File this under everything old is new again: a new dating app makes you actually call your matches.
The Hotline Dating app, which has been in stealth mode for a while but officially launched in New York City on Monday ahead of Valentine's Day, aims to combat what its developers call "match fatigue" and "give people the opportunity to genuinely connect." On Hotline, people are only able to select up to three matches from their community at a time. Once connected, daters must engage in at least a 5-minute phone conversation if they want to text within the app.
Its developers say their main goal is to get people off Hotline and into meaningful relationships as soon as possible. They also aim to make the app as inclusive as possible: members can "self-identify in whatever way rings true to them," according to a news release.
"Hotline is for everyone," Hotline CEO and Founder Sam Ballantyne said in a statement. "At our core, we care about giving people the space to have authentic connections, and that starts with building an inclusive community. We embrace the spectrum of human sexuality and diversity and are excited to give people the opportunity to be part of an intentional digital space."
Related
- Gift Ideas for Your High-Tech ValentineGift Ideas for Your High-Tech Valentine
The only down side? This new way to meet people will cost you $9 a month for a membership. Once you sign up, you can create a detailed profile that includes photos and videos.
Before its official launch, Hotline conducted a beta test of the app with 500 users; the longest call clocked in at just over 40 minutes while the average call length was 25 minutes. While it's only available in New York City for iOS devices at this time, the idea is to eventually bring it to other cities in the future.
"Stay tuned, Hotline is excited to bring chemistry back into dating," the company wrote in its news release.