IAC - The iPhone Is Our Crystal Ball

CNET NEWS -- June 11 -- IAC's CEO, Barry Diller, doesn't believe that the poor economy will make it more difficult to get people to pay for things online. While much of the "new IAC" relies on advertising revenue, Diller declared that strictly relying on advertising as a business model is not sustainable. "I absolutely believe that the Internet is passing from its free phase into a paid system. "Look at the iPhone, Diller said, "and the wild success of its App Store." "The iPhone is a great example of what's going to happen," he pointed out. "One of the greatest barriers to buying things is the steps that it takes." FULL ARTICLE @ CNET NEWS

Mark Brooks: The iPhone is a game changer.  Use rs of iPhones monetize FAR better, and access information on the internet and (dating) apps more than on any other phone.  Overall the idating market is doing well despite the down economy, but the highest growth numbers, in terms of uniques, are being found at the fr ee end of the idating spectrum.  Case in point see the Compete graphs for, Plentyoffish, OKCupid, DateHookup.  Interestingly, a number of the free sites that I reported on, in this TechCrunch article, are flagging. Namely MatchDoctor, Mingle2, and Webdate.  IAC's free dating site DownToEarth peaked in March and is headed decidedely South, according to Compete.com.  (Full Disclosure: Plentyoffish and Webdate are long term clients of Courtland Brooks)