TV's Dragon's Den slays 3G dating
An opportunity knocked
ROMI PAMAR, says he heads the first mobile phone company – the 3G Dating Agency - to be turned down as an investment opportunity on the BBC's Dragons' Den reality TV show.
Pamar's blog is making serious noises about the full story not coming out in the TV programme but no-one on the Dragon's panel offered to invest in what conceivably could be another UK mobile industry success story like Vodafone.
The company claims to be an online dating service with a difference. For starters, it can vet members to ensure they really do possess a UK 3G phone – thereby cutting out overseas women seeking UK husbands.
The service is actually free to join but participants have to pay £10 up front through Paypal so they can send text messages to other members. Each text message costs 50 pence – there are no other charges.
Once you've found your ideal date, you can use the 3G network to make a video call to your potential date. Most 3G handset owners have up to 100 minutes of free 3G video calls built into their existing tariffs.
Pamar is a veteran of prominent mobile sites such as Orange World and Vodafone Live. He's also secured a deal with top UK retailer, Phones 4 U, to bundle £30 worth of 3G Dating messages in with certain promotional handsets.
The full details are here but if you order online a 3G handset on any of the UK's 3G networks, you get the 30 quid to spend on messages. And there's a Dating Agency guide inside the box.
Romi Pamar can also be seen utilising QR barcode technology on TV to show how easy it is to scan in a barcode and use the resulting URL to go straight to the 3G dating mobile site.
The dating agency told the INQ that suitable QR barcode software comes preloaded on all Phones 4 U 3G handsets and its barcode will work with most QR packages being shipped. It worked first time with the scanner software built into the INQ's loan E66.
The INQ believes that there may have been hostility from Den panellist, Peter Jones, towards the Dating Agency over the Phones 4 U tie up. Jones runs a rival outfit, Phones International, and is currently trying to pursue another former Caudwell company, 20:20. µ
Comments
Would you go on a date with someone who texted you?
Would that be enough to get you on a date with them?It all sounds a bit like a front for an escort service or telephone sex line.
Search for someone you like the look of, text/video them. They reply and you go on a date. Mmmm, I don't know many women who would just go on a date with a guy who texted them half an hour ago.
Maybe it will work, I have just looked at the site and I'm not convinced.
But if he has already got deals with major retailers, then there must be something in this, and the website isn't presenting it well enough to me.
better idea
Instead of texts why not all carry a bottle of delicious reggae reggae sauce and if you see a woman with same you know youre in there. Sorted. Who needs your fancy 3G nonsense.3G Dating
i love it... and can't wait to hear the one liners..."is that a 3G Video Phone in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?"
re-inventing the roulette wheel
Some innovation.. their business model is taken straight from that of dodgy dating sites.