Before Launch at TechCrunch Disrupt, Parlor.fm Closes Angel Funding Round with $5 Million Valuation from ALM UNLTD

Online, May 20, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Mobile social network Parlor.fm announced today that the company has closed an angel round of funding that has made $500,000 available for its launch. The funding, provided by investment group ALM UNLTD, has an impressive $5 million pre-money evaluation. An innovative, voice-based social platform, Parlor will use this funding to help bolster its current array of interconnected mini-apps and debut new functionalities down the line.

Parlor is currently gearing up to launch at TechCrunch Disrupt on May 23 through May 25, 2011 in New York, N.Y. Users can reserve their usernames in advance at http://parlor.fm.

"We're extremely grateful to have such a prominent group as ALM UNLTD on board. Receiving a $5 million valuation before launch is a tremendous vote of confidence, and it just goes to show the kind of game-changing technology and framework we've packed into Parlor," said Joel Schwartz, CEO of Parlor.

Unlike the majority of social networks, which focus on text-based communication, Parlor uses the power of Voice to facilitate meaningful communication between friends, business contacts, and Parlor users with common interests.

The Parlor chat feature, for example, allows users interested in Sports, Dating, Entertainment, and a host of other categories to talk to like-minded individuals one-on-one. If a caller is dissatisfied with a conversation, he or she can press the # key to be transferred to a different user. Alternatively, users can consult their Parlor call logs to follow up on previous conversations and develop new relationships.

Parlor's Conference and Broadcast apps use this same VoIP-powered interface to support group conversations ideal for social users, businesses, and members of the media. The Conference app makes setting up group calls painless; after a caller selects the contacts he or she would like to invite, Parlor handles the rest, delivering a simple, "PIN-less" access code that users can dial to join the call. Supporting up to 20 callers for free, the Conference function is an asset for corporate meetings, friendly chats, and everything in between.

Parlor Broadcast facilitates a similar group atmosphere perfect for call-in programs, radio DJs, and Q&A's, among other purposes. Using the app, callers listening to a host can effectively "raise their hands" to get in line to interact with the host on-one-one.

Combining the best of social networking with features common to job hunting sites and classified listings, Parlor Profiles allow users to create four profiles to fully showcase their social and professional offerings. The Personal Profile allows users to list their family members and relationships; the Work Profile includes career specialties and employer info; the Sales & Services Profile spotlights freelance offerings; and the Free Advice Profile allows users a chance to offer their experiences and expertise. All four profile components can be customized to a user's privacy settings of choice.

Parlor also offers a comprehensive Journal app, where users can post pictures, updates, and links. Users can take advantage of this feature to share their activities and interests with others, or keep their journals private for personal reference.

Allowing users to make the most of Profiles and Journals, the Parlor Search app makes it easy to scan the entire Parlor network based on interests, professional offerings, or any other query. Users in search of a new place to eat dinner, a friend interested in the same sports teams, or an opportunity for freelance work can all benefit from Parlor's unifying Search app.

"At launch, the Parlor platform offers six robust mini-apps enabling users to connect, share, network, and conduct business, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. We're excited to use this new funding to roll out additional apps and features catering to businesses and brands while working to further enhance the user experience," Schwartz said.

To discover more information about Parlor or reserve a username before the May 23 launch, visit http://parlor.fm.

About Parlor.fm

A new kind of social network, Parlor.fm provides a safe, multifaceted environment for users to talk to friends and new contacts, conduct business, share interests, hunt for deals, and promote themselves online. Parlor offers a dynamic social space backed by VoIP technology and variety of interconnected mobile applications. Parlor is available for free on Android and iPhone devices, with BlackBerry and Windows Mobile versions coming soon.

About TechCrunch Disrupt

TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2011(http://disrupt.techcrunch.com) is TechCrunch's second annual conference in New York City attracting over 1,500 leading technology innovators and investors and over 150 new startups. The format combines top thought-leader discussions with new product and company launches. Morning executive discussions debate the most timely disruptions in media, advertising and technology. Afternoons host the Startup Battlefield where 25 new companies will launch for the first time on stage, selected to present from more than 500 applications received from around the world. Another 100 early-stage startups will exhibit in Startup Alley. TechCrunch will award a $50,000 grand prize along with other award recognitions at the conclusion of the conference. The conference is May 23-25, 2011, at Pier 94 located at 711 12th Avenue (at 55th Street & West Side Hwy) in Midtown New York.