Skalfa eCommerce Press

What’s New on SkadateCS.com

Posted in Miscellaneous, News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: certified web developers' · dating software · SkaDate · SkaDate Certified Specialists · SkaDate marketplace

We are glad to inform you that SkadateCS.com has now become a public resource free for anyone to join. We welcome everybody seeking or offering professional customization services for SkaDate Dating Software.

At this point we need your assistance. If you’ve ever had SkaDate modifications done by a third-party specialist, and liked the quality of the services provided – refer the developer to SkadateCS.com, and send your positive review to SkadateCS administration. We will be glad to add the contractor you’ve recommended to the Featured List, thus helping other SkadateCS customers find the right person to trust their projects to.

You can learn more about SkadateCS news at SkaDate Dating Software blog.

Best regards,
SkaDate Team

SkaDate Dating Script – New Build and Christmas Discounts

Posted in News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: christmas discounts · release · SkaDate

Here we are finally – the Christmas Holidays are right behind the corner. We can feel them coming with decorated trees, cozy family evenings and Christmas gifts we’ve been dreaming about during the year.

SkaDate Team have come up with two great news: the new build of SkaDate Dating Software, and a Christmas special: SkaDate Script + Mobile Edition for only $350 (regular price $500). The special offer will last until December 25, 2010, so hurry up to start your successful business with SkaDate now!

You can find more information on the new software build features and discounts at our official blog, and from our pre-sale team who are happy to answer your questions 24/7.

Happy Holidays from SkaDate Team!

SkaDate 8 Engage – New Version of SkaDate Dating Software

Posted in News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: dating software · release · SkaDate · skadate 8 · skadate features

We are pleased to announce releasing a new version of SkaDate Dating Software – SkaDate 8 Engage.

It has a number of stunning features for members, and a few significant improvements for site administrators.

Here is what you will find in SkaDate 8 Engage Dating Script:

• New social networking and dating templates

SkaDate 8 comes with two new themes: Bubbles (great for a dating site) and Moonlight (perfect for a business or social network).

• Games

A capturing entertaining feature for your site members that will make their online dating experience even more fun and interactive. Includes single- and multiplayer games, such as: PentHouse Pool Single Player, Domino Multiplayer, PokerStar, Learn Texas Holdem, Domino Singleplayer, Texas Hold’em Multiplayer.

The Games feature can be easily enabled/disabled via the Admin Panel. Games can be user credits- and membership-dependent.

• Speed-Dating

SkaDate 8 Engage introduces another way for your site members to get to know each other in relaxed and social atmosphere.

Speed-dating is a series of time-limited conversations the event participants go through with the members who meet the matching criteria. It allows site users to meet a lot of new people within one date in a fun and easy way.

Speed-dating feature can work with default Ajax text chat or with audio/video chat add-ons.

• Sign-up with Mobile Edition

Your potential site members now have a freedom to join right from their mobile device. A simplified (shortened) sign-up form consists of a few basic questions making the join process fast and simple.

• Password protection for photo albums

Members’ privacy comes first. Instead of protecting each and every private photo with a password, site users can now make the whole album password-protected so that only the closest friends could see its contents.

• Comments summary

Now a site user can see comments for all the content they uploaded in one place. This simplifies the process of comments overview, and helps users not to miss a thing.

• Photo tags

Now there is a possibility to tag photos with keywords, thus making photo browsing more convenient for site users.

• New secure image (captcha)

The new captcha looks more attractive while providing the same level of security.

• Sound signal on incoming IM message

This little improvement will ensure the members receive each and every single message when having a private chat. Can be turned on/off by a member.

• Categories for Virtual Gifts

The Virtual Gifts divided by categories make it easier for a user to choose the right gift for every special occasion.

• Possibility to modify the MemberHome page components via Admin Panel

A simplified component-based code customization interface is now available in SkaDate Online Dating Software for a MemberHome page. Now you can play with the MemberHome page components without accessing the software files and folders on the server.

• Simplified interface for disabling dating features

SkaDate PHP Dating Script comes with a variety of dating and social networking features, thus allowing you to create a website that would match either concept. To make it easier for you to convert your site into a purely social network, we have made it possible to disable all the major dating features in one place in the Admin Panel (no code modification required).

• Option to choose European or US date format on the site

To make it right both for our US and European customers we have added a possibility to choose the date format to display on your site that best meets the needs of your target audience.

• Delete a profile with member content

Those having to deal with spammer profiles on a daily basis will like this feature a lot. It gives you an option to delete a member’s profile along with all the content they were able to post while having access to your site. Meaning that you won’t have to surf through the forum and blog posts searching for the spam content and deleting it every time you remove an unwanted profile.

These and other features added to SkaDate 8 Engage bring it to the new level of interactivity, making the software even more competitive and user-friendly.

Good news for the existing SkaDate customers is that having enhanced the script with new features, we didn’t change the core. This makes SkaDate 8 Engage fully compatible with versions 7 and 7,5 meaning there is no need to restore site modifications from scratch after upgrading.

Check the Live Demo of SkaDate 8 Engage, learn more about the new SkaDate Dating Software features, and ask your questions from our pre-sale team 24/7.

Oxwall software (formerly OpenWack) released

Posted in News, Oxwall, Products | Tags: release

We are happy to announce that our startup-in-residence, Oxwall software has been released. Feel free to read details and to download first betas.

Let’s see what comes out of this experiement. One thing is sure: Oxwall comes as the long-awaited freedom solution for WackWall community. Good luck to the Oxwall team in their journey!

Company update

Posted in Miscellaneous, News | Tags: company

This is to notify that our US head office moved to Salem, Oregon and changed organization form to LLC. From now on our official company details are the following:

Skalfa LLC
942 Windmere Dr NW
Salem OR, 97304
Phone: 971-239-5964

We will update our websites with the new details shortly.

Other locations worldwide are unchanged.

SkaDate Dating Software Update – 7.5.1877

Posted in Miscellaneous, News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: dating software · dating templates · new builds · new features · release · SkaDate

We are glad to announce launching a new build of SkaDate Dating Script – 7.5.1877

SkaDate Dating Software now features even more colorful community templates, popular user features and site administration improvements.

Below is what you will find in SkaDate 7.5.1877:

USER FEATURES

Three new templates: Avatar, Dream Date, Guys

Facebook contacts import

Your members have a great opportunity to invite their Facbook friends to join your site. A perfect promotional tool for your online dating business!

Possibility to add RSS feeds from third-party resources

Your site members can make their profile page more interesting and attractive by adding RSS feeds from their favorite resources

Categories for video

Categories for video will make it easier for your site members to browse the uploaded clips.

Possibility to start new conversations from the Mailbox

Site users can start new conversations right from the mailbox. For their convenience, the system will offer auto-complete options from the friends list for the addressee field.

Forum improvements:

- possibility to attach files to forum posts

- possibility to insert pictures to a forum post body

- possibility to send private messages from the forum post view page

ADMIN FEATURES

Notification about new member registration

To provide faster profile review and maximum attention to the new registered users, site Admins have an option to enable new member registration notifications to email.

Classifieds items approval tool

Site Admins can choose whether new classified items will be approved automatically or manually.

SITE FEATURES

Geo-targeted advertisement

SkaDate Dating Software has come up with another tool for making your ad campaigns even more efficient. Geo-targeted ads allow you to reach the target audience with the content that depends on the visitor’s location.

PHP 5.3 support

SkaDate now supports PHP 5.3 in order to keep up with the latest coding standards.

There have been done a few fixes and usability improvements, which has made SkaDate Dating Script more stable and user-friendly.

Learn more about the new SkaDate build at our Dating Software Blog, check the Live Demo and ask your questions from our pre-sales team 24/7 at www.skadate.com.

Kind regards
SkaDate Team

SkaDate Dating Software Support Changes

Posted in Miscellaneous, News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: dating software · SkaDate · skadate support

Greetings to all SkaDate dating software customers, and those thinking to join our team.

We have an update on SkaDate individual ticket support service.

First of all, we have come up with a long-awaited decision to provide one month of individual ticket support for free to all new SkaDate dating script customers. We understand how difficult it may be for site owners to deal with a management system of professional dating software at the initial stage. Our support operators will be glad to assist you with mastering SkaDate dating software configuration tips, thus tailoring the site to your needs.

Another news is a slight change in SkaDate ticket support hours. From April 7, 2010 we have been providing individual ticket support from 9 am to 6 pm (GMT +6, Monday-Friday) instead of the former 10 am to 7 pm schedule.

We hope the changes in our support service will become another advantage for building a successful business with SkaDate dating script.

Best regards,
SkaDate Team

7.5.1550 – New Build of SkaDate Dating Software

Posted in Miscellaneous, News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: dating software · release · SkaDate · skadate features

Hello all,

SkaDate Team is glad to present a new SkaDate dating software build – 7.5.1550.

It comes with new features, usability enhancements and minor bug fixes. This is what you will find in SkaDate 7.5.1550:

• Improved User Points system

• New Latest Activity items

• Official safari support

• Integration of Honesty Online background check service

• Possibility to disable the ‘Latest Activity’ feature in the Admin Panel

• Possibilitiy to add emoticons to the status line on the Memberhome page

• Possibility for Site Administrator to set the number of profiles displayed in the ‘Friends List’

• Usability improvements

Learn more about the new SkaDate dating script build, check the Live Demo and ask your questions from our pre-sales operators 24/7 at www.SkaDate.com.

Best regards,
SkaDate Team

New WackWall blog

Posted in News, Projects, WackWall, Xitti | Tags: blog · move

We decided to set up brand new WackWall blog and separate it from this one. Multiple blogs are harder to manage but they make ordinary user’s life easier. Guess what we choose?

It’s not completely ready yet so we will make some tweaking but from now on all info about the ongoing WackWall/Xitti updates will be posted there.

Find it here: blog.WackWall.com. Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds.

Best Dating Software Solution for Your Business

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tags: cms · dating software · dating software solutions · freeware · hosted web platform

Dating and community software market has expanded greatly influenced by overwhealming success of such website industry giants as Facebook, MySpace, Match.com and eHarmony. An idea of starting a dating site or a social network that would grow into a multimillion-turnover business sounds incredibly tempting. Live examples of such dream-come-true models add more fuel to the web site-building fever.

The variety of community and dating site solutions offered in the market today is amazing: freeware, CMS, paid software solutions and hosted web platforms. Each has its own advantages and shortcomings. And before you start building a site of your dream you have to think carefully which way to go as to choosing the platform for your project. Let me walk you through pros and cons of major site-building solutions to help you make the right choice matching your expectations and opportunities.

Let’s start with freeware, which is a free community/dating script. Before you dig for details it looks like a perfect chance to build a website without spending a penny. But in reality it doesn’t work exactly that way. Freeware solutions are normally developed with potential for further improvement by webmasters. Which means that most likely you will not get some of the desired site features in the default package. It is usually a platform with basic functionality accompanied by development manuals and requiring a professional programmer touch to turn into a competitive dating or community network.
Pros: Since the script itself is free – you actually lose nothing by giving it a try. Pretty often the essential plugins for a free platform are offered by a vendor for extra fee. However, if the software is popular – you will face no lack of support communities and freelancers knowing the given code’s inside outs.
Cons: If you don’t have skills in coding, or at least a dedicated developer who you can trust – think twice before starting with freeware (especially if it is not so well-known). Chances are, you will not be able to get it work the way you need without proper customization. Another unpleasant ‘might-be’ is that after weeks (or months) of studying the code architecture and developing plugins for it you come to a conclusion that this particular script is still not doing it for you. This can be a huge disappointment, especially if you are limited in time. Also, quite possibly you will find yourself unable to remove the vendor’s copyright or advertisement, as the code (even stated to be an open source) may contain licensed or encrypted files.
Advice: Better forget about an idea of creating a really professional and competitive community site for free. This will never happen, even if you go with freeware. If you want your project to work for you – be prepared to invest. And a free opensource script may become just the right platform for building your dream, but only in case the software is of a good quality, and there is someone who knows what he’s doing when it comes to web programming.

Now, let’s move to paid software. Usually these are turn-key solutions that just need installing to a server for you to get an up and running site. Sounds like magic, and this is why they cost money. Paid dating scripts are supposed to have all essential features to make your site complete and ready for the first visitor. On top of that, you should get a variety of professional site templates, which will ease the designing issue.
Pros: are obvious. You have all chances to build a ’serious’ website even if you don’t have extensive skills in coding. Paid dating software vendors normally offer installation services, so you won’t need to bother about getting the site up. Plus, you get support service and regular updates and version upgrades, which means that your site features will always be up-to-date.
Cons: Having a ready-made website you might still want its conception to be unique, which means that you will go for custom design and probably want to add new features and integrate third-party applications. And here we are stuck at code modifications again. Most paid dating script vendors offer customization services though, so you shouldn’t have problems with finding a skilled developer.
Advice: Choosing a suitable paid script you should pay attention at two main aspects – source code encryption and features included in the default community software package. Quite often software vendors that state providing an open source code still leave some files licensed or encrypted, which makes it difficult or even impossible to perform certain code modifications. So be sure to confirm this before purchase. Also, don’t get immediately attracted by a low price. In most cases it stands for a basic-complectation package that might not include such essentials as chat, forum, blogs, video sharing, events etc. As a rule, these ‘additional’ features are sold as plugins for extra fee. So the full-featured package cost with the necessary plugins included might get twice as high.

Hosted web platforms are quite popular, as they can be a great solution for those willing to start a communtiy site in a fast and easy way. This is usually a service allowing you to build your own site hosted on a vendor’s server.
Pros: Site-building process is simple, and requires almost no efforts from your side. No coding knowledge involved. If you are seeking to start your own social network that would be easy and fun to manage at minimum expenses – a hosted web platform might be the perfect solution.
Cons: Your site will be hosted on a vendor’s server, so forget about access to the software source code. This means that you will not be able to customize your web site (change design or add new features), and the only option is to go for additional plugins that might cost extra. Developer’s branding and advertisement removal is either impossible or requires monthly payments. Often you are not allowed to use your own domain name, so your site URL will be a vendor’s subdomain. Besides, as the number of site members reaches a certain limit – you will most likely be asked to pay for hosting your network.
Advice: If the reason you are starting a web site is not just a spontaneous wish to check what it’s like, but a mature decision to build your own business – better find out all details before stepping into this. Confirm how vendor’s conditions will change once your network grows really big. Make sure that you will be able to transfer your members database to another software should the need occur. If you are building a web site with specific conception – check if this kind of content is accepted by the service provider, otherwise your network might be deleted.
To sum it up, a hosted web platform can be a great solution for the newbies in online dating business provided they can handle all the cons.

CMS stands for Content Management System, which sounds quite self-explanatory. This is a basic platform with a standard set of features that can be modified into a web site accomodating your needs.
Pros: You can turn it into almost anything, starting with a dating site, and ending with an e-commerce shopping cart.
Cons: It’s not the right choice for those with no coding skills. Just like any universal system, it might be fairly good for a great lot of projects, but never too good for a particular one. In other words, it will not have that specific set of opportunities a specialized script provides.
Advice: If you are seeking to build a specialized niche web site with a CMS – call for a good developer. If you do not have enough coding skills – it will be hard to impossible for you to get the site work and look the way you need.

Of course, this is not the ultimate software solutions guide. There is much more to find, test and learn. But at least it is something to start an online venture path with. Be sure to choose the right solution and the right script as it forms the basis of your future success.

If you have questions, or a piece of experience to share – feel free to post your comments.

Image sources: i.ehow.com, granite5.com, ukvirtual-college.co.uk