Your answer. “I’m single/not married/not engaged because…

1. I’m focusing on my career.
2. I just haven’t met the right guy/girl.
3. I want to wait until I’m (we’re) financially stable.
4. Ugh. Ask my boyfriend why.
5. Even God is single. So stop giving me a hard time
6. It’s complicated.
7. A 100 more reasons.

Rinse and repeat. (Guess which answer is mine.)

Given the 30 (or more, much more) hours you spend in front of the computer reading blogs, programming, digg-ing, you might want to spend 15 minutes going through online dating sites and forums.

Sean Bennett, co-founder of free Filipino dating site Pinoy Struck, is one-half of the many online romances that just make you go “aaawww”. (Well, the girls anyway.) The dating site is free and exclusively for Filipinos (even the registration form only has Philippines in the Country options).

Launching its beta version only in May 2008, already more than 1,000 users are trying their luck with love on Pinoy Struck. Maybe there is hope for dating sites. Registration is not far from other online matchmaking sites, with questions about your looks and preferences.

I just wish there was a generator for taglines to help users come up with “Looking for Love in Lipa” or “Buff Programmer Wants Good Conversation and Pretty Smile”. Freelance job sites and dating sites tell users to ‘be catchy’ and ‘be creative’ but being cheesy and honest is not everyone’s talent.

A Facebook or Friendster widget could produce a viral effect for the dating site. The interface is uncluttered. Requisite functions of search and private messaging are present. Profiles have a “hot or not”-ish button. So far that’s all. Right now, the site has sparse Google Adsense but with its growing usage, I’m sure restaurants ;and party venues, even salons and gyms should see Pinoy Struck as a new venue to reach the single and looking.

Pinoy Struck is raffling off P1,200 to a lucky new user who sends feedback. There’s also PHP 60 cellphone load as guarantee (or consolation) to those who dare to try the site but don’t get a date in 14 days.

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From: Pinoy Web Startup Team

1. PinoyLancer.com (PL) is now open for you to post your freelance projects and gigs. It is free and it is 100% made by pinoy for pinoys!
   Send your comments, suggestions, bug reports to ajbatac [at] pinoylancer.com.
   The site’s looking good in beta mode. Post and view job ads quite easily.
2. EggHub – Collect, organize, and share your discs. Egghub is your Shelfari for discs. Currently in alpha. Follow their Twitter.
3. Qassia is a credit-driven intelligence engine coupled to a cascading tag-based web directory. Sign up for a free account and earn Qassia dollars (currently by invitation only, so you’ll have to use my profile page) that’ll help drive traffic to your site and build your credibility. Great start by Nick Oba from Cebu.
4. Travel booking engine and a whole suite of travel web applications built on ROR by Travel + Strategy Business 2.0. Lead by Elmer Alinsog, this group has industry-leading XML software for yacht charter, jets. TSB 2.0 is your NASDAQ for travel.
5. Pinoy.FM is your social OPM music station – growing popular through its Friendster widget. Sign up for a account – promised to be free for life!Thanks for the tip Joel

Okay, fine, only half of them are “social”. Have a great week ahead.

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From: Pinoy Web Startup Team

Chikka has reinvented its Messenger application and it looks like the mobile applications giant is riding the 2.0 wave. The Chikka application meshes the offerings of competing one-stop instant messaging websites Wablet, Meebo, and e-Buddy with its mobile prowess. Let’s dive into the Chikka 2.0 experience and get an insider’s view from the Chikka Business Development Team.

Multiple IM login interface

The multiple IM logins on top of the hompage are enticing… until you realize that you actually have to use a Chikka ID to use the app. So for those who don’t have Chikka accounts, you have to either sign up for a free PC account (not connected to your mobile) or send a P2.50 (usual rate) registration message. Relatively painless. Some users would rather not have to sign up for a Chikka account though, partly for fear of being spammed. When you use other IM apps like Meebo, you can just go ahead and login to your Yahoo! or GTalk.

I consulted some designers and programmers and got some points for improvement. The icons on the homepage were clean and layout was okay to use, but the orange was less than easy on the eyes. I understand that’s part of the branding, but hey, you can’t rationalize designers’ comments.

If Chikka is targeting Filipino Meebo users, it has to give something more to convert. Perhaps something like IMified or Sandy the Personal Assistant that integrates the web with productivity or reminders with optional and minimal charges, if any.

What’s good is you no longer have to download extra software or have an extra pop-up to use Chikka. With their web-based interface, Mac people can easily send Chikka IMs.

Competition with IM applications

Right now, I don’t actually use Chikka yet for the multiple IM login though. Adium is convenient for that. Perhaps people in the office behind their cubicles and firewalls can maximize this feature that makes Chikka 2.0, well, 2.0.

I asked the Chikka Business Development Team, headed by Mr. Gio Bacareza how they view these other online IM applications. Is their approach a blue ocean strategy in-the-making?

“Our ultimate targets are all web users and mobile subscribers. While we have successfully grown a community of Filipino users here and abroad, adding in the other IM networks will further expand our beachhead as we aim to extend our reach to the mainstream users. By focusing on the convergence of the PC and mobile, as against others who are either purely PC-based or mobile-based businesses, we are in a way changing the landscape. So in that sense, it could be a blue ocean strategy. We just didn’t label it as such. It just made sense for us to use our expertise in the mobile and integrate that with the real estate and more interactive features of the PC.”

“The presence of these major players (e.g. Meebo, e-Buddy, Wablet) in the space we’re in validates our view that it’s a good business to be in. The only thing that differentiates us from these guys is that they are purly web-based services primarily. This limits their revenue models to essentially advertising. Chikka is primarily in the PC-to-mobile business which gives us not only differentiation but also gives us wider range of choices for revenue sources.”

How to Make Money from your Web App

When asked how Chikka intends to make money from the new Chikka app, Gio shares, “… being on the point of convergence of the net and mobile, we can apply revenue models that are accepted by the market. For the web, we have ad based and subscription revenues. For mobile, we have the subscription and per message fees.”

As always with the Chikka app, the caveat is the P2.50 fee charged to the person who replies to your text sent from Chikka. I feel so cheated when I hit send and afterwards realize that it was sent to a +2776391x-xxx-xxxx. I’m not alone on this sentiment. There has to be another revenue model that feels welcome to all users. Perhaps a minimal monthly subscription could be less intrusive and entirely optional, much like Airborne Access’ P199/mo promoted through an initial P99/mo to Smart or PLDT subscribers.

The Making of Chikka 2.0

Chikka 2.0 began as an AJAX experiment in the R&D labs of Chikka as early as 2 years ago. They developed their software, moving their desktop client (the old Chikka) to the web. The alpha was launched last December, the beta in March; target launch is late April. “It will be in continuous beta, meaning we will be continuously adding new services and features and making continuous improvements.”

Try for yourself the all-new Chikka.

Disclosure: JP Dela Torre, Co-Developer of Pinoy Web Startup, used to be associated with Bidshot Wireless, a subsidiary of Chikka Asia. He did minimal R&D on the Chikka 2.0 application.

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From: Pinoy Web Startup Team

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I’ve been entertained throughout my moomai experience… like:

• updating my mood with the mood blaster (say what you feel and why) and checking out my mood timeline.
• tagging myself and friends "chocoholic" or "CPA" or "moomai god"
• being greeted with phrases like "You’re a financially-capable ok gal who spent a lot of time in the library as a kid." – and randomly change your description with just a click.
• playing with the moomai quilt. You have to try it. Scarily addictive.
• rating yourself from 1 to 10 on each of these attributes: wealth, looks, charm, brains, and body… Plus let your friends rate you too. Honestly, though, I don’t think I can give anyone a score below 5 — except maybe wealth.
• going beyond testimonials. Share a story about yourself… or your friends.

Is there room for moomai in the ocean of social network platforms right now? Potential, there is. It’s still a bit raw (alpha stage) but with social network pros (makers of 3eep and highfiber) working on it and an all-around intuitive entertaining online experience, moomai stands a good chance.

Follow moomai’s development at syndeo::media’s blog. Right now, moomai is invitation-only. If you’d like to get one of the 40 invite tokens for Pinoy Web Startup readers, just drop a comment here. Be sure to give your correct email address.

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From: Pinoy Web Startup Team

Hey unhappily single boys and girls. 2 more days before Valentines. Where do you look for a date? You can choose from your usual friends (with benefits?), officemates, or Friendster connections. Then there’s your YM contacts, Christianster, MySpace, Multiply, or forums like Pinoy Exchange or Manila Tonight

Ever consider the solely dating websites like Itzamatch and Crushcow?

I still get notified by my Itzamatch account — dormant for at least 2 years — so I know they’re still alive. But what about Crushcow?

Crushcow (a Chikka subsidiary), started in 2001, lets you browse through profiles online or through SMS queries. The young and fabulously single could easily spend their cellphone load texting strangers through Crushcow, hoping to find that elusive 4-letter-L-word.

This chart shows site visits per month from January 2007 to present.

Scratch what I said about Itzamatch. It seems their traffic is steadily declining whereas Crushcow never took off. Looks like they’re hitting rock bottom together with Crushcow. The last update in the Crushcow forums is dated 2006. The featured profile on their homepage – kuroishi, 19, Manila says:

I’ve been the featured personnel for months already and it should have been only for a week… Crushcow seems to have been abandoned already. dead! xD

If I were single and the site had really good prospects, I’d probably use Crushcow. The mobile component is terribly convenient and apt for when I’m on the go. It would be great if I’m out late after work on a Friday night and I want to get an instant date. Ideally I could just SMS Crushcow and find a blind date right? But not if I get cheated out of P2.50 for every query. Crushcow has to come up with another revenue source and maximize their web application. Provide events for their single users like Itzamatch’s speed dating parties and school events or tie up with Close Up’s Loveapalooza. They could also show testimonials of people who have hooked up through their site.

Heard from the grapevine: A handful of Crushcow key people (non-programmers) are saying bye-bye to their now very blue company. Hope they at least get some flowers and chocolates.

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Signing up for SchoolPad is easy, administration is straightforward, and the templates have a focused layout with minimal AdSense — ideal for its target users.

Unlike the Department of Education’s (DepED) oh-so-many-requirements to getting an edu.ph domain name, you can conveniently get a http://YourSchool.SchoolPad.ph courtesy of SchoolPad. Your school or organization account is allotted a generous 25 mb — more than enough for the usual user. Even DepEd divisions use SchoolPad (e.g. DepED Misamis Oriental and DepED Bohol )

The dashboard (reminds me of Basecamp) has Pages, Calendar, Messages, Photos, and Files. Creating content is easy with the TinyMCE — just don’t go crazy with the fonts. Adding an event on the calendar is cut down to the basic info of event title and date — 3 out of 4 upcoming events were displayed on my homepage (which can look like any of these ready-made looks).

I love the shoutout function, or rather messages – which you can send to parents or even alumni to update them.

Spreading the word about SchoolPad and enabling its users to maximize their free school website definitely goes beyond online marketing. This brings up again the issue of the digital divide — there are hardly any textbooks in our public schools, how can you expect the benefits of computers/technology to touch the students who need them?

SchoolPad takes Philippine education one step closer to where it should be.

Why own a school website?

• Because you want to share the school’s philosophy, learning environment, and plans to everybody.
• Because you want to keep parents always informed of school activities and announcements.
• Because you want to share what your students learn and do in school.
• Because you want to establish a school that uses modern technology to strengthen the links between students, parents and teachers.

From SchoolPad

Nice-to-have features for the next update include:

• The homepage to look less link-farm-ish than it does now.
• option to use the school’s own top-level-domain name (TLD) — as straightforward as using tumblr on your dotcom
• search function to find a school and a more organized list of schools and organizations
• connect with alumni via Eskwela mashup… (oops, a mashup would require an API… so maybe some other kind of symbiotic linkup)
• simple upload of logo to a placeholder instead of a custom banner
• upgrade to no ads

SchoolPad is the brainchild of Greg Moreno’s Gaboogle Software — showing off Ruby on Rails!

A little bird told me about this site being sold off — true?? This platform could really do well for schools in other developing countries — and then maybe charge the richer schools.

Question to self: What happened to the services for schools to SMS announcements to parents back in 2006?

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Definitely watch out for great things from Global Trade Philippines. Why?

1. The founders are young, web-savvy, and grounded in their business. Jerry is the technical guy while Kim takes care of the business. They believe in their product and they love what they do.
2. Their market is well-defined, with lots of untapped potential. Not all web apps can enjoy such a defined audience, especially those targeting individual users. Targeting B2B is likely to be more effective and viable – just look at Salesforce and Alibaba.
3. They know their industry. Whether it’s because they have a Chinese (read: entrepreneurial) background or they did extensive research, they understand the needs of their users.
4. Revenue model is straightforward. Their annual subscription fees are quite affordably priced at PHP 1,440 ($36)4,800 for Micro (Basic) and PHP 2,400 ($60)7,200 for Pro (Premium). You can tell they started with a feasibility study and this is a website is a business just like any.
5. Offline PR boosts GlobalTradePhilippines userbase — and shows that it’s meaningful for its users. Even though for 37 signals, teaser-preview-launch (all happening online) seems to be enough. When you target a Filipino audience, going institutional and using offline PR is still necessary.

Just a couple of weak points before I pack up. Rates and Copy.

As an ordinary visitor, I’d first look for a Rates link (which I didn’t find) that shows me a rates table (Basic, Premium) that’s NOT in pdf. Then direct me to the registration page.

The pages are also very text-heavy. When GlobalTradePhilippines does its next iteration, I’d just like to see very brief points, just a list of key benefits and call to action, and maybe a tour and screenshots – aside from the usual register/login, etc. Testimonials would be great to see too. I’m curious to see how suppliers have expanded since using the site.

Watch out for our interview with GlobalTradePhilippines later this week.

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From: Pinoy Web Startup Team