Qik is a video sharing service. Users can capture video using their mobile phone and share clips with friends and family online. The service saves the video to the user’s Qik account before they are finished recording so the user doesn’t have to spend time uploading after the fact. Users can store up to 25 individual videos on their Qik account. Users can share the video with one person or post it to their Twitter, Facebook or YouTube accounts. An instant messaging service is built in so the user can chat with other users on Qik’s mobile app. The desktop and mobile applications synchronize so videos are always available no matter which device the user is currently utilizing. 3D and HD recording options are available on some devices. Qik was founded by Nikolay Abkairov, Ramu Sunkara and Bhaskar Roy in 2006. The application has received plenty of praise for its many unique features, which draws in many new users. The only complaints noted involved the difficulty experienced when adding new contacts and the video speed and quality when sharing over a 3G or 4G network. For the most part, Qik has met or exceeded the expectations of most users. Qik offers a number of fun features that make it stand out compared to many of its competitors. The service lets users share their videos live as they take them. Chat is built in and users can easily synchronize their videos between mobile devices and their home computer. These are a few of the reasons that the application has caught the eye of many users and has received quite a few mentions on the web. Qik utilizes a simple but effective interface. A blue color scheme contains no loud or annoying ads or clutter to slow the user down. The video chatting and sharing features give the user’s footage center stage by framing videos in a solid black border. The design makes Qik versatile and appropriate for any kind of video sharing, from family members passing along videos of their children to professionals discussing a project over live video chat. A new user can create a Qik account by clicking the blue “Sign Up” button in the upper, right hand corner of the page. The next page asks the user to choose their preferred membership plan before continuing. After selecting the plan, the user is asked to provide a first and last name, username, password, email address and country location. Two blue buttons are available above the form for users who prefer to sign in with a Facebook or Twitter account. The user is automatically logged in, but advised that a verification email will be sent to the email address they provided. Qik video comes in two flavors: free and premium. The free account includes Qik to Qik live video chat, live streaming to web capabilities, social network and video website sharing, up to 25 videos per account and the ability to receive video mail. The Qik premium account costs $4.99 per month or $44.99 per year and includes the ability to send video mail, unlimited video storage, Qik’s desktop application, HD and 3D videos and priority level support. Qik is a fun video sharing service that lets users stay in touch with live chatting and other social features. The application includes a number of appealing extras that help users stay in touch and share their video clips with friends and family. The application seems geared toward casual users, however could serve professionals as a quick, inexpensive video chatting solution. Users can save, share and organize their videos in one place using Qik.

• Live video can be watched as it is recorded
• Chatting features are built into video
• 3D and HD video recording capabilities available
• Free and inexpensive paid subscription options available
• Clean video viewing interface suitable for any purpose
• Users can send and receive video mail

http://qik.com/