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"QQ" redirects here. For other uses, see QQ (disambiguation).
Tencent QQ
Image:Tencent QQ.png
Screenshot
Developed by Tencent Holdings Limited
OS Microsoft Windows, Macintosh
Available in Chinese, English
Genre Instant Messaging
Website qq.com
QQ.com's old logo
QQ. A software developer is a person or organization concerned with facets of the software development process wider than design and coding a somewhat broader scope of Tencent Holdings Limited ( is the largest and most used Internet service portal company in the People's Republic of China. An operating system (commonly abbreviated OS and O/S) is the software component of a Computer system that is responsible for the management and coordination Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Macintosh, commonly nicknamed Mac is a Brand name which covers several lines of Personal computers designed developed and marketed by Apple Inc A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Computer software can be organized into categories based on common function type or field of use A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages 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]. Computer programs (also software programs, or just programs) are instructions for a Computer. The program is maintained by Tencent Holdings Limited (HKEX: 0700), owned in part by Naspers. Tencent Holdings Limited ( is the largest and most used Internet service portal company in the People's Republic of China. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange ( also 港交所 abbreviated as HKEX;) is the Stock exchange of Hong Kong. Naspers ( is a South Africa -based Multinational media company with principal operations in Electronic media (including pay-television internet and instant-messaging [2] Since its entrance into Chinese households QQ quickly emerged as a modern cultural phenomenon, now being portrayed in popular culture. Popular culture (or pop culture) is the Culture — patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance — Aside from the chat program, QQ has also developed many subfeatures including games, pets, ringtone downloads, etc.

Contents

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. ICQ is an Instant messaging Computer program, which was first developed by the Israeli company Mirabilis, now owned by Time Warner 's

Usage

According to Tencent's financial reports there were 317. 9 million active QQ accounts as of the end of March 2008[3], and it is estimated that there are over 160 million QQ users in China. But because some users own two or more IDs it is hard to know the exact user amount. As of 14 May 2008, there are an average of 30~40 million accounts online at day time on the Mainland China server. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

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". The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa QQ is used by people who want to communicate with people inside those countries. Examples include expatriates, international students and people studying Chinese. International students are Students usually in early adulthood who study in foreign Educational institutions While most universities have official

After the 2006 Hengchun earthquake, trans-Pacific undersea cables were damaged, and many Chinese switched to QQ due to the unavailability of other options. The 2006 Hengchun earthquake occurred on Tuesday December 26 2006 at 1225 UTC (2025 local time) with an Epicenter off the A submarine communications cable is a cable laid beneath the sea to carry Telecommunications between countries [4]

The domain qq. com attracted at least 1.6 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com survey. Competecom is a United States Web traffic analysis service that publishes the approximate number of U

History

Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China in November, 1998. Shenzhen is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in southern China's Guangdong province situated immediately 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. Tencent Holdings Limited ( is the largest and most used Internet service portal company in the People's Republic of China. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) 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. The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used by Mass media to describe any form of Synchronous conferencing, occasionally even Asynchronous conferencing An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself/herself or alter ego whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games a two-dimensional Icon Online dating or Internet dating is a Dating system which allows individuals couples and groups to meet over the Internet usually with the objective of developing 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 Beta1. 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. Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Linux (commonly pronounced ˈlɪnəks Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a multi-platform Instant messaging client. The web version, which makes use of Ajax, is currently in Beta[5]. A software release is the distribution whether public or private of an initial or new and upgraded version of a Computer software product

User Interface of Tencent Messenger
User Interface of Tencent Messenger

In response to competition with Windows Live Messenger, Tencent released Tencent Messenger, which is targeted to business people. Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger 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. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. However, free registration was reopened in 2003 due to pressure from other instant messaging services such as Windows Live Messenger and Sina UC. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger Sinacom is the largest Chinese-language Infotainment Web portal. Tencent currently offers a premium membership scheme, which offers features such as mobile QQ, ringtone downloads and SMS sending/receiving. In addition, Tencent offers Diamond noble memberships. Currently, there are six diamond services available:

Merchandise

Tencent taken advantage of the popularity 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. Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays displays or downloads advertisements [6] [7] [8]

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). August 2004: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - This act caused much controversy and Tencent has since lifted the filter. [9]

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. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Shenzhen is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in southern China's Guangdong province situated immediately 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. [10]

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. Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger The interface of QQ is Luna themed. Luna is the codename for the default visual theme of Windows XP. 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. Skype (skaɪp is Software that allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet. This article is about the informal holiday For other uses see April Fool. [11]

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, supports the QQ protocol. Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a multi-platform Instant messaging client.

QQ Coin

A stats display window with all services (icons) turned on and leveling info included.
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. A virtual economy (or sometimes synthetic economy) is an emergent economy existing in a virtual persistent world, usually in the context of an Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation A blog (a contraction of the term " Web log " is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary descriptions of 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. The People's Bank of China ( PBC or PBOC) ( is the Central bank of the People's Republic of China (not to be confused with the Bank [12] Tencent claims the QQ coin was merely a regular commodity, and thus not a currency. [13]

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[14]. His case is pending at Shenzhen Nanshan district court.

Open source and cross-platform clients

Using reverse engineering, open source communities have come to understand the QQ protocol better and have implemented client core libraries and user-friendly clients. Open source is a development methodology which offers practical accessibility to a product's source (goods and knowledge In computing cross-platform (also known as multi-platform) is a term used to refer to Computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented Reverse engineering (RE is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device object or system through analysis of its structure function and operation In biological terms a community is a group of interacting Organisms sharing an environment. Most of these clients are cross-platform, so they are usable on operating systems which the official client does not support. However, these implementations have only a subset of the functions of the official client and therefore are more limited in features.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://infotech.indiatimes.com/Meet_Chinas_Google_trouncer/articleshow/1568771.cms
  2. ^ Naspers
  3. ^ Tencent Quarterly Report (1Q 2008)
  4. ^ Microsoft R&D center world first for city - Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 - English Window to China News
  5. ^ http://webqq.qq.com
  6. ^ Tenebril - Spyware Research Center - Tencent QQ
  7. ^ http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453083549
  8. ^ Remove Tencent QQ - Spyware / Adware Uninstall Instruction
  9. ^ AsiaMedia :: CHINA: Web users get their ten cents worth despite the censors
  10. ^ 信产部酝酿博客实名制
  11. ^ http://www.pcpchina.com/news/list.asp?ID=7811&reply=on
  12. ^ People's Daily Online - Central Bank alert on "virtual money"
  13. ^ Virtual currency requires tough new regulations
  14. ^ Debate Over IM Add-Ons in China - WSJ.com

External links

The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of Instant messaging clients
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