Breaking Out of the Box

In 2005, Rocky Wright, an Internet marketer by trade, figured there had to be a better way to get companies in front of consumers without depending on a Web browser or an e-mail inbox.

“We as consumers should not have to spend our whole day chasing information that’s relevant to us,” says Wright. “As a provider, I don’t want to have to cross my fingers and hope consumers come to me and not my competitor. I’ve already demonstrated that I, too, can provide what they want when it’s relevant to them.”

So Wright beefed up his programming language skills and started working on Qubeey

, an “assertive communications and content-delivery platform.” Wright launched Qubeey in beta to a test audience in January 2012. It lets users opt in to the information they want to receive, and lets any provider of products, services, and information actively communicate with their audience without the dependence of a Web browser for delivery.

A May 2011 Pew Internet survey found that 92% of adults use search engines to find information on the Internet. Qubeey is always connected to the Internet, which negates the need for users to open a Web browser to search for content on their own. For example, a user can work on a document or draft an e-mail and automatically see weather alerts, or have their favorite entertainer walk on their screen to announce new tour dates.

Qubeey does not interfere with open documents or active applications the way pop-ups do, so users can continue working on a task even while a Qubeey notification is active. Plus, notifications can be silenced.

After raising some $10 million in funding, Wright launched Qubeey to the public late this summer. Based in Van Nuys,

California, Qubeey reaches nearly a half million beta users who have downloaded the desktop application; has grown to 50 full-time employees; and has signed content deals with Groupon, Universal Music Group, Vibe Lifestyle Network, and personalities such as Chris Brown, Kelly Rowland, and more than 100 other celebrities. In addition to users buying items to customize their Qubes, the bulk of revenues will come from a 60% to 40% ad and 80% to 20% merchandising split with content providers.

“Qubeey” gives our artists the ability to connect in a unique and memorable way instantly on any device top,” says Olubunmi Jinadu, founder of United Sounds of Africa and CEO of Interglobe Entertainment Group.

Built with several programming languages including Flex, hypertext preprocessor (PHP), and C++, Qubeey’s application interface can be accessed by essentially anyone to create a channel to promote and sell products and services. The customizable qube offers portals for users to connect their social media accounts, instant messenger, games, and live video chats for communication.

Future plans include TV programming and gaming functionality similar to Zynga’s model on Facebook. Also, Qubeey users can access their Qube on their smartphones and tablets.