EBuddy
Encyclopedia
eBuddy is a privately held company which owns a browser-based web
and mobile messenger service
supporting various instant messaging services. eBuddy was launched in 2003 under the name e-Messenger, located at www.e-messenger.net, before rebranding itself in 2006 to eBuddy.
eBuddy supports Windows Live Messenger
, Yahoo! Messenger
, AIM
, Hyves
, ICQ
, Google Talk
, MySpace Instant Messenger and Facebook
Chat using one interface. eBuddy can also be accessed from mobile platforms such as Apple iOS, Google Android, and Nokia Symbian
.
The company is backed by Prime Technology Ventures and Lowland Capital Partners. It is headquartered in Amsterdam
, Netherlands
, and has offices in London
, UK and San Francisco, USA. In addition to the software being available on the official website, users may host a log-in widget on their own webpages and blogs to provide direct access to the software more easily.
. After several weeks, he won the bet and uploaded the application on a server. Visitors then asked if he could make a web version of the application. As user traffic spurred, Paulo decided to take the idea further. On September 9, 2003, Taylor together with two partners created EverywhereMSN.com. Microsoft
however claimed the domain name and on December 4, 2003 the domain was changed to e-messenger.net. On May 1, 2004, e-Messenger became incorporated. On June 1, 2006, e-Messenger was renamed to eBuddy.
eBuddy Web Messenger is the free browser-based version of eBuddy. It does not require any installation of additional software other than a Web Browser. This is particularly useful when a Messenger Application cannot be installed, for example in the workplace or on shared computers. The current version of eBuddy Web Messenger was introduced on October 15, 2009. It is the third generation in of eBuddy's Web Messenger, mainly boosting speed and reliability improvements compared to the prior generation.
Other features include a combined buddylist for all chat networks, the tabbed chatting eBuddy is known for and full-featured chat like font formatting for messages and support for emoticons. Also the ability to send and receive offline messages. In August 2010 recent chat history, an inline YouTube
player, an updated Facebook
implementation and Desktop Notifications for Google Chrome
were launched. The web messenger is available in multiple languages. In contrast to eBuddy's mobile Messengers, an eBuddyID is not required to use the Web Messenger. Prior generations of the Web Messenger included webcam chat, but this seems to be removed from the most recent version.
and iPod Touch
. It is based on the same Ajax
platform as the web version. At the start of 2008, this version was replaced by eBuddy Lite Messenger for iPhone. This mobile web-based version of eBuddy is optimized for the iPhone and also works on the iPod Touch. The features are very similar to the Mobile Messenger, but also include added support for the Safari
browser found on the iPhone
.
On May 14, 2009, eBuddy launched eBuddy for Android, an app to chat on smartphones running Android operating systems. The features provided by this variant are similar to the standard mobile messenger service, but are adapted to support the Android status bar, with support for sounds, vibrations, and buzzers.eBuddy for Android is available in the Android Market
. It topped 250,000 downloads on January 14, 2010.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
and mobile messenger service
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
supporting various instant messaging services. eBuddy was launched in 2003 under the name e-Messenger, located at www.e-messenger.net, before rebranding itself in 2006 to eBuddy.
eBuddy supports Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!...
, AIM
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997...
, Hyves
Hyves
Hyves is a social networking site in the Netherlands with mainly Dutch visitors and members and competes in this country with sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Hyves was founded in 2004 by Raymond Spanjar, Koen Kam, and Floris Rost van Tonningen....
, ICQ
ICQ
ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed and popularized by the Israeli company Mirabilis, then bought by America Online, and since April 2010 owned by Mail.ru Group. The name ICQ is a homophone for the phrase "I seek you"...
, Google Talk
Google Talk
Google Talk is a freeware voice over Internet protocol client application offered by Google Inc. The first beta version of the program was released on August 24, 2005...
, MySpace Instant Messenger and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Chat using one interface. eBuddy can also be accessed from mobile platforms such as Apple iOS, Google Android, and Nokia Symbian
Symbian
Symbian is a mobile operating system and computing platform designed for smartphones and currently maintained by Accenture. The Symbian platform is the successor to Symbian OS and Nokia Series 60; unlike Symbian OS, which needed an additional user interface system, Symbian includes a user...
.
The company is backed by Prime Technology Ventures and Lowland Capital Partners. It is headquartered in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and has offices in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK and San Francisco, USA. In addition to the software being available on the official website, users may host a log-in widget on their own webpages and blogs to provide direct access to the software more easily.
History
eBuddy was originally created by Paulo Taylor. The idea came to life when he made a bet with a friend to get MSN Messenger, as it was named in 2003, to work on a mobile phoneMobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
. After several weeks, he won the bet and uploaded the application on a server. Visitors then asked if he could make a web version of the application. As user traffic spurred, Paulo decided to take the idea further. On September 9, 2003, Taylor together with two partners created EverywhereMSN.com. Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
however claimed the domain name and on December 4, 2003 the domain was changed to e-messenger.net. On May 1, 2004, e-Messenger became incorporated. On June 1, 2006, e-Messenger was renamed to eBuddy.
eBuddy Web Messenger
Other features include a combined buddylist for all chat networks, the tabbed chatting eBuddy is known for and full-featured chat like font formatting for messages and support for emoticons. Also the ability to send and receive offline messages. In August 2010 recent chat history, an inline YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
player, an updated Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
implementation and Desktop Notifications for Google Chrome
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. The name is derived from the graphical user interface frame, or...
were launched. The web messenger is available in multiple languages. In contrast to eBuddy's mobile Messengers, an eBuddyID is not required to use the Web Messenger. Prior generations of the Web Messenger included webcam chat, but this seems to be removed from the most recent version.
eBuddy Mobile Messenger
In June 2007, eBuddy Mobile Messenger, a Java ME client, was released that is claimed to work on the top 600 cellular phones used worldwide. This version offers features like uploading an avatar and sending pictures in the chat. The software is usable after being downloaded as an application. Features included in this variant are similar to the web messenger, with support for sending and receiving offline messages, being able to upload pictures to use as an avatar, and the ability to send pictures in chat. The Mobile Messenger also supports sound and vibration. A later version, released in January 2009, added more features which improved software usability, and lowered power use of the device running it.eBuddy Lite for iOS
On July 13, 2007, eBuddy released an Alpha version for iOS operating system; the iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
. It is based on the same Ajax
Ajax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
platform as the web version. At the start of 2008, this version was replaced by eBuddy Lite Messenger for iPhone. This mobile web-based version of eBuddy is optimized for the iPhone and also works on the iPod Touch. The features are very similar to the Mobile Messenger, but also include added support for the Safari
Safari (web browser)
Safari is a web browser developed by Apple Inc. and included with the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems. First released as a public beta on January 7, 2003 on the company's Mac OS X operating system, it became Apple's default browser beginning with Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther". Safari is also the...
browser found on the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
.
eBuddy for Android
Android Market
Android Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...
. It topped 250,000 downloads on January 14, 2010.
eBuddy for Nokia
eBuddy was released on the Ovi Store for Nokia smartphones in 2010. It reached 1 million downloads in under three months, and reached 3 million downloads by August 2010.eBuddy ID
In February 2008 eBuddy introduced the eBuddy ID, which allows easy access to eBuddy networks. With this eBuddy ID users are able to login with multiple Instant Messaging accounts, and are able to access to premium features like Webcam Chat.Awards
- In January 2007, eBuddy won the "Best Dutch App" award at the Dutch Web2.0 Awards organized by Blue Ace.
- On March 19, 2007, eBuddy was listed in Red Herrings Top 100 Europe 2007 organized by Red HerringRed Herring (magazine)Red Herring was a technology business magazine, which flourished during the dot com boom, with global distribution and bureaus in Bangalore, Beijing, and Paris. It also sponsored conferences designed to bring venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and technologists together. But the magazine went into...
- In December 2007, Google Zeitgeist listed eBuddy as the 7th fastest growing search term worldwide.
- In January 2009, eBuddy won the Crunchies Award for Best International Company of 2008 organized by Techcrunch.
Updates and modifications
- September 2005 – Integrated AjaxAjax (programming)Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
into e-Messenger - August 2006 – Established US server platform
- June 16, 2007 – Released new mobile Java MEJava Platform, Micro EditionJava Platform, Micro Edition, or Java ME, is a Java platform designed for embedded systems . Target devices range from industrial controls to mobile phones and set-top boxes...
client and new beta web IM version - August 22, 2007 – Released MySpace IM for the beta web version
- July 28, 2008 – Released optimized version, eBuddy Lite Messenger, for iPhone and iPod Touch, plus other features
- July 29, 2008 – Released version 0.99 of the eBuddy Mobile Messenger
- September 19, 2008 – Released new versions of eBuddy Mobile and Lite Messenger, including support for Facebook and ICQ
- May 6, 2009 – Released new eBuddy Web Messenger with Webcam Chat
- May 14, 2009 – Released eBuddy for Android