Looking for a life partner? No problem, all you have to do is go online, enter your ID number and password and you can choose from a host of candidates available on a database - either to chat with them or even arrange a date.

Welcome to the world of online matchmaking. Ten matchmaking agencies in Shanghai have been offering the service for a year.

Unlike normal matchmaking services, the Websites require visitors to either e-mail or hand in a copy of their ID card for the sake of a credit guarantee after they register and open an account.

The online facility is only being offered by experienced matchmaking agencies as an affiliated service, according to Yuanyang Yuan Agency, one of the online service initiators in Shanghai.

"The biggest advantage of online matchmaking is that people can find candidates unbounded by time and space. It is therefore popular among our clients, especially young people," said Wang Xiaoying, manager of Yuanyang Yuan.

She added that people registering on her company's Website are three years younger on average than those who turn to traditional matchmaking, and most are well-educated office workers.

So far, more than 1,000 people have opened online accounts at local matchmaking Websites. The number rises by 20 every day, while the daily increase at traditional matchmaking agencies is only two or three.

"For someone like me who is busy with work, online matchmaking provides a wide choice to find the right partner," said a client who declined to be named.

Yuanyang Yuan also employs a piece of software which can automatically match two candidates in its database according to their basic information, the agency said.

"Modern technology is becoming popular in local matchmaking services, challenging the traditional mode," said Wang Weiming, vice director of the Shanghai Management Association of Matchmaking Agencies.

In the past, matchmaking agencies were opened by local government departments as non-profit institutes, with just a room, a telephone and two employees, generally old ladies.

In such a situation there was no guarantee of good service, Wang said.

"As the service becomes more market-oriented, it is natural for private agencies to update their operational mode to attract clients," he added.

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