OPW -- May 4 -- Heads up! Rumors have come in from multiple sources that Userplane is folding. Its too small for AOL to consider selling, and apparently not worthwhile them continuing to run. Its a shame really. Companies like Toksta and Ekko.tv stand to benefit from the void Userplane will leave. Markus Frind says that IM was his biggest mistake. He's getting far more pageviews now he's pulled it. But paid sites are less interested in page views, so perhaps its still worthwhile paid sites using IM. There are a number of IM alternatives we're reviewing. We'll be presenting our findings at the upcoming Internet Dating Conference, and on the Courtland Brooks blog. (Full Disclosure: Plentyoffish.com is a current, long term client of Courtland Brooks. Userplane is a former client of Courtland Brooks)