Indian FriendFinder provides a way for people of Indian descent and those who love them to meet each other, in India, the U.S., and elsewhere.
As with other sites in the FriendFinder network, here non-paying members can set up a profile, but they can't initiate contact (usually), read full profiles of others, or browse all the listings. However, if someone pays an extra $19.95/mo., free members can contact him or her.
Non-paying members can chat, however, and read the member-written advice "magazine."
Members-only features at Indian FriendFinder include instant messenger and the ability to set up a friend network, which lets you share private photo galleries and network with other members. Members can also put up photo albums and post testimonials about other members. You have the option of whether or not to show your signup date. Their "Cupid" system will email you links to likely matches, based on your settings. The membership auto-renew is automatically set to "ON" unless you go in and change it--but that's easy to do.
Membership here is totally global; you can browse profiles by continent, country, and state/province where applicable. Of course, not all countries are teeming with members.
Several chat rooms include the Lobby (for general chat), Hulchul (romance), Nukkad (just talking), Cricket Corner, Jai Bollywood Room, India Gate room (for discussing Indian culture), Shaddi ya Barbaadi Room (for discussing marriage), Thirties Room, Poolside, and Screening Room (for photo sharing).
I interviewed R., a 32-year-old hetero man, in Hyderabad Ap, India, who has been a member for four months. He says, "The best part of the site is 'Lobby' chatroom. The members there are from all over the world, are intrested in India and its culture, and about 90 percent are Indian. Previously, I would logon to Yahoo [IM] but the problem started: You dont get a response from ladies on Yahoo, but here there is no problem." He also appreciated the fact that you can see the profiles of the people you're chatting with. "On Yahoo, the problem is that you could not tell whether the person was female or male, and many a time you don't get a response." He liked the fact that IFF has members from all over the world, so there are always people in the chatroom, no matter what time it is.
I asked R. what he was looking for here. He said that he wasjust out to have fun, "To be frank, I can get many girls, but by my nature I get bored with each, and with every new girl, I have to repeat the same dialogue. On IFF, I can say 'Dear, check my profile.' Right now I have five to six girlfriends."
Was there anything R. didn't like about the site? "Sometimes people get relly vulgar and start abusing each other in the chatroom in front of the ladies. It's embarrassing."
His advice to newcomers: "The very first day you enter the chatroom, nobody is going to respond to you if you're male. If you're female, all the fellows will greet you." He says it took about 15 days before the regulars got accustomed to seeing him in chat, and then he was "in."
Overall, R. is very pleased with his experience. "Really, life has become wonderful with this site."
