!�: Although there are slight increases in traffic on the weekends, mobile dating volume remains strong throughout the week.
Young and on the go, or mature but young at heart: Mobile dating is for everyone with user ages ranging from 18 through 77; the average Webdate Mobile user is 28 years old.
All in all a very sunny outlook for mobile dating. The reality of the situation is that mobile dating is a market niche that is not taking off anywhere near what was projected a few years ago.
US phones are still so far behind what the rest of the world is using for browsing mobile content. First the phones get better, then broadband comes to phone networks, then mobile dating will take off, at least for the 20-something market.
