IWiW
Encyclopedia
iWiW is a Hungarian
social networking web service started on April 14, 2002 as WiW (Who Is Who). , it has 2,6 million registered users with real names. Every user can provide personal information such as the place they live in, date of birth, schools and universities they attended, workplaces, interests and pets. One can find friends by a search tool or looking through one's acquaintances' acquaintances.
On October 26, 2005 the system was rebuilt from scratch and got a new name (iWiW). The most important changes are the multilingual interface (currently reverted to Hungarian-only as of July 2006), listings, photo upload and a special Java applet
to visualize the connections.
On 28 April 2006, T-Online, the net branch of Magyar Telekom
, has purchased iWiW for almost one billion HUF (about 4.7 million USD). Users expressed concerns that their personal data may be sold to telemarketers or used for other purposes potentially hurting their privacy
. Because of fears for abuse by the Hungarian telco giant, several iWiW clones and unrelated Hungarian social networking websites appeared or gained in popularity since the take-over.
Since the T-Online acquisitation, the site is available only in Hungarian.
On July 18, 2006 the iWiW had 1 million users and on December 18 it reached 1.5 million.
On Dec 24, 2008 the number of registered users on iWiW 4 million, covering almost all internet users in Hungary.
On 22 April 2009, 26 applications became available on iwiw.hu. By mid-2009, users could choose from 65 applications.
In April 2010 iWiW introduced a service similar to Facebook connect. This allows users to log in to external websites using their iWiW credentials.
In July 2010 iWiW introduced its mobile application for the IPhone
and for Android
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
social networking web service started on April 14, 2002 as WiW (Who Is Who). , it has 2,6 million registered users with real names. Every user can provide personal information such as the place they live in, date of birth, schools and universities they attended, workplaces, interests and pets. One can find friends by a search tool or looking through one's acquaintances' acquaintances.
On October 26, 2005 the system was rebuilt from scratch and got a new name (iWiW). The most important changes are the multilingual interface (currently reverted to Hungarian-only as of July 2006), listings, photo upload and a special Java applet
Applet
In computing, an applet is any small application that performs one specific task that runs within the scope of a larger program, often as a plug-in. An applet typically also refers to Java applets, i.e., programs written in the Java programming language that are included in a web page...
to visualize the connections.
On 28 April 2006, T-Online, the net branch of Magyar Telekom
Magyar Telekom
Magyar Telekom Nyrt. is Hungary's largest telecommunications company. The former monopolist is now a fully consolidated subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom....
, has purchased iWiW for almost one billion HUF (about 4.7 million USD). Users expressed concerns that their personal data may be sold to telemarketers or used for other purposes potentially hurting their privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
. Because of fears for abuse by the Hungarian telco giant, several iWiW clones and unrelated Hungarian social networking websites appeared or gained in popularity since the take-over.
Since the T-Online acquisitation, the site is available only in Hungarian.
On July 18, 2006 the iWiW had 1 million users and on December 18 it reached 1.5 million.
On Dec 24, 2008 the number of registered users on iWiW 4 million, covering almost all internet users in Hungary.
On 22 April 2009, 26 applications became available on iwiw.hu. By mid-2009, users could choose from 65 applications.
In April 2010 iWiW introduced a service similar to Facebook connect. This allows users to log in to external websites using their iWiW credentials.
In July 2010 iWiW introduced its mobile application for 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...
and for Android