MeetMoi, which runs a location-based mobile dating service, has closed a $1.5 million first round financing led by Acadia Woods Partners. The funds will go towards adding to its management and development team. MeetMoi, already on Cingular and other carriers, also plans to use the capital to support increased marketing initiatives. MeetMoi members text other members with a proposal to meet at a specified location. MeetMoi then registers the user as “available” and sends the user’s profile and photo via text message to other users who meet specified criteria and are within a proximity preference.  Members have the option of preserving their anonymity.

WSJ: In a feature on mobile dating, with a particular focus on MeetMoi, one 24-year-old says he likes the immediacy of such a service. “I liked the fact that we were talking right then and not waiting for emails to go back and forth,” he says. The piece goes on to say that “millions” are participating in mobile dating and amany companies are ramping up efforts to capture those users. Other companies specializing in mobile dating services, such as Zogo, are considering going from a free model to a subscription-based one. Others, like Jumbuck Entertainment’s Fast Flirting service, offers a mobile version of speed dating for around $3 a month.

Established dating sites are also developing mobile extensions. IAC/InterActiveCorp’s Match.com will soon launch a new mobile dating service that will allow its 15 million members to access their profiles and send messages to potential matches from their phones. Match.com is also planning to launch some dating features on IAC’s new Ask Mobile GPS.