A bunch of you are probably wondering when the next meebo release is going to be headed to a computer screen near you. For those of you who’ve been with meebo for awhile, you know that we sometimes put out a new release every other week, and sometimes we’re working away on a larger project that takes more time to get right. Since we’ve not done a major release in a while, you can all probably guess we’re cooking something up that we hope you’ll all find pretty interesting!
A lot goes into preparing for larger releases. On the product side, the product team plans out the user flow, they make mock-ups of all the different elements that are a part of the new features. They then break the new feature up into small chunks and meebo teammates volunteer for the chunks that are most interesting to them. Watching the team work, the amount of communication that goes on is incredible. I hear stuff like “what do you wanna call that function?” and “should that happen on the front end or in the back end?” For me, it’s pretty amazing to watch the product team work their magic.
The rest of the meebo team is also hard at work preparing for the release. Martin and Danny think about whether there are any interesting partnerships that can be struck around the new features. They also take a look at the upcoming features and assess potentially interesting revenue opportunities that will present themselves. There’s preparing for the questions that you all will ask us about the new feature, as well as making sure the forum’s ready to accept all of your comments back to us! There’s also the legal side where we need to take a look at our privacy policy and terms of service to make certain that there are no changes that need to be made based on the new functionality.
As the release gets closer, we tend to invite a few of our close friends to help us beta test and provide early feedback. Sometimes we get so into the details of building the product that we miss some glaring piece of functionality that really should have been there from the start. We get lots of bug reports from this small group of beta testers and we also start testing amongst the meebo team. We usually end up with a solid week of fixing bugs the testing has uncovered.
We’re still a bit away from getting our next major release out the door, but hang on tight, we promise it’ll be fun 
Seth
[ comments ] [ past blogs ]
May 4th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Cant wait guys. You should let me help test lol
May 4th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Whatever the next major release of Meebo is, it’s likely to be wonderful, amazing, and fantastic! And this “super secret” feature sounds very exciting, but only if I could guess what it is!
Games? Ninjas? Webcams? iPod Integration? LOLCats? The list is endless with possibilities! Oh, dearest Meebo creators, tell us (or just let me beta, either way works, really).
I use Meebo every day at work and it’s GLORIOUS! Cheers!
May 4th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Can’t wait to see it! I’ve been using meebo since the first release, and it’s incredible how you guys have come along just in the past year or so.
Hope all goes well behind the scenes!
May 4th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Could you be any more ambiguous? I see you’re now on the new Plaxo. That’s really cool.
May 4th, 2007 at 10:49 am
\m/
May 4th, 2007 at 10:50 am
lol
May 4th, 2007 at 10:55 am
New features?? what is it what is it? c’mon you can give us the details!!
Cant Wait!
May 4th, 2007 at 10:56 am
do you by any chance plan to integrate skype (!!!), windows live, and other popular messengers?
May 4th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Wonderful news to hear. Cant wait to see it.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I Know, the next major release comes with Flash/Flex integration with support for web-cam and voice chat.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Hmmmmmm I wonder if the next major release will make downloading and installing messengers (because they have functions that webmessengers don’t have) a thing of the past…
May 4th, 2007 at 11:57 am
I’m hoping that the next release will allow us to archive meebo guest chats. Can’t wait!
May 4th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Cant wait, hurry up pleeeeeaaseee
May 4th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Hi, we’re about ready to start using Meebo for our Library’s IM reference service so we’re pretty excited about this. I hope the new release will offer: 1) customization of our Meebo web page (ability to add links, notes, canned messages), 2) perhaps more types of sounds, 3) file transfers, etc., but whatever you come up I’m sure will be great!
May 4th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I am very new at this but as soon as i herd there was a release i got exited good luck!
shoppingis Sarah
ps. add me
May 4th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Can I be a beta tester?
=P
Sometimes I use meebo otherwise that f*** desktop software… =]
Thanks Meebo! You save my life!!
haahahha
(ok, ok… not so much…)
May 4th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Possibly some direct connection? Image transfers?
May 4th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
hey losers whatz up!?
May 4th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
hola
May 4th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Hey Meeboers,
I am waiting for a Meebo release since very very long (since valentine day which was a minor release)!!!
and also to know the revenue model which seems to be released with the new release this time!
Awesome, two birdies with one stone…
I am thrilled and waiting impatiently…
Best luck for the release…
Regards,
Niranjan
May 4th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Just add file transfer and meebo will be perfect.
May 4th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Remember guys, simple and not gloated like (aim/msn/yahoo)
simple works, simple and fast works, good clean code works
new or old release remember “KIS” please
keep it simple . . .
May 4th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I have observed from using various applications over the years, the time they get the smack is when they make a release probably intended to shock the world, sometimes they do sometimes they do in a horrible way. Meebo has been wonderful, its not overachieving and does what it does nicely. I hope that aspect of meebo is retained. Meebo rocks! Hurrah!
May 4th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
A kid asked Jesus”how much do you love me?” Jesus replied “i love you this much”, and streched his arms on the cross and died for us. If u belive in God put this in your profile. If not, ignore this…and know you have broken God’s heart.
May 4th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Voice chatting, voice chatting, voice chatting… please, add voice chatting.
May 4th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I think your program works great and interest is rising to what you folks at meebo have in store for us.
May 4th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
I love the site. it elimantes the use of all these programs to be installed on my desktop. As a Technical Supprt Rep. for a company that has offices all over the world, It makes it nice to not have to bother with firewall problems. I do want to ask that you look at more options for the visually impaired. As a legally blind techie, I see some thinsg that could be tweaked to make it better. I would love to have a chance to offer those to you, for investigation. Thanks, and GREAT JOB!
May 4th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
hola alguien habla ingles
May 5th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Hi this is my name & email id pls mail on this id ok bye
May 5th, 2007 at 1:38 am
hiezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz friends its me asma here pls contact me on this id ok byiezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
May 5th, 2007 at 2:07 am
hi haya i think u r arabian girl msg me in phmdfq@yahoo.com or in my own mobile 00962796133236 really i look 4 19 years women 2 be frinds iam in uni and need here in uni 2
May 5th, 2007 at 4:22 am
Yeah I think it would be awesome if we could edit our AIM info on meebo! Webcams/ Voice would be cool too. Meebo is definitely the coolest.
May 5th, 2007 at 6:32 am
oh yeah. show us what you guys got,
May 5th, 2007 at 7:40 am
Good servisc
خدمة جمدة الصراحة
اموووووووووووة
May 5th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Can’t wait
May 5th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Please one of the best features are to put a webcam to meebo, so the people on your website couls see you, thanks
Ican’t wait for the new major release of Meebo. You guys rockss, Have a nice day.
May 5th, 2007 at 10:36 am
i happy to go to chat
New features?? what is it what is it? c’mon you can give us the details!!
Cant Wait!
tara i need to kiss u
May 5th, 2007 at 10:58 am
hi.. hey when are u going to have access to chat rooms on meebo. i like that i can get yahoo messenger list , now what about chat rooms. thank u
May 5th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
AHH! I want to be a beta tester.
I must have password for http://beta.meebo.com !
:[
May 5th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Can’t … Wait …
>.
May 5th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Can’t … Wait …
> .
May 5th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I can’t wait to see what meebo has cooking up for us in this “special release” I am so sure that whatever you choose, it will be fantastic!! Maybe you should do a game!! That would be cool, when you are waiting for people to reply to you IM’s you could play a game!
May 5th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
andy: sii! yo hablo ingles!
de donde eres?
May 5th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Meebo roolz —- Word………
May 5th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
hola ustedes
May 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
You guys are doing a great job…Keep it up…we appreciate everyhting that you guys are doing…
May 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
everything*
May 5th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
hi
May 5th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
uiyiyuiyuiuyiyui
May 5th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Good Job! congratulation!
May 6th, 2007 at 12:59 am
hi,
My all friends how are you and how is going yours life’s
take care
ta ta
bye bye
May 6th, 2007 at 1:21 am
I would love to see a downloadable messenger that goes along with meebo. I know that the point is to have a way to access im’s from the web browser (for all you slackers at work) but, I think a client would be cool too.
May 6th, 2007 at 4:16 am
Great stuff going on since the first release. Can’t wait to see what u guys have in store for us. Hope u can manage to include webcam connections.. Would save me a great deal installing desktopmessengers just to see my contacts!
Keep up the good work.
And Elaine.. Wanna date? leave me a msg
May 6th, 2007 at 6:06 am
byutifer meebo roaid man you spengli fiind rbd fiks bards
May 6th, 2007 at 11:13 am
I would love to help beta test. EEK!! I am eager for it to come out.
When can we get some of the details of it?
May 6th, 2007 at 11:30 am
i hope the new release of meebo allows us to have larger profiles for aim. whenever i try to make a profile it always has to be really small. I hope they improve this.
May 6th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
exciting stuff. cant wait to see what it is.
May 6th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
definitely agree with randall – keep it simple! and stable.
May 6th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Sounds awesome!
May 6th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
meebo is really good and very fun thanks bye
May 6th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Meebo is amazing, i use it at home and school. It needs to improve on BASIC function that AIM has. Like making your profile, or making your away message. I don’t think you can do profile yet, and for the away message you gave us a small text box with no colors or anything. Great product so far. If you need beta tester i will help. Please do not take comment in a negative way. just some thing to help you improve.
May 6th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
omg! hi to all my buds and a special some one!!!!!!
May 6th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Woot! Meebo is the best chat client ever invented. I foresee great things to stem from this.
May 6th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
get it got it done
May 6th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I cant wait i hope its eather a webcam or a photosharing thing or both!!!!!!! what ever iit is im sure it will be geat
May 6th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Well, you guys removed my comment so I think I may have guessed correctly. My guess was a service (similar to one that Embraces Conversational Intelligence) that allows meebo to provide chat within any website or blog using meebome and connect with anyone else on that page, essentially making the meebome box allow you to talk to others, not just the end user.
This would allow anyone who was using that particular gadget (maybe even regardless of the site???) would be able to talk to others who are looking at the same gadget in another location.
Do I get the prize? I hope so because this is exactly what I am looking for. Imaging the social networks that could be created with friends saying “We all use gadget X, and all those people share gadget X and put it on there blogs of myspace pages creating mini networks or groups of people though the gadget. Call it MeeboUs!
May 6th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
So many comment with the same old photo-sharing this, or video chat that. Get outside the box people. Meebo has far more potential then just the standard feature rollout. If you like the social web, your going to love it when it is integrated seamlessly with IM and Meebo is going to be the company that brings it to you.
May 7th, 2007 at 3:40 am
I’m first! u are next! we are future!
May 8th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
[...] Getting Ready for a New meebo Release meebo is a totally web-based (nothing to download) service that offers access to all of the major [...]
May 9th, 2007 at 5:56 am
Hey guys and gals .. love your program .. especially since it doesn’t require downloading any other programs to access all the other messengers. I’ve gotten to know people all around the world using this program .. and love its ease of use. Hope you keep keeping it simple like that .. but .. looking forward to great new features as well .. I can’t wait. Let me know if you need an extra “beta” tester (hint hint) .. I’m great at finding what works and what doesn’t.
Thanks again!
Jim (from the Heartland)
May 9th, 2007 at 6:34 am
Hi,
I can’t wait for the new release. I hope it also fix the problems with authorising ICQ contacts. I am able to add via meebo but the other party on ICQ are not able to receive my authorisation.
Also would love it if you can include file transfer and ability to see own profile for each id.
Thanks!
May 12th, 2007 at 5:01 am
wuzs up yo
=]
May 12th, 2007 at 10:06 am
sup ADD ME AS YOU BUDDIE PLZ LOVE YA KISS KISS
May 12th, 2007 at 11:12 am
hi everyone
May 12th, 2007 at 11:14 am
anyone here?
May 12th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
hey you are so cool
May 12th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I hope this is a good turn out and yes i agree with who ever said skype should be added.
May 12th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
aslallalalalalla
May 12th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
ghudtghiotrh
May 13th, 2007 at 10:34 am
hurry meebo!! i cant wait…
some new sounds would be sweet… or file music transfers…
meebo is awesome…. u guys rock…
May 13th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Integration of voice chat would be an excellent addition. And also integration with mail servers ?. ability to send an receive mail for all configured accounts ?
May 14th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Hope it is not too much of a flash, slowing the whole experience down!!!
May 14th, 2007 at 11:54 am
hola apareciste en mi correo y si es para conocerme y poder chatear conmigo, entonces me puedes agregar. gracias
May 14th, 2007 at 11:56 am
hola apareciste en mi correo y si es para poder chatear conmigo agregame
May 14th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
can’t wait
May 14th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I can’t wait
May 19th, 2007 at 9:49 am
thats soooooooooooo awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 19th, 2007 at 9:49 am
& coooooooooooooooooool
June 1st, 2007 at 7:26 pm
hi i like your blog
June 1st, 2007 at 7:36 pm
lol everything here sucks
June 1st, 2007 at 7:37 pm
hey ppl any1 can gime their blogs
June 1st, 2007 at 7:38 pm
u suck type sooo slow
June 1st, 2007 at 7:38 pm
olol
June 3rd, 2007 at 5:33 am
o prietene sau ceva o fata stiu si eu???
November 28th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Hi, my name is disman-kl, i like your site and i ll be back
April 14th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Fast Forward 17 months, and yet the very same question can be asked….what is the next update going to bring? That is the beauty of the world of the internet. It is never static and ever evolving, along with the applications that inhabit it. Awesome stuff!