Zmenkomatik

A date for 100 tolars (www.zmenkomatik.com)

Telecomunications services are not developing at such a high rate as expected according to their boom. In fact, many users do not even use most of the services offered by mobile operators (WAP, SMS information). It is however obvious that services based on the use of short text messages are still by far the most popular. On August 1, 2002, another in a series of services offered to Slovenian mobile phone users by various providers was launched.

It is a dating system called Zmenkomatik, which is a combination of an online information system and short text messages. As the name suggests, it is intended for dating between users. Based on the created profile, which the user enters on the web pages, it is possible to communicate between the users of the system via SMS messages, either for new acquaintances, dates or adventures. Among the user profiles, the system finds the appropriate ones, with which the user can then communicate anonymously via SMS messages. The price of each received message is 100 tolars, and users can limit the number of received daily messages of potential blind dates. The advantage of the dating system is precisely in its payability and anonymity: in contrast to a series of frivolous ads that appear on websites with similar content, the probability of a “blind” date on one of those sites is significantly lower when compared to Zmenkomatik.

We spoke with Mrs. Brina Brišar, project manager at Divisia d.o.o. from Ljubljana, which is a provider of dating services.

We know phone lines for dating, websites dedicated to dating, on Fridays some radio stations accept calls from young people who want blind dates. What are the essential advantages of your Zmenkomatik system?

From the user’s point of view, Zmenkomatik is more advantageous than the dating methods mentioned above. Communication takes place in real time or when users want contact; system services are chargeable, which increases the seriousness of users’ intentions; users maintain their anonymity (and privacy), as they communicate only under a nickname they set for themselves (when they reveal their true identity is left to their discretion) and finally, the whole event is under the constant control of the system administrator (except for the content of SMS messages). The administrator takes care of the smooth operation of the system, if necessary, helps users and takes care of the appropriate content of ads, in accordance with the rules of Zmenkomatik.

Why did you decide to use the relatively old SMS technology and not, for example, the WAP service that almost all GSM phones already have? With it, the use of the internet part of the system would no longer be necessary at all?

Unfortunately, the use of WAP is unknown to most users. WAP enables rather cumbersome, but above all time-consuming data entry (at least in our case). In contrast, the use of SMS messages is increasing from year to year. The vast majority of mobile phone owners know them and use them with (obvious) pleasure. The decision to communicate with SMS messages was therefore simple: people are used to them and use them in everyday life. SMS messaging has become a kind of “mandatory literacy” of almost every GSM phone owner. Also, the use of the web among users is quite widespread, at least at the level of basic use. The Zmenkomatik website provides the possibility of explanations and help to users. The Zmenkomatik service system, thus combines the advantages of telecommunications and the internet.

How does the system prevent the misuse of personal data and how are frivolous advertisements taken care of?

With the Privacy Statement, which represents the company’s policy, we are committed to the protection of personal data. For the most part, the data is of such a nature that it does not allow direct identification of the user. Each ad is reviewed by an administrator, who also activates it. In the event of a breach of the terms of the General Terms of Use or the Dating Guidelines (or in the case of an advertisement of a commercial nature), the administrator may reject such advertisement. The user will receive a friendly email request to correct their ad. However, we must emphasize that due to the payment for services, the very probability of the appearance of such ads is reduced.

For now, the Zmenkomatik service can only be used by Mobitel and Debitel users. What are the plans with Simobil and Vega users?

The decision is a consequence of the current situation on the Slovenian market, but we are open to all possibilities of cooperation.

Information on the price of services is well taken care of on the website. Users can subscribe to receive SMS messages about suitable partners. Each message costs 100 tolars. Can it happen that the user will receive a few dozen messages in a very short time (maybe he will even have his mobile phone switched off) and will have to pay 100 tolars for each one?

The user himself activates or deactivates this service (the TurboDate service enables the notification of a new user of the desired profile as soon as he logs in to the system, which enables immediate communication with him via SMS messages). You can also set the number of SMS messages you would like to receive in one day (from 1 to 20). If desired, he can also set the time of day when he wants to receive them.

Do you plan to offer the same service abroad? Are you planning any other service based on similar technology?

We intend to present the Zmenkomatik system abroad as well. Some talks are already underway. The technology and services that are the building blocks of the Zmenkomatik system (maintaining the anonymity of users and the distribution of SMS messages) enable the development of new services and systems that are not limited to the area of private contacts.

Finally: how many users do you expect by the end of this year (or within a year from the introduction of the service) and how many messages per day (week, month) do you intend to mediate?

The estimated number of users by the end of the year is 50,000. The amount of messages, of course, depends mainly on the interest of users. Finally, I would like to emphasize that we intend to constantly improve the Zmenkomatik system and provide additional functionalities to our users within it. Zmenkomatik has joined the massively visited online hubs that allow private contacts and dating. There are three sharp competitors of the online dating system and they are mostly free. The best known on the Slovenian Internet are www.kupid.com, www.poljub.net and kupid.siol.net. The first is paid and the other two are free. The services are relatively well visited” all of them have recorded several tens of thousands of visits so far ” They all provide anonymity and privacy, all for both heterosexual and homosexual users.