Ubique was an Israeli software company that produced social-networking and messaging software. Founded in 1994, Ubique is notable for launching the first social-networking software, which included features such as instant messaging, voice over IP (VoIP), chat rooms, web-based events, and collaborative browsing.
The company is best known for its most prominent product, Virtual Places, a presence-based chat program that allowed users to explore websites together. This software required both server and client components, enabling users to overlay avatars onto their web browsers and collaborate in real-time as they visited websites. Virtual Places was utilized by providers such as VPChat and Digital Space and eventually evolved into Lotus Sametime. Despite advancements and changes, some consumer-oriented communities still use older versions of Virtual Places.
The company's technology laid the foundation for the development of a sophisticated instant messaging and presence platform, which culminated in the creation of Lotus Sametime. Ubique's mission from its inception was "to add people to the web," transforming the early static web into a dynamic, interactive environment.
In 1995, America Online (AOL) acquired Ubique with the aim of enhancing its online interactive communication services. However, after the discontinuation of GNN in 1996, Ubique shifted its focus from consumer markets to corporate presence technology and instant messaging. In 1998, Ubique was acquired by Lotus/IBM to integrate its technology into Lotus products. By 2006, elements of Ubique were incorporated into IBM Haifa Labs, which continued to develop real-time collaboration technologies.[1]