Others interested in completely crazy concepts

A universe in synthesized 3D images. Internet users represented by their digital characters, avatars, which can initiate conversation with a click. Even if he strongly thinking about Second Life, Come in my World is not a simple copy. It is the test version of a project of virtual worlds on the Internet dedicated to the love meeting. A team of the Orange Explocentre, research unit specializing in services and uses of tomorrow in Orange Labs, working for two years on the subject.

In Come in my World, click on an avatar reveals information about its owner. Marker said even those that correspond to the criteria that you selected, by completing the profile. The user also has the possibility to download photos and videos. And for so little that it is equipped with a headset and a microphone, it can interact orally.

This project, protected by eight patents, is progressing in a logic of co-creation with Internet users-testers. The beta version, the development budget is confidential, has a base of tens of thousands of Internet users registered. "Every three months, the draft is presented to the Governance Committee, so it is re-approved and budgeted", merely to clarify Sylvie Hériard Dubreuil, Director of the Explocentre.

The team tests other innovations, for example by allowing avatars to browse journals (from brand partners). An economic model outline, which would involve "a monthly subscription, with similar rates to those of Meetic, and perhaps a VIP package, but without advertising", said Louis Paré, Director of the project.

Photos or DNA tests

The researchers Orange heads are not the only to explore the path of the 3D in the dating sites. Brought by the success of Second Life, but also type social networks Facebook or MySpace, who were undercover meetings online, several start-up test new concepts. ClaudiusCity, which uses a technology combining a 3D engine and a Flash interface, and has launched its free public beta version. The user can create his avatar and interact verbally with other Internet users. Current 2009 "will circulate in virtual worlds and have private spaces", says Anthony de Anfrasio, co-founder. Launched late 2007, ClaudiusCity should include advertising once crossed active subscribers 250,000 cap. "It will be world sponsored by advertisers, who can insert advertising videos of about 10 seconds," says Anthony de Anfrasio.

Even a giant like Meetic personals sites interested in 3D. "This is not silly to think, even if it is not the technology that attracts people: must already be a critical mass of Internet users, the use does not function", nuance Marc Simoncini, Meetic CEO. Indeed, Meetic attempts already to position themselves to social networks. It will open in 2009, a site intended for the 16-24 years, with sharing functionality similar to Facebook and "will be usable on a mobile phone, with possibly the Geolocation", explains Marc Simoncini.

Other services surf the Web 2.0 resources. Jiffr, opened in February, is inspired by the Flickr photo sharing site, members with simply through their photographs. "Participants are defined without words, the language of images." "It is an alternative to the traditional dating sites, based on questionnaires," argued Dirk Schulze, founder of this German site.

Others interested in completely crazy concepts. Such Genepartner, who claims to determine the "genetic compatibility" between its members and help find the soulmate through genes. To do this, the site, based in Switzerland, offers its members a DNA test charged $ 199.