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Screenshot
QQ2011 main user interface |
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| Developer(s) | Tencent Holdings Limited |
| Stable release | See current releases |
| Preview release | See preview releases |
| Operating system | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, Windows Phone, Windows Mobile/CE, Symbian, Java ME, Web App |
| Available in | Chinese, English, French, Japanese |
| Type | Instant messaging |
| License | Proprietary (adware) |
| Website | www.qq.com Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese International |
Tencent QQ, generally referred to as QQ, is the most popular free instant messaging computer program in mainland China. As of July 11, 2011, the active QQ users accounts for QQ IM totaled 812.3 million,[1] possibly making it the world's second largest online community. The number of simultaneous online QQ accounts exceeded 100 million.[2] In February 2011, QQ.com ranked 10th overall in the Alexa Internet rankings just behind Twitter ranked 9th.[3] The program is maintained by Tencent Holdings Limited (HKEX: 0700), owned in part by Naspers.[4] Since its entrance into Chinese households, QQ quickly emerged as a modern cultural phenomenon, now being portrayed in popular culture. Aside from the chat program, QQ has also developed many subfeatures including games, virtual pets, ringtone downloads, blogs, etc.
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| Version | Release date | Operating system |
|---|---|---|
| QQ2009 SP3 | March 17, 2011 | Windows XP, Vista, 7 |
| QQ 1.1.1[5][6] | June 23, 2011 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard |
| QQ International 1.1[7] | May 18, 2011 | Windows XP, Vista, 7 |
| QQ2011 1.3[8] | August 30, 2011 | iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) |
| QQ 2.1[9] | August 23, 2011 | iOS (iPad native) |
| QQ for Pad 1.6[10] | Unknown | Android tablets |
| WebQQ 3.0[11] | Unknown | N/A |
| Version | Release date | Operating system |
|---|---|---|
| QQ2011 beta 4 (Simplified Chinese)[12] | August 29, 2011 | Windows Vista, 7 |
| QQ2011 beta (Traditional Chinese)[13] | June 23, 2011 | Windows XP, Vista, 7 |
| QQ Concept beta 3[14] | July 22, 2010 | Windows 7 |
| QQ 1.0 beta 1[15] | January 4, 2009 | Linux |
| QQ2011 beta 3 build 0115[16] | August 10, 2011 | Android phones |
| Tencent Messenger beta 3.3[17] | April 28, 2011 | Windows Vista, 7 |
The original name of QQ was OICQ ("Open ICQ"), based on an extant instant messaging service (IMS), ICQ.
The abbreviation "ICQ" came from using letters that sound like "I seek you".
Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China, on November 11, 1998, by Ma Huateng. Tencent's instant messaging service platform, "QQ" was formally launched in February 1999. In March 2003, Tencent was able to buy the Internet Domain QQ.com.[18] After years of strong business growth, on July 16, 2004, Tencent Holdings Limited (SEHK 700) went public.
QQ was initially developed by Tencent Inc. in February 1999. It was first released as a "Network Paging" real time communications service. Then other features were successively added such as chatrooms, games, personal avatars (similar to "Meego" in MSN), internet storage, and internet dating services. Most of these features were free. Its variety of features and easy-to-use interface made it very popular, especially among teenage users. In a few short years, it was the most popular real time communications service in China.
The current preview version of QQ is QQ2011 beta2.[19] Tencent periodically releases special versions of QQ to coincide with events such as the Olympics or Chinese New Year.
The official client runs on Microsoft Windows and a beta public version was launched for Mac OS X version 10.4.9 or newer.[20] The web versions, WebQQ (full version) and WebQQ Mini (Lite version), which makes use of Ajax, are currently available.[21][22] On July 31, 2008, Tencent released an official client for Linux,[23] but this has not since been kept in step with the Windows version.
In response to competition with Windows Live Messenger, Tencent released Tencent Messenger, which is for business people. It also provides, in limited form, features that are only available to premium members in normal QQ.
A beta version of QQ is currently available for Symbian S60 3rd Edition.[24]
QQ currently allows free registration for membership. In 2002, Tencent stopped its free membership registration, requiring all new members to pay a fee, but in 2003, this decision was reversed due to pressure from other instant messaging services such as Windows Live Messenger and Sina UC. Tencent currently offers a premium membership scheme, which offers features such as QQ mobile, ringtone downloads, and SMS sending/receiving. In addition, Tencent offers "Diamond" level memberships. Currently, there are seven diamond services available:
Tencent has taken advantage of the popularity of the QQ brand, and has set up many Q-Gen stores selling QQ branded merchandise such as bags, watches, clothing as well as toy penguins.
QQ has faced many criticisms and controversies. Many users complain QQ provides fewer and fewer free services and an annoying number of ads.
China's anti-virus company, Qihoo 360, analyzed the QQ protocol and accused QQ of automatically scanning users' computers and of uploading their personal information to QQ's servers without users' consent. In response, Tencent called 360 itself malware and denied users with 360 installed access to some QQ services. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information reprimanded both companies for "improper competition" and ordered them to come to an accord.[26]
A program distributed with QQ censors and monitors the user's behavior on the Web.[27]
Because of QQ's extensive use of advertisements and processes related to ads, it has been branded as malicious adware by many anti-virus and anti-spyware vendors.[28][29][30]
In August 2004, QQ Games began filtering keywords such as "钓鱼岛" (Diaoyu Islands) and "保钓" (Movement to protect the Diaoyu Islands). This act caused much controversy and Tencent has since lifted the filter.[31]
On July 21, 2005, Tencent announced its intention to follow orders set by Shenzhen Police and enforce the requirement of real names for all the administrators and founders of QQ Groups. This caused much controversy on whether it can prevent the spread of pornographic and other indecent messages, or whether it intrudes on one's privacy. However, the difficulty of enforcement made the real name registration optional.[32]
The resources required to run QQ have increased substantially since it was first released, which has caused some people to turn to third party "lite" versions.
The Q coin is a virtual currency used by QQ users to "purchase" QQ related items for their avatar and blog. Q coins are obtained either by purchase, one coin for one RMB, or for using the mobile phone service. Due to the popularity of QQ among young Chinese, Q coins are now accepted by gradually more and more online stores and gaming sites in exchange for "real" merchandise such as small gifts, and raised the concern of replacing (and thus "inflating") real currency in these transactions. The People's Bank of China, China's central bank, says it is investigating the possibility of cracking down on Q coin, due to people using Q coins in exchange for real world goods.[33] Tencent claims the Q coin was merely a regular commodity, and thus not a currency.[34]
Coral QQ, a modification of Tencent QQ, is a popular add on. While Tencent charges for some services and displays advertisement, Coral QQ provides free access to some of the services and blocks Tencent's advertisements. In 2006, Tencent filed a copyright lawsuit against Chen Shoufu (aka Soff), the author of Coral QQ, whose redistributing modified Tencent QQ was ruled illegal. Chen then published his modification as a separate add on. On August 16, 2007, Chen was detained again for allegedly making profits off of his ad-blocking add on.[35] His case is pending at Shenzhen Nanshan district court.
In 2009, QQ began to expand its services internationally, with its IMQQ portal,[36] working with partners throughout Asia and the USA.
In India, Tencent has partnered with ibibo[37] to bring such services as chat, mail and game to the developing Indian internet sphere.
In Vietnam, Tencent has struck a deal with VinaGame[38] to bring the QQ Casual Gaming portal as well as the QQ Messenger as an addition to the already thriving Vietnamese gaming communities.
In the United States, Tencent has partnered with AOL to bring QQ Games as a contender in the US social gaming market. Launched in 2007,[39] QQ Games comes bundled with the AIM installer, and competes with AOL's own games.com to provide a gaming experience for the AIM user base.
Tencent launched its web-based QQ formally on September 15, 2009, the latest version of which being 3.0. Rather than solely a web-based IM, WebQQ 3.0 functions more like its own operating system, with a desktop in which web applications can be added.
In 2009, Tencent launched Xiaoyou (校友, 'school friends'), its first social network website, trying to compete with Renren and Kaixin001, the leading Chinese social networks, for students mainly. In mid 2010, Tencent changed direction and replaced Xiaoyou with Pengyou.com (朋友, 'friends'), trying to establish a more widespread network, to which extant QQ users could be easily redirected, hence giving Pengyou.com a major advantage over its competitors.[40]
Using reverse engineering, open source communities have come to understand the QQ protocol better and have attempted to implement client core libraries compatible with more user-friendly clients, free of advertisements. Most of these clients are cross-platform, so they are usable on operating systems which the official client does not support. However, these implementations had only a subset of the functions of the official client and therefore were more limited in features. Furthermore, QQ's parent company, Tencent, has over successive versions modified the QQ protocol to the extent that it can no longer be supported by most, and perhaps any, of the third-party implementations that were successful in the past (some of which are listed below). As of 2009, none of the developers of third-party clients have publicised any plans to restore QQ support.
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