Tencent QQ is a highly popular social network and micro-blog service in China which functions as the Chinese answer to Twitter. As of September 30, 2011 the Shenzhen-based company had over 711.7 million active QQ user accounts and membership has grown exponentially since. Although QQ offers a free membership service, QQ charges a nominal fee for premium memberships which allow users access to different services and has even created its own currency: the Q Coin.