AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) has started to advertise a new online dating service called Love.com.

Love.com will use the AIM community to bring people together, AOL spokesman Derrick Mains told News.com. He declined to offer further details.

"Love.com will marry the benefits of real-time communications with AIM’s active user base to deliver a casual, fun and confortable place to meet and get to know new people online," he said.

He also said a preview of the service would be available on the site in the "next few weeks".

The Love.com site currently asks visitors to register their details, and provides little other information.

Online dating is seen as a growth area in the Internet market. Last quarter, Match.com, considered the most popular service, reported revenue of $48.3 million - up 44 per cent on the same period last year.

AOL used to run a personals sevice called Love@AOL, but now has a deal with Match.com to use data and share revenue.
www.love.com