CANADIAN BUSINESS - May 1 - Last August OkCupid added a new feature to its apps: location. Other dating apps like Skout, Blendr and Grindr also do this, although a little differently.
Q: Why did OkCupid add location-based features to its apps?
Sam Yagan: The ability to search, plan and schedule dates in real-time while you’re out and about is really valuable. There’s a tremendous opportunity for us to enhance our algorithm by actually knowing when people go on dates and how those dates go. It help us do a better job matching you up in the future.
Q: How do you tell from that whether or not people have met?
A: I’m looking a little more forward than what our app currently does. Imagine you can check into your dates. We don’t offer that right now, but going down the path of building location into our product has those implications.
Q: So kind of like checking in with Foursquare?
A: Yeah, but I’m just using that as one example.
Q: If people are checking into places, should we be worried about privacy?
A: It’s all about being smart with this stuff.
Q: Do you expect most of your users will eventually be using location-based features?
A: Yes. And if you think about it, people already are. They’re already searching based on their zip codes.
I'll be reviewing OKCupid, along with all the top idating apps for my 3 hour pre-conference at iDate L.A. I'll also be interviewing Sam and other luminaries and featuring them within the presentation. See http://www.internetdatingconference.com
Posted by: Mark Brooks | May 03, 2012 at 12:39 PM