Build It and They Will Come. Clicck Announces Partnership With ECPI to Develop Cutting Edge Facebook App, Once Again Defying the Critics!

MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Clicck.com CEO Chris Ovide, Online Dating's Newest Tech Guru, announced a partnership with ECPI today to jointly develop a Facebook App, Field of Dreams, leveraging Clicck's patented Facial Recognition, Personality Profiling Platform and Vocal Matching system, with the well known social networking site's massive database of member's demographic and visual information. The result is an exciting innovation as to how, and to what end Facebook User's profiles can be accessed and utilized in the search for love and companionship.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110119/NY32289 )

CEO Chris Ovide points out, "By gearing our technology towards working in conjunction with both Facebook Connect and Facebook Member's Friends of Friends list we are able to optimize the search for romantic partners in an extraordinarily innovative fashion. This has many positive ramifications in terms of utility for the consumer as well as a win-win for Facebook and Clicck . Facebook has essentially given dating sites an extremely powerful gift, which if utilized properly will result in a huge reciprocal benefit for all concerned.  

How does it work? The application analyzes a reference picture loaded onto Clicck's Facial Recognition server that is used as a baseline for the users conception of visual perfection. This guideline is then analyzed and used as the standard in matching the Clicck user's image with that of a friend's Facebook profile. This standard is then applied in searching through and identifying qualified matches by applying the predetermined visual standard against public profile pics found on Facebook Friends of Friends lists. Once a match is pin pointed, a notice is sent either directly to the potential match or conversely to the mutual friend asking them to provide a formal introduction. Finally, the Facebook user who has been identified as meeting the criteria set forth by the member initiating the search is then invited to utilize the app; allowing them to engage Clicck's holistic platform directly to provide a more in-depth analysis of the two individuals compatibility.

"Lately, we have come under pressure from critics who decry our focus on preference in applying technology and ask what we are doing to increase our subscriber base. While it appears we have found a source of Venture Capital which will be exceptionally beneficiary in marketing and growing our subscriber numbers, it is imperative that we continue to advance towards perfecting our product and increasing our brand recognition rather then resting on our laurels or taking the easy road out and using marketing strategies alone to gain critical mass in subscribership," says Clicck's driving force.

"Recent legal disputes amongst smartphone companies concerning IP infringement have only galvanized us  to press forward with the site build-out utilizing less conventional strategies in product development and branding, it may be unorthodox it has gotten us this far." Continues CEO Chris Ovide. "On the other hand I have ensured Clicck's IP and holistic product platform has been properly protected should it become necessary to defend against grievous IP infringement. Clicck was built from the ground up rather then top down. We don't agree with the proposition that tech innovations are secondary to sheer subscription numbers as many pundits have put forth. Quite the opposite is true given the very nature of an internet based business. Innovation and utility are unquestionably essential to success. Apple Computer is a perfect example of this line of thinking and ultimate corporate strategy."

Partnering with, and utilizing, university students as developers provides a low-cost, effective and mutually rewarding method of leveling the playing field, reducing the importance of capital as an indicator of success and defying critics who posit that the barrier to entry in this market is extremely high. Field of Dreams, provides an excellent viral marketing solution for Clicck, highlighting the huge benefits an advanced tech platform coupled with an large, and loyal customer base such as Facebook's, can provide consumers with exciting and fresh ways to connect. "Facebook's fans are accustomed to and even demand new and exciting applications continuously adding to the site's intrinsic worth. This in turn has resulted in market dominance and is a good example of how they came to dominate the social networking field. If the dating market is so resistant to the advantages new technology provides then it is a bit unclear why Facebook succeeded given the two markets are very much similar. Regardless, they stay fresh and innovative, catering to their subscribers preferences for user friendly applications, interfaces and games, keeping ahead of the business is a requirement to survival in this growing  yet currently mature space.  

"Lets face it," notes Chris Ovide, "the massive amounts of marketing dollars required just to maintain a sizable market share and the latest market wide steep drop in revenue growth are definitely not the result of a decrease in overall market size. Even if eHarmony or Match could claim a 100% success rate, population growth, aging and the increasing adoption and access to the Internet worldwide will always provide a new, virgin market. If you consider this from a logical perspective, even considering a decrease in market size do to successful revenue growth, could potentially increase as the primary overhead in this sector; marketing dollars.  This would in turn entail a decrease in marketing expenditures. Since its inception Clicck has utilized its angel round of financing of $300k primarily in the research and development of it's tech based platform. Its been a very trying mission but one ultimately very awarding."

According to former Army Colonel and Clicck COO Darry Johnson, "Clicck's overall mission is Quality not Quantity.

"Clicck is basically a massive filter giving the end user more qualified choices while alternatively allowing them to interconnect with a much larger pool of potential partners. Facebook's announcement of their redesign of Facebook Connect was the final green light we need to forge ahead with this unique app. By simplifying Facebook Connect, Facebook's management has made a brilliant tactical decision and is ultimately a statement of their desire and interest in fostering third party companies' efforts towards integrating various and potentially groundbreaking apps into their repertoire of customer solutions. It's basically a de-facto partnership, not legally binding but with very little risk to Facebook given the parameters and a good deal of incentive to keep good relations with the smaller entrepreneurs. The new Facebook Connect will provide third party dating sites vital information enabling companies such as Clicck with clear guidelines to work from with the added incentive of opening the playing field up to smaller startups such as ourselves," adds COO Johnson.

Chris Ovide points out, "We have been discussing marrying our facial recognition and repertoire of tech driven matchmaking tools with Facebook's massive and info rich, user data base. If successful, this combo would ultimately result in a win-win for both Facebook and Clicck." Mr. Ovide continued, "Honestly this Facebook app has been in the works for some time, but I was a little concerned about whether or not Facebook would find this sort of 'search tool' to be invasive of their members privacy. Because of that and our own budget constraints, we have been waiting until we could source the app development at a relatively low cost and/or ascertain a proof of concept that would justify larger capital expenditures in developing this unique and potentially game changing shared application. I am quite excited that Facebook has, by streamlining and offering access to their user's profile data and demographic information in a broad sense partnered with Clicck and other small entrepreneurs to help unify the Social Networking and Online Dating communities for the benefit of both companies and mankind in general."

For inquiries contact [email protected] or call 757-803-6682

SOURCE Clicck.com