By Peter Berton
LOS ANGELES – Computer dating ain’t what it used to be, especially for people looking for more of a one-night stand than a date. So-called “casual dating” websites have sprung up across the World Wide Web like dandelions, offering members everything from vanilla sexual liaisons to every fetish imaginable. Some even enable finding like-minded adults nearby.
Mixxxer is one such product. The mobile program uses GPS technology to facilitate real-time hookups between users in the same vicinity.
According to founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael Manes, is Mixxxer’s founder and chief executive officer.
YNOT: How does Mixxxer work?
Michael Manes: Users sign up through their mobile web browser and are able to see other adults with similar sexual interests in their local area. Because Mixxxer finds users based on proximity, it works great when traveling. No matter where you are, you can whip out your phone and see exactly who’s around you.
Users can use the “Mixxx” feature, which is very similar to [mainstream proximity dating app] Tinder, to see if they have any mutual matches in the area. If they do, they’re allowed to communicate with those users for free. If they wish to contact users directly, regardless whether there is a match, they can sign up for a premium membership for as low as $6.65 per month.
What inspired the product?
Mainly frustration from using other so called “hookup”” apps. We found that most were simply dating apps masquerading as hookup apps.
Proximity dating apps have been forced to conform due to their dependency on traffic from the app stores, which have a strict set of vanilla rules. We also saw the rising concern of privacy in the adult marketplace, which inspired the creation of the “shower door” privacy filter and certain proximity limit safeguards.
[Ed.: The “shower door” filter renders virtually unrecognizable any images sent by camera phone.]
What sort of uptake has Mixxxer had?
During the first week after our public launch, we had more than 75,000 sign-ups. We’ve seen the swinger community embrace us, and we’re seeing a lot of couples enjoy the service.
No one can say the concept of hookup apps is unique. Do you expect Mixxxer to change the face of modern dating, or just add a new option?
There is an enormous appetite for [what Mixxxer offers] in the market. We’re seeing a lot of the larger adult dating websites struggle to stay relevant with the advent of mobile phones and a trend toward more mobile browsing.
We’re the answer to that. We’re much lower in cost, simple, intuitive and entirely mobile. People are just not willing to shell out $35 a month for a membership on an adult dating site anymore.
Do you plan to “go global?”
Yes. The first city we’ll be launching in overseas? Zurich. It’s one of the horniest cities in the world, according to our analytics.
