The Straits Instances. The latest this type of application hitting smartphones has its eye on a niche clientele – Muslim singles.
Newest internet dating app support Muslim singles meet. Different application designers state business is booming
Portable internet dating programs such as for example pad & Minah and Paktor (over) desire to bring depressed hearts with each other. — PICTURE: PAKTOR
Portable matchmaking software like Mat & Minah (overhead) and Paktor hope to push depressed hearts along. — PHOTO: ZURAIMIE ISMAIL
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In earlier times couple of years, a few locally evolved cellular dating applications have appeared, guaranteeing possibilities for lonely hearts with a simple swipe of this finger.
Mat & Minah – a tongue-in-cheek regard to colloquial jargon for young Malay both women and men – premiered finally month and will become downloaded for free.
It really is currently available only for iPhone customers, but an Android variation is rolled out-by next month.
Mr Zuraimie Ismail, 43, manager 
of Skimly, the firm that developed the software, sunk in $20,000 into this project after becoming influenced by his sis and co-workers that have however getting hitched.
He states: “several are not the social kind and making newer buddies on the opposite sex is a significant obstacle.
“The Muslim people accustomed depend on parents for tips for lovers, but this training have decreased. Using such an app produces a convenient technique these to get to know other individuals in esteem.”
Mr Zuraimie adds that there’s no formal looks to aid matchmake Muslim singles, while some mosques incorporate a secure planet to aid singles find potential life associates.
According to research by the most recent figures posted of the office of stats Singapore, the amount of singles among ethnic Malays happens to be on the rise.
In 2000, 53.4 % of ethnic Malay people aged 25 to 29 happened to be unmarried, compared to 66.6 per-cent this year. For women, that figure increased from 27 per-cent in 2000 to 45.1 per cent this season.
For cultural Malay guys aged 30 to 34, the portion of singles jumped from 24.4 per-cent in 2000 to 30.5 percent this season. For ladies, the number edged upwards from 12.7 % in 2000 to 18.2 per cent in 2010.
Up until now, we have witnessed about 300 downloads for the Mat & Minah application, with 200 productive people.
Developers of smartphone matchmaking apps say they are doing flourishing business.
One app, Paktor, launched in June just last year, have “grown exponentially in the last few months” and today boasts a seven-figure account base, co-founder Joseph Phua, 30, uncovers.
Really love aloud Asia (Lola), founded finally November, claims to posses effectively matched up above 10,000 singles to date.
Mr Kenneth Lim, 28, among the many co-founders, feels there can be “proven commercial advantages in creating market online dating sites”.
He brings: “we are also continuously exploring opportunities to develop niche solutions that appeal to particular demographics aswell. But for today, our very own main priority is has laser target properly helping a specific sector we mark as ‘serious daters’.”
Lola provides one fit everyday to consumers because it suits those that genuinely want a long-lasting partnership.
Will Mat & Minah be able to be noticed into the crowded mobile relationship app business?
The software deals with a concept pioneered by prominent online dating software Tinder, where consumers subscribe to a merchant account by syncing it along with their fb profile.
Users of Mat & Minah can view images of potential suits and standard suggestions such as for instance years, profession and if they share shared myspace buddies.
You can elect to fancy or hate the individual in your cellphone by swiping the telephone monitor remaining or appropriate. For a charge, one could additionally learn which consumers posses “liked” all of them, regardless if there’s absolutely no complement.
Ms Lydia Gan, 40, owner of 8,000- user online dating agencies Clique practical and appreciate once more, which offers partnership mentoring, says the software will appeal to a young generation seeking major affairs.
“They don’t need certainly to read people of some other religions, or capable assume that everybody is Muslim, or are at least open to transformation,” she says.
However the former chairman and existing person in the relationship of relationships firms and Matchmakers includes by using internet dating, whether through website or cellular telephone programs, precautions should always be used.
“see in a general public put on very first go out, notify your buddies or family of the activities and keep them aware, and then try to keep an unbarred brain whether it fails
Lose Nur Ain Ahmad, 27, whom signed up for the pad & Minah software, says she got a number of matches.
States the programs service expert: “i am on other mobile relationships applications such as for instance OKCupid, Tinder and Paktor. The plus point is getting a 100 per cent match with a local Malay or Muslim guy with every single swipe.”