Skype Qik
{{short description|Video messaging service from Skype}}
{{Redirect|Qik|the airline application|QIK}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox software
| title =
| name = Skype Qik
| logo = Skype Qik logo rus.png
| logo size =
| logo caption =
| screenshot = Skype Qik screenshot.png
| screenshot size = 250px
| caption = Skype Qik on Android
| collapsible = yes
| author =
| developer = Microsoft (as the Microsoft Skype division)
| released = {{Start date and age|2014|10|14|df=no}}
| discontinued =Yes
| programming language =
| operating system = {{Plain list |
}}
| platform =
| language =
| language count =
| language footnote =
| genre = Video messaging
| license = Proprietary
| website = {{URL|www.skype.com/en/qik}}
| AsOf =
}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Qik, Inc.
| type = Private
| fate = Acquired by Skype Technologies
| foundation = Redwood City, CA, USA ({{Start date|2007}})
| founder = {{unbulleted list|Ramu Sunkara|Bhaskar Roy|Nikolay Abkairov}}
| defunct = {{End date|2014|04|30}}
| parent =
}}
Skype Qik {{IPAc-en|k|w|ɪ|k}} was a video messaging service by Skype. It was created by the company Skype Technologies, who acquired Qik. The service, offered for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices, allowed users to exchange video messages between individuals or within a group.{{Cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/personal-technology/2014/10/14/skype-relaunches-qik-as-social-video-messaging-app/ |title=Skype Relaunches Qik as Social Video Messaging App |last=Olivarez-Giles |first=Nathan |date=October 14, 2014 |work=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=October 14, 2014}}
Previously, the Qik service offered a mobile-based live video-sharing website and two-way video conferencing application that allowed users to stream live video from their cell phones to the internet.{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Kincaid |title=Start Streaming: Qik Opens To The Public |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/21/AR2008072100025.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 20, 2008 |accessdate=August 3, 2008}} Qik enabled users to record and upload video directly from supported cell phones. Qik, a Silicon Valley startup, launched its alpha version in December 2007 and went into public beta in July 2008.{{cite news |first=Deleon |last=Nicholas |title=Qik goes into public Beta |url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/07/21/qik-goes-into-public-beta/ |publisher=techcrunch.com |date=April 28, 2009 |accessdate=April 28, 2009 |archive-date=March 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330055338/http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/07/21/qik-goes-into-public-beta/ |url-status=dead }}
Qik was compatible with approximately 140+ cell phones.{{cite news |last=Official Qik website |title=Supported Phones for Qik |url=http://www.qik.com/info/supported_phones |publisher=qik.com |date=April 27, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417002007/http://www.qik.com/info/supported_phones |archive-date=April 17, 2009}} Qik videos can be shared on numerous services including Ovi Share, Facebook via Facebook Connect, Twitter, Livestream, 12secondstv, YouTube, Blogger, Seesmic, Tumblr, WordPress, Digg, StumbleUpon, Del.icio.us, MySpace, and Technorati. The videos can also be shared directly on the Qik website or embedded on a webpage for live or pre-recorded videos.
The company's headquarters were located in Redwood City, California, with a satellite office that was located in Zelenograd, Moscow, Russia.
It was announced on January 6, 2011, at CES, that Skype had acquired Qik for a sum of $150 million.[https://techcrunch.com/2011/01/06/confirmed-skype-buys-mobile-video-startup-qik/ Confirmed: Skype Buys Mobile Video Startup Qik][https://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/skype-announces-plans-to-acquire-qik/ Skype announces plans to acquire Qik]
On February 22, 2016, Microsoft announced their plans to retire the Skype Qik app on March 24, citing low usage.{{cite news |last1=Hachman |first1=Mark |title=The Skype Qik app was redundant, so Microsoft is shutting it down |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/3036443/data-center-cloud/the-skype-qik-app-was-redundant-so-microsoft-is-shutting-it-down.html |accessdate=February 22, 2016 |date=February 22, 2016}} Many features from the app have been integrated into the Skype app.{{cite news |last1=Perez |first1=Sarah |title=Skype Kills Its Standalone Video Messaging App Qik |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/22/skype-kills-its-standalone-video-messaging-app-qik/ |accessdate=February 22, 2016 |publisher=TechCrunch |date=February 22, 2016}}
History
Qik was founded in a garage by Ramu Sunkara, Bhaskar Roy and Nikolay Abkairov in 2006.{{Cite web |last=Moon |first=Bernard |date=2012-11-04 |title=Qik Founder's Story: Taking Mobile Video Out Of The Garage And Putting It Into The Hands Of Skype |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/11/03/qik-started-in-a-garage-discovered-by-scoble-survived-the-financial-meltdown-and-became-the-world-leader-in-mobile-video-before-merging-with-skype/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}
In April 2008, Qik received $3 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=3000000|start_year=2008}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in Series B funding from Marc Benioff (Salesforce.com), Arjun Gupta (Telesoft Partners), and George Garrick (Jingle Networks).{{cite news |last=Liz Gannes |title=Qik confirms funding, Shares plans |url=http://newteevee.com/2008/04/09/qik-confirms-funding-shares-plans/ |publisher=newteevee.com |date=April 27, 2009 |accessdate=April 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421102048/http://newteevee.com/2008/04/09/qik-confirms-funding-shares-plans/ |url-status=dead }} In September 2008, a month after its beta release, Qik received an undisclosed amount of investments from Netscape veterans Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. Both agreed to serve as board advisers on Qik.{{cite news |last=Dawn Kawamoto |title=Qik attracts Andreessen-Horowitz investment |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10025845-93.html |publisher=cnet.com |date=April 27, 2009 |accessdate=April 27, 2009}}
In mid-2009, Qik received another round of funding under $5.5 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=5500000|start_year=2009}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) from Peter Loukianoff at Almaz Capital and Quest Venture Partners, and some private investors.{{cite news |first=Tameka |last=Kee |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/08/AR2009070803514.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630140616/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-07-08/news/36884691_1_ovi-store-content-apps-mobile-video |url-status=live |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |title=Qik Nabs $5.5 Million In Funding For Mobile Video Streaming |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 8, 2009 |access-date=July 30, 2009}}
In January 2011, Skype acquired Qik for $150 million.[https://techcrunch.com/2011/01/06/confirmed-skype-buys-mobile-video-startup-qik/ Confirmed: Skype Buys Mobile Video Startup Qik][https://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/skype-announces-plans-to-acquire-qik/ Skype announces plans to acquire Qik]
On March 19, 2014, Skype and Qik users received emails announcing the original Qik service was being retired. Notification of the impending shut-down was also posted on the company website. The Qik service was subsequently shut down on April 30, 2014.
The new Skype Qik service was launched on October 14, 2014.{{cite news |last=Kosur |first=James |title=Qik Shutting Its Doors On April 30, Will Refund Paying Customers. |url=http://socialnewsdaily.com/27161/qik-shutting-its-doors-on-april-30-will-refund-paying-customers/ |newspaper=Social News Daily |date=March 20, 2014}}
After 9 years of service, on February 23, 2016, Microsoft decided to shut down Qik, therefore users will no longer be able to send or receive any messages via the video chat application. However, the company has also stated that many features of Qik are available via the Skype app.