History Imeem

1 history

1.1 history: 2003-2005
1.2 2006
1.3 2007
1.4 2008
1.5 2009

history
early history: 2003-2005

the imeem service has changed drastically since original inception messaging application let people communicate online chat, blogging, instant messaging , file sharing. service billed distributed, peer-to-peer, social network .

founder dalton caldwell began working on become imeem messaging application during thanksgiving weekend in 2003. initially, worked on software home. in 2004, imeem moved offices in downtown palo alto s 285 hamilton building, caldwell, jannink , small team of engineers continuing work on software.

the company first unveiled software in february 2005 @ demo conference , formally launched august.

when imeem first launched, use service, users required download , install desktop messaging , file-sharing software; imeem web site merely existed means users register , download client. though designed messaging, file-sharing function took off. client software supported service s distributed database model: every imeem client on network had database generate , store references media content shared on network; system accelerate access content deemed close user. service s media-sharing peer-to-peer – if user shared photos or podcast, data exist on client database network; users wanted view actual content access peering directly publisher.

2006

in march 2006, imeem re-launched @ south southwest (sxsw) conference in austin, texas, new focus on enabling people interact through imeem.com website, using media (photos, videos, music) express personalities , interests. timed coincide re-launch, imeem introduced new features enabling users upload , play music , video on site.

in september 2006, imeem introduced embeddable adobe flash-based playlists gave people ability take music , video playlists created (or found) on site , embed them virtually anywhere on web. company s players became popular consumers using myspace , other social networks, giving them way customize & personalize profiles music.

as result, imeem gained traction, site s traffic growing 10 million unique monthly users end of 2006. march 2007, imeem s monthly traffic reached on 16 million unique monthly users.

2007

in february 2007, myspace took steps limit posting of imeem content on site: updates or comments imeem mentioned in them removed upon posting. however, myspace stopped blocking imeem in 2008.

in march 2007, imeem announced partnering snocap, digital rights , content management startup founded napster creator shawn fanning, enable legal uploading, streaming , sharing of music on imeem, utilizing snocap s content fingerprinting , digital registry technology. goal provide way consumers upload , share music friends, free, , in way label , artists can both make money , have greater control on , how music available.

the partnership marked imeem s move ad-supported model, in consumers freely stream , share music , video content costs supported advertising. under model, artists , labels paid share of site s ad revenue in proportion popularity of music on imeem, , have right register content , determine whether content available on site or through embeddable widgets.

ultimately, imeem messaging , file-sharing application had proven of resource hog power-users, since database grow large proportions associating few individuals sharing lot of content. messaging product phased out; site became entirely web-based beginning in june 2007. while distributed model interesting , received positive press, proved difficult attract many users since way participate download imeem client software. on time, imeem integrated many of client s features website , innovative distributed database model centralized.

throughout first half of 2007, imeem had negotiated major labels secure licenses new model. warner music group , imeem announced licensing agreement imeem s new web-based service in july 2007, followed sony music entertainment , emi music in september. in december 2007, imeem signed licensing agreement universal music group, becoming first online music service partner 4 major music labels let people legally stream , share music free online.

2008

on january 28, 2008, imeem announced acquiring music locker service anywhere.fm.

on february 1, 2008, imeem acquired snocap. had been making extensive use of snocap s audio fingerprinting technology , music database. part of acquisition, snocap s chief operating officer, ali aydar (ex-napster), joined imeem.

on march 24, 2008 imeem announced launch of developer s platform permit third-party developers interact imeem data.

in april 2008, imeem received new round of funding sequoia capital.

in october 2008, imeem launched imeem mobile, free mobile music application. however, on 22nd of month, company laid off 25% of staff.

2009

the company s troubles continued 2009, warner music wrote off entire $15 million investment in imeem in anticipation no return come of , @ same time warner didn t extend licensensing imeem.

it seemed possible company close in april 2009, able renegotiate deals major label partners, , subsequently found enough new investors continue service. sources told techcrunch imeem raised $6 million in recent funding round, morgenthaler ventures , warner music group among investing.

the company launched imeem mobile iphone , ipod touch in may 2009. in june 2009, imeem mobile crossed milestone of on 1 million installs on android , iphone platforms.

on june 25, 2009, imeem announced removing user-uploaded video , photos site. move, , lack of advance notice, unpopular many users.

in october 2009, imeem , google announced integration of links music on imeem within google search results; imeem 1 of several online music companies involved in such efforts.