Friday, March 6th, 2009
Today I am going to cover two major things we have for you. The first thing is about the new build of SkaDate dating software and community script – SkaDate 7.1081. This build contains new features, improvements and minor fixes. SkaDate 7 developers prepared the following interesting features for SkaDate license owners:
XML Sitemap automatic generator. Now SkaDate 7 dating software will be more search engine friendly due to the XML sitemap which will be automatically generated each time users create profiles, forum topics, blogs, photos and etc. You just need to submit your SkaDate web site’s XML site map to Google via Webmasters tools (Google webmasters). This XML Sitemap will help Google, Yahoo and other search engines to crawl and index your web site consequently you get more positions in search results. Read more about XML Sitemaps.
SMS billing. SkaDate 7 dating software and community script now has sms billing. This is a long-awaited feature. SkaDate 7 supports the following SMS billing payment providers: DaoPay.com and Zong.com You get an account at one of the mentioned sms billing payment providers and your members can pay for these services: Hot List (profiles at the sidebar) and 24 hours trial membership. We think to develop other services for sms billing but a bit later. This feature will help you to increase your revenue through getting real-time payments for your web site’s services from your members. A number of customers prefer to pay for online services by sms and not to share their credit card information. You may reach additional number of customers from your target audience. Try out SkaDate 7 dating software Demo
Profile view customization feature has been improved. Now you may easily change the color of your profile background or customize the background with a picture.
Classifieds are now available in SkaDate 7. Your members can easily advertise their services, sell things, post jobs in the section for classifieds. Other members can add bids and add comments to posted classifieds. It’s a useful feature to interest your members and involve them into social networking and even help them to earn money while being your web site’s members. You will find Classifieds at SkaDate 7 Demo http://www.skadate.com/demo/classifieds.php
Mail system and Cron improvement. We changed the priority of mailing letters to users in SkaDate 7. Now welcome and verification letters will be sent at high priority. As for mass mailing and activity scheduler letters they will be sending every 30 minutes.
3 new cool templates are available in this build plus we adjusted old templates to IE-7. Check them here.
Second thing is about the changes in pricing for SkaDate additional licenses, prices for design integration and designing a unique template.
Design integration price has been reduced from $1000 to $400. Designing a unique template price has been also reduced from $3000 to $1000. We reduced the prices due to the simplicity of the new way of template integration introduced in this SkaDate update. You can have a unique design from SkaDate designers or integrate your design – now it’s even more affordable!
Discounts for SkaDate 7 dating software packages. Now if you buy additional license of SkaDate 7 dating software solution or managed solution you get discounts. Here are the discounted prices for additional SkaDate dating software packages:
| SkaDate Software Solution |
SkaDate Managed Solution |
1st license – $795
2nd license – $695
3rd license – $595 |
1st license – $395
2nd license – $295
3rd license – $195 |
I guess it’s enough for now. Our technical team works hard and in the next build will be available one more important feature for social networking and dating web sites – groups. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to leave your comments.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Regards, Tim.
Posted in Miscellaneous, News, SkaDate | Tags: dating software · design integration · discounts · new build · release · SkaDate · SMS billing · unique design · XML sitemap
Friday, December 26th, 2008
It’s the day after the Christmas night but everybody is in the office. I am so incredibly excited to make this announcement that I can hardly type. I will try though. 
We are rolling out the seventh major release of our flagship product – SkaDate. This is the product of 6 months of hard work by big development team and one crazy month of heavy testing. And what is even more valuable, this is also the product of company’s 4 years of experience.
SkaDate 7 intentionally has no codename unlike previous versions, SuccessPoint and Unity. Number 7 has been lucky for the company on several occasions so it deserved to be not only the version number but also the official name.
SkaDate traditionally had a full pack of features thus with this release we concentrated on the overall usability, stability, and performance. SkaDate 7 introduces the new platform engine with reworked forms, AJAX, JavaScript, templates, languages, document and component models. Those changes (both explicit and implicit) are just too much to list them here but I will cover some of the important ones.
Features
We have reworked some of the features according to the feedback from our customers and now are glad to introduce new level of usability for events, video, blogs, forum, mailbox, and others.
As one example, video now supports not only plain uploading of files but also embedding video codes from any of the video sharing sites out there. It means that your members can now generate content for you without actually uploading files to your servers – only embedding their favorite clips from their favorite video sharing services. On your site they will be wrapped up in comments, tags, rates, and selections – so your site can become a big meta video storage in no time with zero costs.
Security
Security has always been one of the strongest points of our software. SkaDate 7 continues this tradition by using the same methods of protecting site content. We just had some optimizations and fixes during the development since SkaDate 6 security still remains unbeaten.
Performance
This is an interesting topic about SkaDate 7 and I want to cover it in details.
What are the usual ways to optimize performance on high-traffic websites? There are several tools to set up for a site like Nginx (a tiny proxy-server that optimizes HTTP requests for Apache) and Memcache (in-memory data storage) and others. Finally, there is clusterization – the last measure because it adds up considerable running costs and helps when nothing else can. You set up separate server(s) for database and for http requests. There is a load balancer that sends queries to the least loaded server out of the cluster. Database and storage servers need to be synchronized which is also a complicated task. This method provides scalability solution for any usage volume, the only downside is high cost and big additional complexity.
These methods are transparent for programming code – you can apply them to any existing site. We believe the optimization starts from ground zero – at planning and writing software.
SkaDate introduces built-in performance optimization by smart cache handle. Imagine that there’s a selection of latest site members on the homepage and every time anyone opens it, this selection is queried against the database (that has say a million members). SkaDate caches this selection to a compiled HTML code and doesn’t make any queries. Once a new member signs up this cache gets removed and SkaDate makes one new query which gets cached until the next selection change. If 1,000 visitors open your homepage and only 3 of them sign up, SkaDate makes 3 selections instead of 1,000 and gives you 333 times performance boost for this unit.
This is one small example of how SkaDate handles data and caches pages and their parts for making as little SELECT database queries as possible. Given that SELECTs absolutely outnumber INSERTs and UPDATEs on an average community site this gives unlimited possibilities for performance. Eliminating actual database queries can’t be substituted with other methods. A really busy site on SkaDate can even do without high-cost clusterization with only internal cache handle, nginx, and memcache.
Almost one year ago I said that there’s no way to handle million userbase sites on PHP/MySQL. I’m going to gladly eat my words once we perform a number of tests on SkaDate 7. There is no packaged software that does this kind of optimization, SkaDate comes first to enable businesses play big games.
Template management and integration
Another big advantage is the new way to handle templates. Given that we removed regular HTML markup from templates we now offer easier and much faster template integration and better support for new features. From now on we do not need to add markup to all templates when we add a minor feature or rebuild an old one, and new templates are integrated way easier. For you it means bigger selection of 100% up-to-date templates and 5 times as cheaper custom template integration.
In templates you can actually override the default HTML markup with your own, but except for the homepage in 99% of cases you don’t need to. We ported 5 templates from the previous version and created 2 new ones within a couple of weeks. Earlier that process would take us about a couple of months. From now on we can extend our free collection of high-end dating site templates on the constant basis.
Index page now supports arbitrary HTML code insertion and inclusion of the standard components, like latest profiles, video, photos, etc. You can even add/remove main menu, standard header, sidebar, etc.. to quickly create a unique homepage for your dating/social networking site.
Forms
Forms are 80% of the software functionality that is why we paid special attention to eliminate the existing shortcomings of the previous versions. On top of complex and dependent profile fields (that you’ve seen in SkaDate 5.x, 6.x forms) we introduce advanced Ajax validation, unified error handling, and easier programming form assemble.
Sorry for being a little bit too techy in this announcement. This new masterpiece from my team makes me feel as if I’m a little boy with a new toy again. I hope to share that feeling with you.
SkaDate once again puts its straightforward for small businesses. You don’t need multi-million budget for starting a community business. We have put so much insight, experience, and effort into one package. For you.
If you don’t feel like downloading and installing software we have hosted solution available.
Ok. Enough words at this point, I invite you to check SkaDate 7 on your own.
SkaDate 7 information: www.SkaDate.com
SkaDate 7 Online Demo: www.SkaDate.com/demo.php
Thank you.
Emil Sarnogoev
CEO
Skalfa eCommerce
Posted in News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: release
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Now this is big. I mean it’s huge. Today we are widening our community software portfolio (SkaDate, chuPPo) with one more product.
WackWall is an online webservice that allows you to create your own white/private label hosted social network free and within minutes.
read more »
Posted in News, Projects, WackWall | Tags: beta · release
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
I’m excited to announce public beta release of Skalfa Ads. If you manage several ad inventories and several sites (does that sound like you?) read further.
Skalfa Ads is a simple banner advertisement rotation management and tracking system.
Current features
- Totally free;
- Create ad channels;
- Upload banner images to channels;
- Place channel HTML code on your website pages and start showing banner rotations;
- Track statistics for channels and for ads separately.
Simple as that.
Future plans
- Arbitrary ads format (not only image);
- Rotation ratio control;
- Advertisement marketplace and free banner exchange systems.
Skalfa Ads was originally developed for Skalfa eCommerce internal needs, now requested by some customers it was elaborated for public use. Such a system can make significant difference for small businesses that often pursue ad-supported business models, such as online dating and community sites. Skalfa Ads comes to help with one place to control placement and track statistics.
I welcome everyone to try out Skalfa Ads and discuss your experience on Skalfa Boards.
Posted in News, Projects, Skalfa Ads | Tags: beta · release
Friday, June 15th, 2007
South Bend, IN, June 13, 2007 — Emil Sarnogoev, Skalfa eCommerce CEO is happy to announce SkaDate Unity — the sixth release of the famous community software package.
“SkaDate Unity is a ‘features’ release,” Emil Sarnogoev says. “We’re excited to offer something that fits our customers and their users even more than the previous version did. We have been satisfying public demand, performed intensive testing, and observed the industry for the last year. Now you can get the results of all this work.”
The technical side of the new release deserves attention because you are safe from the usual stability issues of all new releases. The platform is not new just made even more stable with new features by twelve dedicated full time programmers and testers.
“SkaDate SuccessPoint, the previous version, was a huge success due to its stability and usability. The platform was thoroughly tested in a production environment on more than 500 sites,” Nurlan Jumakaliev (CTO) says. “All updates for it were minor fixes, user interface tweaks and 3rd party add-ons integrated. We used this robust base for the new features of SkaDate Unity.”
The new release introduces modern features of social networking sites. Now you can have any hybrid of dating and social networking site, since this is the tendency that the industry leans to. Review the list of SkaDate social networking software features.
“Current Internet communication trends show that people want it all in one,” Sarnogoev says. “In your copy of SkaDate Unity software you have the unified business tool to build the site that people want to use.”
Another valuable addition is that SkaDate Unity goes with native integration of the complete set of chuPPo webcam software (video chat, messenger, recorder). These applications open up great opportunities for rich media interaction between users. chuPPo contributes to site stickiness, because users quickly get addicted to the new level of communication.
SkaDate is the premier provider of online dating and social networking business solutions for startups using SkaDate software as its heart. Many businesses adopt Hosted Community Site Solution which is perfect for those with no in-house technical staff and background. SkaDate sets up sites of different scale, ranging from niche home-business startups to high-volume projects with strict business plans and established distribution channels.
“We’ve been maintaining all kinds of businesses based on this platform since 2004″, Denis Juikov (COO) says, “Looks like it works for people.”
More at community software site www.SkaDate.com
Posted in News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: release
Monday, June 4th, 2007
We’re glad to make a short preliminary note about SkaDate Unity – new major release from our most successful project. Feel free to read details on features and check out the new demo.
There are two most important aspects of the new version: its social networking site orientation and integration of all pieces of chuPPo webcam software.
Official press-release coming soon.
Posted in News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: release
Tuesday, April 17th, 2007
We’re thrilled to announce that our long-awaited chuPPo chat application live demo has been launched. Feel free to check out the new application.
chuPPo chat is made simple to serve the basic webcam chatting needs of our customers’ users. This is just the very first step of chuPPo expansion of the rich media content world for businesses, community sites and end users. We already have several big contractors negotiations going along. Let’s see what chuPPo means for the web within the nearest few years.
Posted in Products, chuPPo | Tags: chat · release
Thursday, February 15th, 2007
As the first application of chuPPo set we introduce chuPPo recorder. It’s already seamlessly integrated in new SkaDate build, so you have a chance to receive both at once. Thus all existing SkaDate customers already have chuPPo Recorder integrated with the update. It’s all about ticking the checkbox to activate it.
Feel free to try live demo and leave your comments!
Posted in Products, chuPPo | Tags: recorder · release
Friday, January 19th, 2007
As the first of the promised 2007 year candies, we introduce FaceJuggle – dating headshots service. This is a smart and convenient tool for community sites and their members to cut costs of producing good-looking face thumbnails from ordinary member photos. Big sites usually do it manually, spending terrific resources for that. FaceJuggle comes to save time, cut costs and automate the process.
If you don’t crop faces for thumbnails on your site yet, it would be useful for you to visit the site and/or communicate with us, so we can see what we can do for your particular needs.
Read Emil Sarnogoev (CEO) about the new service.
Thanks,
Max Dubovitsky
General Manager
Skalfa eCommerce
Posted in FaceJuggle, Products | Tags: release
Tuesday, August 29th, 2006
Emil Sarnogoev, CEO of Skalfa eCommerce announced the long-awaited release of Version 5 of SkaDate software.
The new SkaDate SuccessPoint was designed and developed from scratch, building on the experience of the previous version of SkaDate Prime. Skalfa eCommerce built a brand new platform using the experience of the preceding technological base.
“This time we surpassed ourselves” – says Emil Sarnogoev – “SkaDate SuccessPoint includes all of our 5 years of experience in the dating software business. Our specialists took special care to improve usability for site members and moderators alike. All of this is packed into the robustness of a new platform which is insured by our 30 days money back guarantee”.
“SkaDate SuccessPont is a completely new platform.” – Says Nurlan Jumakaliev, Skalfa eCommerce CTO – “SkaDate is not just a piece of software but a powerful community site framework. You are not really limited to a particular set of features. With SkaDate it’s really easy and fast to develop new features without sacrificing architecture consistency. SkaDate is perfect for creating further modifications because it was developed from scratch and designed with modification in mind.”
Live demo can be found at SkaDate dating site software demo
The new version comes with a standard `must-have` set of features for a dating site like on-site messaging, search, extendable member profile, photo and a dozen other features. SkaDate SuccessPoint has shown that with the usual features of a dating web site there’s plenty of room to improve the things millions of people have to deal with every day.
Also, there are new features like profile tags, multimedia upload, friends networking and video chat which are more popular in the social networking industry but also get more and more recognition on dating sites.
One of the biggest SkaDate advantages is the level of customization for existing features. Unlike in other products, it is unbelievable how many things can be done through the administration panel without resorting to software code modification.
See the list of SkaDate SuccessPoint features
SkaDate not only offers software but also offers a complete Managed Solution. SkaDate Managed Solution is what makes the difference for the small business entities. SkaDate does all the work of hosting and maintaining a dating site. All the client has to do is market and administer their site. See more details at hosted dating site solution offer.
“It’s all about the results” emphasizes Emil Sarnogoev “Our strong points do not only include software development expertise, we also figured out the most effective way to run a dating business. Our hosted solution gains more and more popularity because people recognize it as a viable tandem of our technical capabilities and their freedom to market the site. That is the perfect division of labor. It’s cost-effective, it’s simple and it works. We have already started upgrading our existing customers to the new version, and so far the response is wildly positive. People see the difference and appreciate our methods of maintaining their businesses”.
SkaDate SuccessPoint is the starting point for a successful small/home business startup, because SkaDate provides an invaluable combination technological base and site maintenance services.
More details at SkaDate dating software official site
Posted in News, Products, SkaDate | Tags: release
