Tencent QQ

2008-03-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

What is QQ?

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. Tencent's instant messaging service platform, "QQ,” started in February 1999. Tencent Holdings Limited was published on the main board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 16, 2004.On October 3rd, 2007 Tencent launched its first expansion into the American market with QQ Games.

QQ is very popular in China. 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 is an average of 9 million people online at any one time on the Mainland China server.

Aside from the chat program, QQ has also developed many subfeatures including games, pets, ringtone, downloads, personal avatars, 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 instant messenger in China.

QQ’s Competitors:

AOL Instant Messenger

Google Talk, Google

Windows Live Messenger

Yahoo! Messenger
Skype, eBay

QQ Coin:

The QQ coin is a virtual currency used by QQ users to "purchase" QQ related items.
Users could buy QQ coin through cell phone, on-line banking, or convenience store.
The currency of QQ Coin:
1 QQ Coin = 1 RMB = 0.14 US
1 QQ Coin = 10000 Game Coin

Non-Free Features of QQ:

Although there are numbers of free features in QQ, now I will introduce some non-free features. These non-free features are very popular in China, especially among teenage users.

QQ Game: QQ game includes QQ Robo, QQ Match Master, and QQ Treasure Hunter and so on. The client could buy QQ coin to get some useful game tools in order to help them pass the game successfully.

QQ Family: Using the QQ coin to buy the virtual furniture for QQ family. The value of virtual furniture is from 0 coins to 29 coins. But now this service is combined with Q-Zone. That means the clients operate QQ family in their Q-Zone.

Q-Zone: It is similiar Blog. Each QQ client has their own Q-Zone.

QQ Show: QQ clients go to QQ online shop and buy items such as clothes, shoes, handbags to express their personal avatars.

Memberships:

QQ offer six diamond services to QQ users. QQ users should pay the price of 10 Yuan, which is about $1.3 USD per month to open each diamond service. All the diamond services are involved by QQ users’ own free will. There are six color of diamonds, so each color is stand for different services in QQ.

Red, for the QQ show service. i.e.: The red diamond users could get discount of items on QQ shop.

Yellow, for the Qzone service which is similar to a blog. i.e.: Have a 200M photo ablum.

Blue, which is for QQ games. i.e.: The blue diamond users could have some rights to enter into the full QQ game room.

Purple, which is shared between two tencent games, QQ r2beat, a korean music game, and QQ tang, an action game.

Pink, for QQ pet, a small desktop game about rasing 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. And download the music from QQ freely.

Merchandise:

Tencent uses the 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. Q-Gen is franchise stores, so companies or individuals that accord with the requirements could join and open the Q-Gen stores.

Tencent Messenger: Compete with Windows Live Messenger

Tencent want to compete with the competitors and expand their global market. Tencent release 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. The new design makes it easier to use. The author simplified everyday tasks and focused on designing a clean and elegant visual experience. The new style integrates perfectly with Windows XP and Vista.

Here are some key features of "Tencent Messenger":

TM2008 has been redesigned to improve the performance and use less system resources. No matter whether you start-up, sign-in, use contact management or just chat: it will be faster, easier and more reliable.·

Another improvement in TM2008 is the search feature. You can quickly search by nickname; display name, QQ ID or e-mail address and the matching contacts will be sorted intelligently. It’s easier than ever to find new friends and start chatting right away.·

For various kinds of off-line and unread messages, TM2008 introduces a new function called ‘Unread Message Box’. This new design reduces the number of message alerts you receive. However busy it is, you can easily handle the unread messages at your own pace.

TM2008 now launches its brand-new statuses of “Q Me”and “Mute”!“Q Me” tells your friends that you want to have a chat with them. “Mute” keeps you from being disturbed in case of necessary. Meanwhile, the message box can receive the unread messages automatically. You may also edit all statuses except “Invisible” and “Offline” to satisfy your customized requirements.

TM 2008 provides you with lots of personal image choices. Besides recommended images, QQ Show, you could also upload a picture as your personal image and edit it easily at your will.

Learning Chinese by Using QQ

If you want to do the business with Chinese people in the future or want to practice or learn Chinese, using QQ is the best way to improve your Chinese skills. Because using QQ gives you access to millions of language partners, chatting online by QQ is a great way to improve your Chinese and get to meet real Chinese people.This website provide Chinese version and English version QQ, you can register freely.

References:
http://www.donice.com.cn/ad/20051025/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QQ
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%85%BE%E8%AE%AFQQ
http://www.donice.com.cn/qgen/index.htm
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/TM2008_Tencent_Messenger_2008/1195491941/1
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Chat/Instant-Messaging/Tencent-Messenger.shtml

External links:

(Chinese) Official Website (in Chinese)
(English) Welcome to QQ.co.za (in English)
(English) Learning Chinese Using QQ (in English)
(English) English preview for QQ (In English)
(English) Tencent's first offering in the US (in English)

Tencent QQ - Popular IM Service in China

Tencent QQ