Match.com is one of several large sites that dominate the online dating scene. Match.com, Match.com International, and other affiliated businesses span six continents, operating more than 30 dating sites in 18 local languages. Match.com currently employs more than 800 people worldwide. It has headquarters in both Dallas, TX, and London, with other offices in Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Munich, Stockholm, Madrid, and Boulder.
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Contents
- 1 History
- 2 Records and notable facts
- 3 IAC Personals
- 4 External links
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History
Match.com was started by Gary Kremen in 1993, one of the first consumer-oriented matching sites. He was assisted by Peng Ong, who helped develop the initial system, and Simon Glinsky, who helped develop one of the first Internet business plans. The company's first offices helped settle the newly burgeoning "multimedia gulch" area in San Francisco's South of Market. The site went live in 1994. In 1998, Match.com was purchased by IAC/InterActiveCorp (then still operating under the name TicketMaster).
Records and notable facts
In November 2004, Guinness World Records recognized Match.com as the largest online dating site in the world. At the time more than 42 million singles globally had registered with Match.com since its launch in 1995, and worldwide there were over 15 million members using the service.
In early 2005, the Match.com International division of Match.com invested £3m in a United Kingdom offline marketing campaign.
In late 2005, Match.com entered into a strategic partnership with Dr. Phil on a new marketing campaign called "MindFindBind".
On November 10, 2005, a purported class action lawsuit was filed by Matthew Evans against Match.com in federal court in Los Angeles. The suit has been repudiated by IAC as baseless. No court date has been scheduled. As a result of the allegations, six states are considering legislation that would regulate the online dating industry.
IAC Personals
Match.com is the leading brand in the division of the IAC/InterActiveCorp known as IAC Personals. Other brands in the IAC Personals sphere include:
- Match.com International
- Udate
- Chemistry.com
- One and Only (brand retired in Dec. 2005)
- AltMatch (brand retired in Dec. 2005)
- MatchLive - localised singles meeting event coordination division of Match.com (brand retired in May 2003)
- MatchTravel - a collaboration between then IAC child company Expedia (brand retired May 2003)
External links
- Match.com Website
- Match.com UK Local Dating Website
- Match.com UK Website
- Satire: The top plays women run on Match.com
Categories: Online dating | IAC/InterActiveCorp | Virtual communities | 1995 establishments