Mobile dating grips the youth

Aizawl, July 30: Speed dating is passe, now silent mobile Short Message Service (SMS) is the next 'in' thing among the youth in Mizoram.

According to the Mizo 'Gen Next', it's one of the best ways of finding their Mr or Miss Right. And hundreds of next generation are signing up for silent parties.

These Mizo youths are too busy to use conventional ways to find their partners and find it easier to lose their inhibitions when they write their feelings down.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Airtel are the only service providers in the region, helping users, especially youngsters find dates, keep in touch with friends, share photos, and update their blogs, all via cell phone.

It (mobile dating) took off in Mizoram, especially in the capital city just a couple of years back, when the mobile made its debut in the state. The youngters were getting tired of speed dating and trying to get a glimpse of someone special trudging down the streets.

With a mobile subscriber base of just little more than 40,000, which includes both BSNL and Airtel, in the capital city alone, the mobile has succeeded in touching a chord among the love-struck teenagers.

''You might put something in a text which you wouldn't dream of saying directly to someone'', Zodin Mawia, an 'upwardly mobile' cellphone user told UNI.

''My bill seems to be shooting up since I got into the habit of SMSing, he said, adding ''I spend more than than Rs 1000 per month only on SMS.'' ''Mobile phone dating not only works like a normal one, but also gives us a chance to know more about our date before the real introduction takes place and that too without stepping out'', he pointed out.

The service's popularity is also skyrocketing as BSNL and Airtel charge a mere 90 paise for a SMS.

''Now-a-days, it looks like exam time, especially for these college students. People sit with heads bowed, lost in thought as they press the keys in the handset and formulate their text for dating'', said Malsangi, a mother of two.

''If it is decent dating, I dont mind seeing these young generation getting hooked to this'', Malsangi pointed out, adding the newest trend has outclassed the online chating through desktops, especially in Mizoram.

Lalthangliana, a nokia dealer in the city said ''the mobile dating has something interesting and it become as a part of these folks''.

The mobile phone dating, however, has its flip side too as many youngsters here complain that the person they met on the date was not up to their mark.

Another reason was non-approval from the Church in the predominatly Christian state. All the church authorities were unhappy with the latest trend.

According to BSNL DGM C Lalmachhuana and Airtel NE corporate incharge Anguli Chittranjan, the company officials took extra care in verifying the identity of the subscribers before alloting a mobile connection.

Providing connection to an under-aged is a big No-No.

UNI