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Tencent QQ

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"QQ" redirects here. For other uses, see QQ (disambiguation).
Tencent QQ
Developer(s)Tencent Holdings Limited
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, Macintosh
Available inChinese, English
TypeInstant Messaging
Websiteqq.com
File:QQlogo.PNG
QQ.com's old logo

Tencent QQ, generally referred to as QQ, is the most popular free instant messaging computer program in China, and the world’s third most popular IM service [1]. The program is maintained by Tencent Holdings Limited (SEHK: 700), owned in part by Naspers.[2] 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, pets, ringtone downloads, etc.

Naming

The original name of QQ was OICQ (believed to have meant either Open ICQ or Oh, I seek you). However, because of the possible trademark infringement with another popular real time communications service (ICQ), it was changed to QQ.

Usage

It is estimated that there are over 160 million QQ users in China. But because many users own two or more IDs it is hard to know the exact user amount. As of 5 March 2005, there are an average of 9 million people online at any one time on the Mainland China server.

Outside of China, QQ usage is extremely limited, except in South Africa, where it has been used for at least two or three years and has inspired a song by local band The Finkelsteins called "QQ Me". QQ is used by people who want to communicate with people inside those countries. Examples include expatriates, international students and people studying Chinese.

After the 2006 Hengchun earthquake, trans-Pacific undersea cables were damaged, and many Chinese switched to QQ due to the unavailability of other options. [3]

History

Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China in November, 1998. Tencent's instant messaging service platform, "QQ," was formally launched in February 1999. After years of strong business growth, on July 16, 2004, Tencent Holdings Limited (SEHK 700) went public on the main board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange. On October 3rd, 2007 Tencent launched its first expansion into the American market with QQ Games.

Development

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 "Meebo" 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 version of QQ is QQ2008 Chinese New Year Version "QQ2008 贺岁版" . 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 were launched for Mac, but Linux users can talk to friends on the QQ network by installing Pidgin (previously Gaim) which comes installed with a plugin for QQ. The web version, which makes use of Ajax, is currently in Beta[4].

File:TencetTM.PNG
User Interface of Tencent Messenger

In response to competition with Windows Live Messenger, Tencent released Tencent Messenger, which is targeted to business people. It also provides, in limited form, features that are only available to premium members in normal QQ.

Membership

QQ currently allows free registration for membership. In 2002, Tencent had stopped its free membership registration, requiring all new members to pay a fee. However, free registration was reopened in 2003 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 mobile QQ, ringtone downloads and SMS sending/receiving, but a number of QQ users are unwilling to pay the price of 10 Yuan, which is about $1.30 USD per month. Also, Tencent offers Diamond noble memberships. Currently, there are six diamond services available.

  • Red, for the QQ show service.
  • Yellow, for the Qzone service which is similar to a blog.
  • Blue, which is for QQ games.
  • Purple, which is shared between two tencent games, QQ r2beat, a korean music game, and QQ tang, an action game, extremely similar to crazy arcade.
  • Pink, for QQ pet, a small desktop game about raising a pet. So far there are 3 generations of pets. Penguin, Pig, and Bear (Beta testing).
  • Green, for QQ music, which is a software for listening to music directly from the Tencent server. Requiring no pre-download and sometimes consuming a lot of disk space due to caching.

Merchandise

Tencent have grasped the halo effect of the QQ brand, and have set up many Q-Gen stores selling QQ branded merchandise such as bags, watches, clothing as well as toy penguins.

Controversies and criticisms

QQ has faced many criticisms and controversies. Many users complain QQ provides fewer and fewer free services and an annoying number of ads.

Adware classification

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. [5] [6] [7]

Keyword filtering

On 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.[8]

QQ real group name scheme

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. [9]

Plagiarism

Like most IM clients, Tencent QQ has been known to copy its competitors' features. The interface of early version of Tencent messenger was almost identical to ICQ, but as it developed, it started to look more like Windows Live Messenger. The interface of QQ is Luna themed. In addition to interfaces, QQ has also been known to copy code and text from its competitors. For example, one release contained Skype's EULA, allegedly as an April Fools' Day joke.[10]

Resource usage

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. Pidgin, a free alternative to proprietary instant messenging clients, natively supports the QQ protocol.

QQ Coin

File:362823625.jpg
A stats display window with all services (icons) turned on and leveling info included.

The QQ coin is a virtual currency used by QQ users to "purchase" QQ related items for their avatar and blog. QQ Coins are obtained either by purchase, one coin for one RMB, or for using the mobile phone service. Due to the popularity of QQ in Chinese young population, QQ 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 QQ coin, due to people using QQ Coins in exchange for real world goods.[11] Tencent claims the QQ coin was merely a regular commodity, and thus not a currency. [12]

Modifications

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 his ad-blocking add on[13]. His case is pending at Shenzhen Nanshan district court.In the beginning, the costomer could buy many items for free but now,as the develpment is frowing fast,the costomers could buy nothing without any qcoins.

Open source and cross platform client

Using reverse engineering, open source communitys have almost understood QQ protocol and implemented some client core lib and following user friend client. And all these client are cross platform , so you can use them under none windows os like linux, on the contrary official have no client under linux. On the other hand, these implementations have only subset function of official client.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://infotech.indiatimes.com/Meet_Chinas_Google_trouncer/articleshow/1568771.cms
  2. ^ Naspers
  3. ^ Microsoft R&D center world first for city - Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 - English Window to China News
  4. ^ http://webqq.qq.com
  5. ^ Tenebril - Spyware Research Center - Tencent QQ
  6. ^ http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453083549
  7. ^ Remove Tencent QQ - Spyware / Adware Uninstall Instruction
  8. ^ AsiaMedia :: CHINA: Web users get their ten cents worth despite the censors
  9. ^ 信产部酝酿博客实名制
  10. ^ http://www.pcpchina.com/news/list.asp?ID=7811&reply=on
  11. ^ People's Daily Online - Central Bank alert on "virtual money"
  12. ^ Virtual currency requires tough new regulations
  13. ^ Debate Over IM Add-Ons in China - WSJ.com
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