Social network "VKontakte" – a successful example of hyper popular online project. The network appeared in 2006 and totals about 60 million registered users for today. The controlling stake in 2014 was redeemed by the Mail.ru group.
Idea
It is considered that the idea of social network "VKontakte" belongs to the chief developer of the project Pavel Durov. He, according to partners, offered also the original name. The purpose of the project was providing service, namely: creation of the portal which will allow student's youth to remain in contact.
In 2004-2006 Durov was engaged in development and administration of student's web projects. The project of the website durov.com was one of the most popular. The website offered answers to examination questions in liberal ARTS colleges. The first links to the new project of VKontakte were posted on this website. Obviously, good attendance of durov.com became a springboard for VKontake.
Implementation
At the beginning Durov with adherents tried to place the project at forums by means of adding of new fields. However, rather rigid format did not give the chance to communicate personal character as at forums then (and now) there were rather tight restrictions on the publication of personal data.
The new impulse gave to development of the project transatlantic facebook.com. One of Durov's friends told it about the American social network. It was decided to adopt the American approach. Participants of the project understood that the extensive database of pupils is necessary for successful start therefore considerable time left on collecting data on educational institutions, faculties, specialties. As the comprehensive database could not be created, it was decided to leave to users an opportunity to enter information in additional fields.
The alpha was started in the summer of 2006, and the beta option with a possibility of registration on the website by the invitation started in the fall. Soon registration became free. It was preceded by a huge number of requirements of pupils about canceling of restrictions for accession to network. Further the popularity and attendance of the website grew as avalanche. In the summer of 2007th VKontakte enters a top of the most visited sites of RuNet, and in the winter the 2007th concedes the first place in the rating only of mail.ru.
By 2009, along with growth of popularity, the network becomes one of the largest websites containing pornographic materials. In the same time of VKontakte swindlers, hackers and pirates literally storm. The project regularly appears in the center of loud trials. The great public outcry received process in the claim of owners of the movie "Island".
By 2010 the number of the registered users exceeded 60 million, however the number of double registration reached 20 million. In February, 2014 the founder of VKontakte Pavel Durov sold the share in the company, and in April of the same year declared the leaving from a position of the CEO of the project. For today the number of users exceeds 100 million. The network continues to grow.