General News

The United States virtual goods market was worth $500 million in 2008 according InsideFacebook.com. This year it is expected to double to $1 billion and in 2010 virtual goods sales are expected to reach $1.6 billion. The huge growth in the market is due to the popularity of social networking and with more video games adding virtual goods to their online components.

With growth like this expected in the next few years, virtual gifts will be on par with the online dating industry which in 2008 was the third highest revenue grossing industry.

These are predictions from knowledgeable experts but they may not live up to expectations. In a recent Date.com press release about virtual gifts (see Story) their leading analysts estimated the revenue for the industry at $1.5 billion in 2008. This is a $1 billion difference between experts, I wonder which one is closer to the truth?

For more on this story, read Online Media Daily.

Single 29 year old Jessica Simpson says she is open to finding a long term relationship on the internet since others have found love there. While she has never tried online dating before, Jessica states "I mean, anybody who can find love online, so be it," says Simpson. As for getting her own feet wet in the online dating pool, she says, "Maybe. Who knows?"

I don't think she will ever need too visit a dating site with her good looks and the ease she hooks up with famous men like Nick Lachey, John Mayer and Tony Romo.

Celebs who are rumored to have used online dating sites include Halle Berry and Joan Rivers. Charlie Sheen also meet his current wife, Brooke Mueller (see Story) on the dating site MillionaireMatch.com.

Jessica Simpson is currently working on a movie in Morocco called "The Price of Beauty".

For the full story read People.com. To find out more about the sugar daddy dating site which Charlie Sheen used, read our review of MillionaireMatch.com.

FriendFinder Networks said on Tuesday that they plan to complete the IPO process by 2010 and intends to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FFN.”.

FriendFinder Networks Inc. intends to use the net proceeds of the public offering to redeem a portion of its outstanding senior secured indebtedness and to pay waiver fees to certain debtholders.

The company owes $442.1 million in debt in connection with its acquisition of Various and about $81 million in debt at the parent level. Here are some interesting facts from the FriendFinder Networks filing which was made public on Tuesday (most points deal with data from the six months which ended on June 30, 2009):

Do you need to know how to score with 24 different types of ladies? Well Pepsi is here for you guys with an iPhone app called "Amp Up Before You Score".

If you don't want to download the app, here is a mock TV commercial from Pepsi showing how the application works:

"Amp Up Before You Score" was intended as a funny gimmick that Pepsi hoped would promote their brand further. Well they got their wish and some backlash as well. Here is Pepsi's Twitter apology at AMPwhatsnext:

Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go 2 pick up women. We apologize if it’s in bad taste & appreciate your feedback. #pepsifail

I really didn't think the application was that bad, it pretty much falls in the same category as beer commercials . I guess since Pepsi is more of a family product though, people got offended.

For some real online dating applications, check out these dating sites that offer Mobile Phone dating services.

Match.com spent around £6m on advertising in the United Kingdom according to Nielsen. Hanft Raboy and Partners previously held the Ad account for Match.com in the UK but this year the new marketing director, Karl Gregory decided on using Mother instead.

The only details we have on the new marketing campaign so far is, it starts in the new year, and it will attempt to engage people at an emotional level.

For the full story visit Marketing Magazine and to find out more about this UK dating site, read our Match.com UK review.

Next Friday (10/16/09), Saturday (10/17/09) and Sunday (10/18/09) ALL Chemistry users will be able to communicate for free. This FREE Weekend will also be supported by TV commercials and increased online advertising so there should be plenty of extra activity on Chemistry.com

Free communication means all members will be able to send mail messages to any of their matches and receive mail from singles who are matched to them as well, all at no cost. As always, new members also receive a free in-depth personality test designed to match you with compatible singles.

The last Flirtathon happening last month in September (see Story) so this is Chemistry's 6th free communication weekend. For more information on this dating site with an in-depth matchmaking system, read some Chemistry reviews.