Grindr introduces new London feature in dating app overhaul
Grindr is overhauling its app to roll out a game-changing new feature in London and fourteen other world cities.
Metro has been given an exclusive video of the LGBT dating app’s ‘Right Now’ tool, soon to be available for gay daters in London.
Right Now adds a real-time feed, separate from the iconic Grindr grid, designed to provide immediate hook ups.
The feature is one of a number of new Grindr services hitting users this year, which aim to diversify the app’s offering on travel fun and finding relationships.
Grindr is a location-based dating app used primarily by gay men, and almost one million Brits and 14.5million people world wide.
Right Now is being launched today in London, as well as New York City, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam, and Sao Paulo.
Keen Londoners who get the updated app can get Right Now on both iOS and Android,.
The separate feed can be found via the main navigation bar, side bar, and a floating action button on the main grid.
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Those looking for a quick fling will have ten hour-long sessions per week to find their nearby hook up.
Once those have been used people will be able to purchase additional Right Now sessions.
Speaking exclusively to Metro, AJ Balance, Chief Product Officer at Grindr, said: ‘Grindr is the the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket. Casual dating is where we started in 2009, it was origin.
‘Bu the culture has changed, we have grown to be a global product.
‘A lot of people have gotten a lot of value out of it and now get a lot of other things out of the app.
‘Too often, people start a conversation only to realize they’re looking for different things – one person wants a date, the other a quick connection.
‘Right Now makes it clear who’s available and what they’re looking for, in real time.’
Right Now is targetting those based in London and other key cities, but Grindr are hoping to roll it out globally by the end of the year.
It was first piloted last year in Australia and the Washington D.C. area.
‘Our users really liked it,’ AJ added.
‘We are now in early testing for our other features. Some of our lucky users will get them early this years, others later this year.’
‘We are very proud of the mission and we are fulfilled by serving our users every day.
‘It is an immense responsibility. We constantly want to be doing even more and doing more for our users all the time.’
Grindr also wants to promote the building of relationships and deeper connections on their app, which is already known for hook-ups.
To do this they plan to introduce a ‘For You’ tab of AI chosen potential matches for users.
Grindr also want to help more gay men hook up abroad. They will soon be launching a new ‘heatmap’ to reveal the liveliest gay areas in a city.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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