Qype
Encyclopedia
Qype is a Hamburg
-based web 2.0
company centered around social networking
and local reviews
. They currently operate websites in Germany
, the United Kingdom
, France
, Switzerland
, Austria
, Ireland
, Poland
, Spain
, Italy
and Brazil
, and have approximately 22 million monthly unique Europe
an visitors.
100 Europe award.
In July 2007 Qype UK was launched, adding English to the interface and content. In January 2008 the website was translated into French, in anticipation of the launch of Qype France. Subsequent versions localised for the Spanish market (October 2008), Ireland and Austria (Summer 2008) in local language have followed. In 2008 Brazil was added, and Qype's first iPhone application.
In summer 2011, Qype launched sites in the Netherlands and Portugal as well as an application on Windows Mobile.
On 13th July 2011, Qype was featured in the BBC television show, The Apprentice, when one of the contestants was unable to pronounce the company name although still used it as the inspiration for his successful project.
of user
-generated reviews of local businesses in Europe. Users can add new places to the database, upload photos, review places in 7 languages and engage in community activities. Qype lists reviews on a wide-range of categories, listing all places in a user-based rank-order. Selected reviews are also presented in the weekly Qype newsletter, and on city and country pages.
There is a de-facto reputation system
, where users can see which members are the most popular, respected, and prolific contributors. Users can also check out who shares their interests or indeed their opinions of specific places. Qype fosters the community with events for members at local bars and restaurants, as well as B2C events for Qype members.
Qype's features include:
for anyone to search for businesses or read ongoing discussions on existing entries. Certain features, such as the ability to contribute a review, or add a comment to a discussion, are available only to users with verified accounts, which are free. Those members whose contributions have been recognized with a certain number of feedback points are promoted to "insider" status and receive a visual marker in their profile, as well as additional invitations to real-world events. Business owners may participate in the site as well by contributing company profiles.
User profiles include a standard set of attributes such as photographs and several fields relating to the user's location, hobbies, preferences etc. Qype allows wide latitude for personal expression on the site and does not routinely moderate or censor content. Some innocent playfulness is tolerated, such as reviews of non-businesses ( e.g. private stories, public art and memorable weather conditions), especially if they include associated photos and receive positive reviews of other peers. However, the company strongly encourages members to participate in a sincere and mature way. Abusive or improper behaviour is strictly forbidden and can result in the deletion of the respective profile and its content, as well as possible legal consequences.
or Berlin
a large percentage of all restaurants, bars and retail stores are listed with often numerous reviews and there is considerable competition among users to be the "first to review" a new establishment (for which the user also receives an extra feedback point). There is also considerable coverage of professional services, medical providers, automotive services, cultural venues, hotels, museums, parks, attractions, government services, etc. Users may add new businesses and update business information if they notice any missing or incorrect coverage.
As Qype does not take on the responsibility for the content of reviews, it is up to the users contributing material (reviews, photos, comments etc.) to ensure the legality of the content (e.g. regarding copyright laws). Spam
, including unmarked self promotions, is prohibited, as are the use of offensive language and comments on private individuals. Comments on professional positions (lawyers, doctors etc.) are allowed in principle, but are subject to local laws. This rule set is described in the Qype Code of Conduct.
Qype is now supported by the newest version of Nokia
's Ovi Maps Navigation. It launched a mobile version for Google
's Android, and a private beta for the RIM Blackberry was recently released.
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
-based web 2.0
Web 2.0
The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...
company centered around social networking
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
and local reviews
Review site
A review site is a website on which reviews can be posted about people, businesses, products, or services. These sites may use Web 2.0 techniques to gather reviews from site users or may employ professional writers to author reviews on the topic of concern for the site...
. They currently operate websites in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and have approximately 22 million monthly unique Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an visitors.
Company history
Qype was founded in March 2006 operating solely in the German market, which has now expanded to include most European cities. In March 2007 Qype was awarded the 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...
100 Europe award.
In July 2007 Qype UK was launched, adding English to the interface and content. In January 2008 the website was translated into French, in anticipation of the launch of Qype France. Subsequent versions localised for the Spanish market (October 2008), Ireland and Austria (Summer 2008) in local language have followed. In 2008 Brazil was added, and Qype's first iPhone application.
In summer 2011, Qype launched sites in the Netherlands and Portugal as well as an application on Windows Mobile.
On 13th July 2011, Qype was featured in the BBC television show, The Apprentice, when one of the contestants was unable to pronounce the company name although still used it as the inspiration for his successful project.
Site features
Qype hosts an online databaseDatabase
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
of user
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
-generated reviews of local businesses in Europe. Users can add new places to the database, upload photos, review places in 7 languages and engage in community activities. Qype lists reviews on a wide-range of categories, listing all places in a user-based rank-order. Selected reviews are also presented in the weekly Qype newsletter, and on city and country pages.
There is a de-facto reputation system
Reputation system
A reputation system computes and publishes reputation scores for a set of objects within a community or domain, based on a collection of opinions that other entities hold about the objects...
, where users can see which members are the most popular, respected, and prolific contributors. Users can also check out who shares their interests or indeed their opinions of specific places. Qype fosters the community with events for members at local bars and restaurants, as well as B2C events for Qype members.
Qype's features include:
- Private messagingPersonal messageA personal message or private message, often shortened to PM, is like an e-mail sent from one user to another user on an Internet forum, bulletin board system, social networking site , or chat room ....
- Tagging other members' reviews as "helpful" or "well written"
- User-created city guides
- User-created groups/forums
- ListsContact listA contact list is a collection of screen names in an instant messaging or e-mail program or online game or mobile phone. It has various trademarked and proprietary names in different contexts....
of "friends" - Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
display of other venues in the vicinity - Badge system
- A comprehensive European events database
- Sharing reviews on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and FacebookFacebookFacebook 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...
Members
Qype offers a directoryDirectory (databases)
Generally, a directory, as used in computing and telephony, refers to a repository or database of information which is heavily optimized for reading, under the assumption that data updates are very rare compared to data reads...
for anyone to search for businesses or read ongoing discussions on existing entries. Certain features, such as the ability to contribute a review, or add a comment to a discussion, are available only to users with verified accounts, which are free. Those members whose contributions have been recognized with a certain number of feedback points are promoted to "insider" status and receive a visual marker in their profile, as well as additional invitations to real-world events. Business owners may participate in the site as well by contributing company profiles.
User profiles include a standard set of attributes such as photographs and several fields relating to the user's location, hobbies, preferences etc. Qype allows wide latitude for personal expression on the site and does not routinely moderate or censor content. Some innocent playfulness is tolerated, such as reviews of non-businesses ( e.g. private stories, public art and memorable weather conditions), especially if they include associated photos and receive positive reviews of other peers. However, the company strongly encourages members to participate in a sincere and mature way. Abusive or improper behaviour is strictly forbidden and can result in the deletion of the respective profile and its content, as well as possible legal consequences.
Scope of reviews
Users may review any local business that provides products or services, as well as places of interest such as public gardens and beaches. In a high-usage city such as HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
or Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
a large percentage of all restaurants, bars and retail stores are listed with often numerous reviews and there is considerable competition among users to be the "first to review" a new establishment (for which the user also receives an extra feedback point). There is also considerable coverage of professional services, medical providers, automotive services, cultural venues, hotels, museums, parks, attractions, government services, etc. Users may add new businesses and update business information if they notice any missing or incorrect coverage.
As Qype does not take on the responsibility for the content of reviews, it is up to the users contributing material (reviews, photos, comments etc.) to ensure the legality of the content (e.g. regarding copyright laws). Spam
Forum spam
Forum spam is the creating of messages that are advertisements, abusive, or otherwise unwanted on Internet forums. It is generally done by automated spambots.- Types of spam :...
, including unmarked self promotions, is prohibited, as are the use of offensive language and comments on private individuals. Comments on professional positions (lawyers, doctors etc.) are allowed in principle, but are subject to local laws. This rule set is described in the Qype Code of Conduct.
Qype is now supported by the newest version of Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
's Ovi Maps Navigation. It launched a mobile version for Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
's Android, and a private beta for the RIM Blackberry was recently released.
General
Articles
- Paidcontent.co.uk: "Qype Relaunches And Redesigns As Reviews Hit One Million"
- Techcrunch: "Yelp’s European Counterpart Qype Continues Global Expansion"
- FAZFrankfurter Allgemeine ZeitungThe Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , short F.A.Z., also known as the FAZ, is a national German newspaper, founded in 1949. It is published daily in Frankfurt am Main. The Sunday edition is the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung .F.A.Z...
: "Web 2.0 nimmt Gestalt an" (German) - Guardian Unlimited: "Elevator Pitch: Qype takes local communities global"
- BBC Click Online: Evolution of the social network
- Qype Acquires Coupon Provider and Launches QypeDeals.com
- Qype inspires Apprentice win