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ICQ, the pioneering instant messaging service, is shutting down on June 26, after nearly 30 years of operation.
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The service, which stands for "I Seek You," was one of the first platforms to allow users to chat in real-time online.
It was initially developed by the Israeli company Mirabilis in 1996 and was later acquired by AOL and then by Mail.Ru Group (now VK).
While it was incredibly popular in its early days, ICQ eventually lost ground to newer messaging apps and social media platforms.
Here's a more detailed look at ICQ:
Early Days:
ICQ launched in 1996 and quickly gained popularity for its user-friendly interface and real-time communication features.
Key Features:
It allowed users to send text messages, share files, and even make voice and video calls.
The "I Seek You" Concept:
The name "ICQ" is derived from the phrase "I Seek You," highlighting its core function of connecting people online.
Acquisition and Sunset:
After being acquired by AOL, ICQ was eventually sold to Mail.Ru Group (now VK), which continued to develop and maintain the platform.
The End:
Despite attempts to modernize and revitalize the platform, ICQ's user base dwindled, and it will cease operations on June 26th.
Legacy:
ICQ's legacy includes being one of the first instant messaging services and paving the way for many of the communication tools we use today.
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You can chat with friends in VK Messenger, and with colleagues in VK WorkSpace.
People also ask
Is ICQ still a thing?
At its peak around 2001, ICQ had more than 100 million accounts registered. At the time of the Mail.Ru acquisition in 2010, there were around 42 million daily users. In 2022, ICQ had about 11 million monthly users. The service was shut down on June 26, 2024, following an announcement on ICQ's website in May 2024.
Why did ICQ lose popularity?
ICQ was eventually purchased by AOL, and it lost ground to more heavily financially backed services like AIM and MSN. Then came MySpace, Facebook, social media, iMessage, and so on, leaving no more room for old ICQ.
Can you still login to ICQ?
On Friday, the ICQ website posted a simple message: “ICQ will stop working from June 26.” It now recommends users migrate to the messaging platforms from VK, the Russian social media company that acquired ICQ from AOL in 2010, but under a different corporate name.
Jun 26, 2024 · How did you meet on ICQ? IIRC, ICQ didn't have a really good network effect built in. You typically met people through other means and then ...
ICQ
Downloadable software
ICQ was a cross-platform instant messaging and VoIP client founded in June 1996 by Yair Goldfinger, Sefi Vigiser, Amnon Amir, Arik Vardi, and Arik's father, Yossi Vardi. The name ICQ derives from the English phrase "I Seek You". Wikipedia
Launch date: November 1996
Available in: Russian; English; Hebrew; Portuguese; Ukrainian; German; Czech; French; Chinese; Turkish; Spanish; Arabic; Vietnamese
Final release: 10.0.46867 (May 27, 2022)
License: Proprietary
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May 24, 2024 · ICQ will stop working on June 26. It's encouraging users to migrate to a messaging app from Russia-based VK, its parent company.
May 24, 2024 · Finally, in May 2024, ICQ announced it was discontinuing the platform with a simple announcement on its website. The service will go offline on ...
May 25, 2024 · Once popular messaging service ICQ (short for I Seek You) will finally shut its operations on June 26, almost 28 years since its launch in 1996.
ICQ was a cross-platform instant messaging and VoIP client. The name ICQ derives from the English phrase "I Seek You".