MXit

MXit

Developer(s)	MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd.
Initial release	2007
Stable release	See → Current versions
Development status	Active
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, Java ME, Linux, BlackBerry OS
Type	Instant Messenger
License	Freeware
Website	mxit.com mxitlifestyle.com

MXit (pronounced "mix it") is a free instant messaging application developed by MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa that runs on multiple mobile and computing platforms. Along with its own standard protocol, it can connect to Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, Facebook, AIM, or Windows Live Messenger contacts as well.^[1]

According to a 2011 study by consultancy World Wide Worx, MXit currently has about 10 million active subscribers, making it the largest mobile social network in Africa. ^[2]

History

MXit originates from Stellenbosch, a university town in South Africa. In 1997, Herman Heunis established Swist Group Technologies and focused primarily on the mobile telecommunications industry, developing software and providing system support to large Telco's. In 2000 Clockspeed Mobile, a research and development division of Swist Group Technologies, developed a Massive Multiplayer Mobile game named Alaya. The game was SMS based and was not successful due to the high cost of SMS since GPRS was still not widely implemented. In 2003 the game was reassessed and the MXit concept was conceived by Herman that same year, MXit has evolved to become a major IM player in the South African arena thereafter.^[3] In April 2004 Clockspeed Mobile became independent and on the 1 July 2006 became MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd.^[4] In January 2007, media giant Naspers acquired a 30% stake in the company for an undisclosed amount.^[5] In September 2011, MXit was acquired by South African investment group, World of Avatar.^[6]

Features

MXit allows users to send and receive one-on-one text and multimedia messages to and from other users, and in general chat rooms. MXit also supports gateways to other instant messaging platforms such as MSN Messenger, ICQ and Google Talk. MXit does not charge for one-on-one messages though mobile operators may charge for data usage. There are also a number of pay-services, including chatrooms.

MXit was first released as a mobile phone IM client. Available on a variety of phones, MXit requires Java and internet connectivity via CSD, GPRS, 3G or wifi to run. Tailored versions have also been released for the Apple iPhone (via the iTunes App Store), Android, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile devices.^[7] MXit Lifestyle have also released a Windows client, MXit EVO PC.^[8]

MXit features some of the standard functions of a modern instant messaging client, such as a contact list, file transfers and photo sharing via a cellphone's built-in camera. MXit also supports profile photos, tabbed conversations and message formatting. Contacts are added by entering their cellphone number and, as of recently, a username. Users are able to change their presence and mood via a menu on the client. Further features include support for themes, emoticons, and group chat, called MultiMX.

On 1 April 2009, MXit released an open-source plug-in for the libPurple library.^[9] This allows applications using the libPurple library such as Pidgin and Adium to connect to the MXit network. The coincided with the release of the MXit Developer Zone web-site and documentation on the MXit client protocol.^[10] MXit has been included as a standard protocol in Pidgin since version 2.6.4.^[11]

Platforms

Supported platforms

MXit is available on a variety of mobile and Computing platforms, each independently developed for the platform. These are:

• Android
• BlackBerry OS
• iOS
• Java ME
• Linux using Pidgin
• Mac OS X using Adium
• Microsoft Windows using Pidgin and MXit EVO
• Windows Mobile

Current versions

Platform	Current version	Release date	Third party
Java ME	6	1 July 2011	No
BlackBerry	6	24 June 2011	No
iPhone	1.6	04 March 2011	No
Android	6	10 June 2011	No
Windows Mobile	1.4.1	05 November 2010	No
Linux	2.9.0, Pidgin	23 June 2011	Yes, Pidgin only, bundled plugin
Microsoft Windows	2.9.0, Pidgin 2.0.1, MXit Evo	23 June 2011 13 December 2010	Yes, Pidgin, bundled plugin
Mac OS X	1.0	31 August 2009	Yes, Adium only, separate plugin[12]

MXit EVO

MXit EVO is a suite of products that extends MXit's reach beyond the mobile IM space, by providing a PC client and a webchat client. It was released in January 2010.

MXit EVO PC

MXit EVO Instant Messenger allows you to connect to the MXit network from a Windows PC. It is developed using Microsoft's Windows Presentation Foundation framework. As of version 2.0, MXit EVO requires .Net 4.0 to be installed.^[13]

MXit EVO Webchat

MXit EVO Webchat is a Microsoft Silverlight application that can be embedded on any website (e.g. a blog). It allows the embedder to customise the look and feel of the application.

MXit EVO Agent

MXit EVO Agent is a web widget using JavaScript which can be embedded on any website. It allows a visitor to a web-site to chat with another user in real-time when logged into MXit. The EVO Agent is a light-weight, cross-browser and cross-platform compatible, and is free to use.^[14]

Services

Tradepost

Tradepost lets you know about current competitions and the latest gadgets available to MXit users. Tradepost is also central to finding downloads like skinz, chatrooms, music, news, hot gossip, movie info, greeting cards etc. These are bought using Mxit's official currency, Moola.^[1]

Moola

Moola is the currency used by MXit and its users. One Moola is the equivalent of one South African cent. Moola is used for services as provided in the Tradepost and to chat in the chat rooms (one-on-one messaging is not charged for). Moola is purchased in Rand either via credit card or via a premium rate SMS service.^[15][16]

Music

MXit Music is an initiative to support the growth of South African music whereby artists can expose their music to the MXit community. MXit Music is available to users via Tradepost on the MXit client, and well as the MXit Music website.^[17] After adding the MXit Music contact, users can access the MXit Music charts and a host of bands. Users can preview tracks for free and download full tracks at a cost of 250 Moola (R2.50) each. Users can also cast votes for their favourite bands and access band blogs. Votes are logged in real time, and tracks are ranked within the MXit Music charts based on the number of votes received.^[18]

Chat Zones

MXit Chat Zones are available for ages fourteen and up. Certain Chat Zones are dedicated to specific age groups, The age restrictions on Chat Zones are decided by MXit Chat Zone Admin. All Chat Rooms have commands to assist users in ease of use. Chat Zones are also Moderated by MXit Magi Team to assist in the safety of the users. Chat Rooms charge 2 moola per message.^[19][20]

International presence

MXit operates in many international markets. MXit is officially supported in Malaysia, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom, United States, Nigeria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. In August 2007 MXit commissioned their European Data Centre located in Frankfurt, Germany. The purpose of this server farm is to take over most of the international traffic from the South African servers.^[21] In September 2010, MXit launched in Kenya , making it the first country outside of South Africa to have access to the full MXit experience. (Until then, anyone outside of South Africa only had access to the MXit's "Chat" function.)

Criticism

Media coverage

Articles in the 27 July 2006 editions of YOU and Huisgenoot magazines indirectly implied that MXit enables access to pornography and allows paedophiles to contact minor users, often by pretending to be minors themselves. On 30 July 2006, the M-Net actuality program Carte Blanche broadcast an insert in which a young girl explained how an alleged paedophile contacted her via MXit. The girl, however, admitted that she violated the MXit rule not to share personal contact details with other users.^[22] The creators of MXit have since aligned themselves with South African law enforcement to further secure minors' safety when using MXit.^[23]

Exam results

Numerous news agencies and papers have placed articles in which they quote parents from all over South Africa who claim that MXit is having an effect on their children's school work. Parents argue that their children fail to communicate properly and find themselves in their own world of mobile chatrooms. This has led to parents starting to confiscate their children's phones.^[24]

Reactions to criticism

MXit has taken the following steps and provisions to improve online safety:

• The chat rooms are moderated up to 14 hours a day.
• MXit recently launched its chatroom blocking feature that allows parents to block the chat ability on MXit.
• Users are encouraged to report any abuse they may have experienced on MXit. This can be done on MXit by sending a “.rat” command to MXit. This command gives MXit the authority to see the last 30 string of this conversation from reporting. A moderator will then intercept within 6 to 12 hours of reporting.
• Chat rooms contain profanity filters, and most are age restricted too. You can also set up your own chatroom, and password protect it, so the only way that someone can gain access to a chat room is if the user invites them in.
• Each time users enter a chat zone they are reminded to keep all personal details private.
• User identities remain anonymous when using a dynamic chat zone.
• MXit suspends or bans users that abuse its technology and will continue to assist authorities to stop abusers of its network.^[25]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.mxitlifestyle.com/getting-started
2. ^ http://www.worldwideworx.com/2011/10/26/socialmedi/ South African Social Media Landscape 2011, World Wide Worx
3. ^ http://www.mxitlifestyle.com/about-us
4. ^ MXit Forum • View topic - MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd
5. ^ "Naspers acquires a 30% share in MXit". Naspers. 2007-01-26. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20070711020905/http://www.naspers.co.za/English/press_mxit.asp. Retrieved 2007-08-15. 
6. ^ Atagana, Michelle (22 September 2011). "Exclusive: Alan Knott-Craig buys MXit, Herman Heunis steps down". memeburn.com. http://memeburn.com/2011/09/exclusive-alan-knott-craig-buys-mxit-herman-heunis-steps-down/. Retrieved 11 October 2011. 
7. ^ "MXit BlackBerry". MXit Lifestyle. http://www.mxit.com/web/mxitbb.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-22. 
8. ^ "MXit EVO PC". MXit Lifestyle. http://evo.mxit.com/pc/setup.exe. Retrieved 2009-06-22. 
9. ^ "MXit Pidgin Plugin". MXit DevZone. http://devzone.mxit.com/libPurple/. Retrieved 2009-08-28. 
10. ^ "MXit DevZone". MXit Lifestyle. http://devzone.mxit.com/. Retrieved 2009-08-28. 
11. ^ MXit Forum • View topic - Pidgin 2.6.4 - now with MXit included
12. ^ "View forum: Version Support". MXit Forum. phpBB Group. http://forum.mxit.com/viewforum.php?f=191. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
13. ^ "MXit EVO version 2 Released". MXit Forum. phpBB Group. 13 December 2010. http://forum.mxit.com/viewtopic.php?f=3553&t=25937. 
14. ^ "MXit EVO Agent Tutorial & Howto Use Guide". MXit EVO Agent. http://www.loubser.co.za/pieter/mxit/mxit-evo-agent-tutorial/. Retrieved 2010-04-13. 
15. ^ MXit Forum • View topic - Buy Moola Via These Premium Rated Numbers
16. ^ MXit Forum • View topic - Moola Purchase via Credit Card
17. ^ "MXit Music". MXit Lifestyle. http://www.mxitmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 
18. ^ http://www.mxitmusic.com/music/faqs.seam
19. ^ http://www.mxitlifestyle.com/chatzones
20. ^ MXit Forum • Information
21. ^ MXit Forum • View forum - MXit International
22. ^ "MXit Safety Guidelines". MXit.co.za. 2006-10-19. http://www.mxit.co.za/pdfs/safetext_smaller.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-19. 
23. ^ Rondganger, Lee (2006-10-19). "MXit teams up with police to improve security". The Star (Independent Online). http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=&art_id=vn20061019033513414C680652. Retrieved 2006-10-19. 
24. ^ "MXit blamed for exam results"
25. ^ http://www.mxitlifestyle.com/online-safety

External links

• Official website
• Developer home page
• MXit Forum
• MXit Developer Zone
• MXit API
• Terms & Conditions