Should Microsoft make its own dating service?

It’s no secret that online dating has been taking over the world for years. This is happening on such a large scale that big companies like Facebook are also interested in making strides in this industry. So far, nothing is known about Microsoft’s thoughts on this. However, we can already guess what factors should be considered if it will come to implementation.

1.) Choice of niche

For young or mature? Serious dating or casual as on tenderbang? There are dozens of new niches in the dating industry.  The reasons for this are obvious. Once upon a time, dating sites were fairly conservative, or at least, a little unimaginative. They were set up like the ‘lonely hearts’ columns they quickly replaced in newspapers and magazines, primarily providing an outlet where single males could contact single females in a secure environment. But human sexuality is so much more complex than boy meets girl, and the Internet is the perfect platform for introducing an entire dimension of possibilities – everything from dating for mature people to dating for former soldiers– and any other subject you could imagine.

The second important aspect of online dating is that there are no longer any restrictions due to geography. Singles once had to rely on hanging out in bars, nightclubs, or in social functions in their neighbourhood. The available technology means that once they sign up for a matching service they could be video-chatting with an attractive single on the far side of the globe.

It can be concluded that the application will first of all have to be universal, just like Microsoft users.

2.) Dating site or app?

Before Microsoft invest in this type of product, they will need to consider several aspects of online dating. Firstly, there are hundreds of websites and apps out there, so the marketplace is already well-established. But dating is such a basic human aspiration, and as has been mentioned, so incredibly diverse, there is hardly likely to be any signs of a downward curve in the overall graph. New sites are being launched regularly. A corporation like Microsoft, which has a widespread customer base, already possesses the tools to tap into any portion of this market it wishes.

Microsoft is also a highly-respected brand, so another key consideration would be how to best go about carving a slice of this lucrative arena. There are all sorts of sites out there, some professional, streamlined and polished, others downright tacky. Any Microsoft product will have to be aimed firmly at those customers drawn to the former.

The question of whether this would be floated as a website or app is pretty much a no-brainer. Online dating has long passed the tipping point where mobile phone or smart device users outnumber those accessing computers or laptops. This is where branding would play a key role in ensuring a Microsoft dating app would integrate smoothly and logically with its everything else currently available in its app store.

3.) International love

As has been stated, dating sites have a universal appeal, transcending political barriers, enabling customers to reach out to potential partners at the tap of a few keys. This could be someone two blocks away, or two time zones away.

But here are the most relevant statistics for any dating website developers to consider. At present, there are an estimated 1.2 billion Microsoft users across the globe. In the USA alone, dating services generated $3 billion in revenue in 2018, a total expected to grow by 25% by the current year. Combining these two markets could produce jaw dropping figures.