ICQ is shutting down after almost 28 years
Is ICQ's Shutdown the End of an Era?
ICQ, an early pioneer in instant messaging, is set to cease operations on June 26 after almost 28 years. The service, owned by Russian company VK since 2010, was known for unique features like SMS messaging and offline messaging capabilities. At its peak, ICQ boasted 100 million registered users. VK is now directing users to its other messaging platforms.
What unique features did ICQ offer that were uncommon among its competitors?
ICQ, an early instant messaging service, offered several unique features that set it apart from its competitors. Some of these uncommon features included:
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Unique Identification Number (UIN): Unlike other messaging services that used aliases or email addresses, ICQ assigned users a unique identification number to connect with one another3.
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SMS Messaging: ICQ allowed users to send SMS messages, which was not a common feature among messaging services at the time.
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Offline Messaging: Users could send messages to people who were offline, and the messages would be delivered once the recipient came back online.
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Searchable Directory: ICQ had a searchable user directory, making it easier for users to find and connect with their friends3.
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Centralized Real-Time Conversations: ICQ was one of the first platforms to centralize real-time conversations in a single messaging app, which was a groundbreaking concept in 1996.
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Presence Status: The platform utilized a graphical user interface that showed users' presence status, allowing others to see if they were available for a conversation at a glance.
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Emoticons and Away Messages: ICQ introduced the use of emoticons and "away" messages, which became staples of instant messaging and inspired the development of other popular platforms like AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger, and eventually, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
These innovative features contributed to ICQ's popularity and influenced the development of future instant messaging platforms.
What alternative communication platforms does VK recommend to ICQ users following the service's shutdown?
Following the shutdown of ICQ, VK, the Russian company that has owned ICQ since 2010, recommends that users switch to its other chat solutions23. This suggests that VK is directing former ICQ users to migrate to alternative messaging platforms that they operate, although the specific platforms are not mentioned in the provided text. Given VK's portfolio, it is likely that these alternatives include VK Messenger and possibly other communication tools offered by VK.