Human-Centric Computing

Just as I borrowed the title of a previous post, “The Substance of Style,” from Virginia Postrel, this title draws from Michael Dertouzos and his book, The Unfinished Revolution: Human-Centred Computers and what they can do for us.

Microsoft’s Shopping List

Let Yahoo deal with its mess, Microsoft should go cold turkey on them for a year now, and let Jerry Yang get fired for failing to create shareholder value. A far more interesting question looms on the Microsoft side. What is Microsoft’s Internet strategy going forward?

Deal Radar 2008: eHarmony Replacing Yenta

eHarmony is an online dating/matchmaking site that uses its patented Compatibility Matching System™ to match singles. In November 2004, eHarmony raised $110 million in a Series B round of financing from Sequoia Capital, Technology Crossover Ventures and Tuputele Ventures. It had earlier raised $3 million in Series A from Sarofim Fayez and Co.

Online Dating & Web 3.0 (Part 5)

M&A and VC activity Match.com, a business unit of IAC, acquired edodo in China and Netclub in France in February this year. Match operates 35 country sites in 15 languages. The deal will add 4 million subscribers to Match.com’s already existing 15 million. In January 2007, Meetic acquired DatingDirect, a UK online dating site, for

Read Full Article »

Online Dating & Web 3.0 (Part 4)

Web 3.0 formula discussion (4C, P, VS) Here, we will take a look at the Web 3.0 aspects of online dating sites. Context As we mentioned earlier, Context for dating sites is becoming increasingly more focused and nichy, as sites look for different avenues to differentiate. Some popular contexts that are emerging are Seniors, Gay,

Read Full Article »

Online Dating & Web 3.0 (Part 3)

Business Model Most of the online dating sites earn money mainly from subscription, ad revenue and products and services sold through its sites. The subscription rates for the dating sites vary from $29.99 per month for Match.com to $39.95 per month for Yahoo! Personals to $49.99 for True.com to $59.95 per month for eHarmony.com. eHarmony

Read Full Article »