Qeep

Infobox Software
developer = Blue Lion mobile GmbH
latest_release_version = 1.29
latest_release_date = release date and age|2008|01|21
programming language = Java
operating_system = mobile phone
genre = Social Network
license = License free
website = [http://www.qeep.net/ qeep’s home page]

qeep is a social network for mobile phones.

A license-free application, qeep was first released in beta in 2006. [Vivek. [http://startupsquad.com/2007/06/07/qeep-german-mobile-imsocialgaming-startup-gets-funded/ “Qeep- German mobile IM+Social+Gaming startup gets funded] , StartupSquad.com, June 7, 2007. Accessed March 11, 2008.] Though qeep was originally only available in German, its parent company released an English version in January 2008. [ [http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?id=207041&yr=2008 “Qeep launch English version of mobile community software”] , Telecompaper (subscription required), March 11, 2008. Accessed March 26, 2008.] [Nordmann, Manuel. [http://www.qeep.de/blog/?p=50 “qeep goes international!”] qeep blog, January 29, 2008. Accessed March 11, 2008.]

Technology

The application incorporates a multi-layer design based on the Java-language j2me platform. Qeep’s absence of a complex solution stack minimizes the amount of memory needed for installation and running the program on cellphones. It also permits the application to function on much older model handsets, where connections are much slower.

History

Blue Lion mobile, qeep’s parent company, was founded in the summer of 2006 for the specific purpose of developing and marketing qeep. [ [http://www.marketwirecanada.com/mw/rel_ca.jsp?id=739695&k= “Mobile Social Messenger “Qeep” Receives Series A Funding from Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments”] , Marketwire, June 07, 2007. Accessed March 25, 2008.] In June 2007, Blue Lion received a seven-figure Series-A funding package from Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments to further develop and distribute the product. [ [http://mb.internetdatingconference.com/bertelsmann-invests-in-mobile-social-networking-qeep-site-t2301.html “Bertelsmann invests in Mobile Social Netowrking QEEP site”] , Internet Dating Conference, June 7, 2007. Accessed April 1, 2008.] [Pearce, James Quintana. [http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-bertelsmann-invests-in-mobile-social-company-qeep/ “Bertelsmann Invests in Mobile Social Company Qeep”] , moconews.net, June 5, 2007. Accessed April 1, 2008.] Funding was also earmarked for increasing the number of handsets on which the program functions and to launch in additional key European markets. [Pearce, James Quintana. [http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-bertelsmann-invests-in-mobile-social-company-qeep/ “Bertelsmann Invests in Mobile Social Company Qeep”] , moconews.net, June 5, 2007. Accessed April 1, 2008.] Bertelsmann’s support of qeep is an example of their recent efforts to compete with social networking giants, such as News Corp’s MySpace. [Lesnick, Mark. [http://mb.internetdatingconference.com/bertelsmann-invests-in-mobile-social-networking-qeep-site-t2301.html “Bertelsmann invests in Mobile Social Networking QEEP site] , Internet Dating Conference, June 09, 2007. Accessed March 25, 2008.]

As of May 2008, qeep has a membership of over 100,000 users. [Glazowski, Paul. [http://mashable.com/2008/05/14/qeep/ “Budding Germany-Based Mobile Social Network Qeep Going Global] , Mashable, May 14, 2008. Accessed June 9, 2008.]

Features

Qeep essentially operates as a self-contained software bundle of interactive features.

QMS

The qeep messaging service is a short message service internal to the qeep network. Message content is compressed by a proxy server system and exchanged via GPRS or UMTS within the mobile application. This greatly reduces the expense of sending messages, essentially leaving the accompanying data transfer rate as the only remaining cost. However, with the exception of invitations sent to new members, QMS cannot be sent to mobile phones outside of qeep’s network, nor can those messages be read outside of the qeep program. [ [http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?id=199653&yr=2008 “Qeep launches PC-to-mobile SMS Sending”] Telecompaper (subscription required), January 17, 2008. Accessed March 26, 2008.]

Photoblogging

While qeep does not offer any sort of digital photography software "per se," it does permit mobile phones with built-in camera to take and store pictures within the qeep database. These photos are organized in individual user’s photoblogs, which are preserved in the qeep database rather than on the mobile itself. [ [http://www.bluelionmobile.com/23.0.html?&L=1 “Mobile photo-blogging”] , Blue Lion mobile, December 22, 2006. Accessed March 26, 2008.] This simultaneously offers the user near-limitless storage space while also limiting photo access to within the qeep program. Thus the qeep photoblog system operates along a similar model to online photo sharing networks.

Games

As of April 2008, qeep’s application package includes two turn-based online games. “Battleships,” the first game released on qeep, [ (In German) [http://www.chip.de/news/Schiff-versenkt-Online-Spiele-auf-dem-Handy_28397849.html “Schiff versenkt: Online-Spiele auf dem Handy] , Chip.de, August 13, 2007. Accessed March 25, 2008.] [ [http://www.bluelionmobile.com/22.0.html?&L=1 “Qeep launches multi-player gaming”] , Blue Lion mobile, April 10, 2007. Accessed March 26, 2008.] is based upon the classic game of similar name, while “Quadrix” is a Connect Four equivalent. Though qeep’s marketing has frequently claimed that additional games will be added regularly, no new games have been included since the introduction of Quadrix in May 2007.

Sound Attacks

Sound Attacks are mp3 audio files built into the qeep network. Users send messages to one another's phones, activiating the appropriate sound on the recipient's handset. The sound file is then played on the recipient’s phone automatically. Since a number of these sounds are meant to be humorously vulgar or inappropriate, this unprovoked sound is essentially an “attack” on the recipient’s phone. [ (in German) [http://www.chip.de/news/Qeep-Sound-Attacken-auf-andere-Handys_29729789.html “Qeep: Sound-Attacken auf andere Handys”] , Chip.de, June 12, 2007. Accessed March 25, 2008.]

Additional listings have also been included for special occasions, such as the Christmas season. [ (In German). [http://www.xonio.com/news/Qeep-Sound-Attacken-auf-andere-Handys_29729796.html “Qeep: Sound-Attacken auf andere Handys”] , xonio.com, December 6, 2007. Accessed March 19, 2007. ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.qeep.net Qeep Homepage]