Mxit

MXit

File:MXit logo ver2.gif
Developer(s)	MXit Lifestyle
Stable release	5.9.5 / February 2010
Type	Instant Messenger
License	Freeware
Website	MXit.com

MXit (pronounced "mix it") is a free instant messaging software application developed by MXit Lifestyle in South Africa that runs on GPRS/3G mobile phones and on PCs. It allows the user to send and receive one-on-one text and multimedia messages to and from other users, as well as 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 has a registered userbase of over 19 million , about 20 million log-ons per day and over 250 million messages sent and received per day - around 35 000 messages per second during peak times. The application is distributed internationally and used by users in over 120 countries daily, but the bulk of its userbase is in South Africa and Indonesia with fast growth in 123 other countries.. In January 2007, media giant Naspers acquired a 30% stake in the company for an undisclosed amount.

Features

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 and Windows Mobile devices. MXit Lifestyle have also released a Windows client, MXit EVO PC..

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 plugin for the libPurple library. This allows applications using the libPurple library such as Pidgin 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.

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 your Windows PC. It is developed using Microsoft's Windows Presentation Foundation framework.

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 you in real-time when you are logged into MXit. The EVO Agent is very light-weight, cross-browser and cross-platform compatible, and is totally free to use.

History

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 in the latter half of 2003 the first version of MXit was released. In April 2004 Clockspeed Mobile became independent and on the 1 July 2006 became MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd.

MXit international

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.

MXit services

Tradepost

Tradepost is the MXit e-commerce store where users purchase access to certain services such as news reviews, movie reviews and times, music downloads, horoscopes etc. Services are paid for in Moola, the official MXit currency.

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, as well as 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.

MXit 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.

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.

The Dating Game(D8)

The Dating Game is a match making service offered under the Tradepost contact's menu. The service allows users to create an avatar and update their personal info, if they so choose, as well as personality traits. The user then navigates through virtual chat areas in order to invite contacts for one on one chats. The matchmaker function of the dating game offers the user the chance to filter out prospective friends based on age, hometown and personality traits.

The service is purchased for a once off fee of 20 moola. Chatting within The Dating Game also costs additional moola with each message costing 2 moola.

Criticism

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 broadcasted 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. The creators of MXit have since aligned themselves with South African law enforcement to further secure minors' safety when using MXit.

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.

Reactions to criticism

MXit Lifestyle has taken certain steps to protect minors and other MXit users. These include the provision of safety tips on the MXit website and the implementation of rules prohibiting pornography, stalking, harassment and other forms of abuse. Users may also ban other users from contacting them through MXit.

External links

• MXit home page
• MXit Developer Zone