Tencent QQ
Chinese instant messaging service with social and gaming features.
Tencent QQ, also known as QQ, is an instant messaging software service and web portal developed by the Chinese technology company Tencent. First released in February 1999 under the name OICQ, it was renamed QQ after a trademark infringement threat from AOL-owned ICQ. QQ offers services including online social games, music, shopping, microblogging, movies, and group and voice chat, and as of March 2023 had 597 million monthly active accounts.
- field
- Instant messaging and web portal
- nationality
- Chinese
- known_for
- Pioneering instant messaging in China, virtual currency (QQ Coin), and social network Qzone
- active_users
- 597 million monthly active accounts (March 2023)
- launch_date
- February 1999
Lore & Background
Tencent QQ was first released in February 1999 as OICQ, a reference to the early IM service ICQ. After a trademark infringement lawsuit threat from AOL-owned ICQ, the name was changed to QQ, with 'Q' and 'QQ' implying 'cute'. The software inherited functions from ICQ and added features such as software skins, people's images, and emoticons. Initially a 'network paging' real-time communications service, it later added chatrooms, games, personal avatars, online storage, and Internet dating services. The official client runs on Microsoft Windows, with a beta for Mac OS X 10.4.9 or newer, and an official Linux client released on 31 July 2008, though it lacks voice calls and compatibility with the Windows version. Two web versions, WebQQ and WebQQ Mini, were available, but WebQQ Mini was discontinued. In response to competition, Tencent released Tencent Messenger for businesses.
Reader's Guide
Tencent QQ's significance lies in its dominance of the Chinese instant messaging market and its evolution into a multifaceted platform. It introduced the QQ Coin virtual currency, which raised concerns from the People's Bank of China about replacing real currency, though Tencent maintained it was a commodity. The premium membership scheme, including seven 'Diamond' levels, offered features like colored account names, extra storage, and game abilities. Qzone, a social networking website created in 2005, became a personal blog service for QQ users. QQ International, launched in 2009, expanded services to non-Mandarin speakers with machine translation. Partnerships in India, Vietnam, and the United States extended its reach. Open-source clients attempted to support QQ but were limited as Tencent modified the protocol. The QQ brand also extended to merchandise through Q-Gen stores. The account system, purely numeric, started with 5 digits and reached 12 digits, with the first account (10001) held by Ma Huateng. Membership lasts one month and is suspended if not renewed.
Did You Know?
- QQ was originally named OICQ, referencing the early IM service ICQ, before being renamed due to a trademark infringement threat from AOL.
- As of March 2023, QQ had 597 million monthly active accounts.
- The first QQ account number (10001) is held by Ma Huateng.
- QQ Coins, a virtual currency, were subject to a crackdown attempt by the People's Bank of China due to their use in real-world transactions.
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