There are other touches that have you treating potential dates more seriously. Profiles can have videos, and you're limited to three matches at a time once you've liked enough users. Hotline tells Mashable that this is a conscious attempt to avoid treating people like commodities, which is all too easy when many rival apps treat candidates like playing cards.

As intriguing as the service is, there are a few hurdles to clear. Hotline is currently available only in New York City on iOS, although there are plans for expansion. And more importantly, it costs $9 per month -- not a huge amount, but enough to shrink the dating pool. If it succeeds, though, it could be a viable option for singles who'd rather not waste time with virtual pen pals.