Saudi Youth Use Cellphone Savvy To Outwit the Sentries of Romance

Husam Thobaity used Bluetooth to contact a girl in a passing car in Jiddah. A face-to-face meeting soon followed. "This technology has made this whole thing easier," the girl said. (By Kevin Sullivan -- The Washington Post)

That left I Feel Pretty.

Click.

"Sending Data."

"C'mon," Baeshen said, dragging on his cigarette.

"Data Sent."

"Aaaaah!" he said, because that meant I Feel Pretty was at least curious enough to peek at his offering.

Baeshen quickly composed and sent a follow-up text message. "I'll be happy if U would B my girlfriend," he wrote, in English, adding his real-life nickname, Meshu, and his phone number.

He said he had no illusions that love was about to bloom. He has been Bluetoothing for two years, since the technology first hit the market here, and never once has it led to an actual face-to-face meeting with a girl.

"We need this. It's really rare to meet girls here in Saudi Arabia," he said. "And to feel great in this country, you have to be married. We all want to be married. It makes you comfortable, it makes you happy. I want to be in love."

In the next two hours, Baeshen's phone lit up several times. "Nana" sent him an image of a big yellow smiley face, so he immediately responded with "I'll be happy if U would B my girlfriend" and his name and number.

Her only response was a digital photo of Madonna holding up her middle finger.

"Patience is essential," Baeshen said.