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ICQ |
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This article or section is missing information about: the program's popularity and market share. This concern has been noted on the talk page where it may be discussed whether or not to include such information. (June 2008) |
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This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008) |
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| Initial release | November 1996 |
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| Latest release | 6.5 / 26 November 2008 |
| OS | Windows, Macintosh, mobile phones |
| Type | Instant messaging client |
| License | Adware |
| Website | http://www.icq.com |
ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed by the Israeli company Mirabilis, now owned by Time Warner's AOL subsidiary. The first version of the program was released in November 1996 and ICQ became the first Internet-wide instant messaging service. The name ICQ is a homophone for the phrase "I seek you". America Online (AOL) acquired Mirabilis on June 8, 1998 for $407 million. Today ICQ is used by over 31 million users worldwide.citation needed
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Mirabilis was first established by five Israelis: Yair Goldfinger, Sefi Vigiser, Amnon Amir, Arik Vardi and his father Yossi Vardi. They recognized that many people are online and using a non-UNIX operating system, and that there is no software that enables an immediate connection between them.
What was missing was the technology for locating and connecting the users in the Windows operating system.
The technology Mirabilis developed for ICQ brought a new spirit into the IM world and gained success while being distributed and downloaded for free. This success brought AOL to acquire Mirabilis on June 8, 1998, for $407 million. With this signed agreement, Mirabilis became the first Israeli high-tech company sold at this price.
QQ, a Chinese instant messaging program and network, had its previous name OICQ in conflict with ICQ and changed it.
ICQ provides all users additional services and content products:
ICQ users are identified by numbers called UIN, distributed in sequential order. The UIN was first invented by Mirabilis, as the user name assigned to each user upon registration. The meaning is either Universal Internet Number or Unified Identification Number. Every user receives a UIN when first registering to ICQ. As of ICQ6, users are also able to log in using the specific e-mail address they associated with their UIN during the registration process. Unlike other IM software or web applications, on ICQ the only permanent user info is the UIN, although it is possible to search for other users using their associated e-mail address or any other detail they have made public (by updating it in the public profile). In addition, the user can change all of his or her personal information, including screen name and e-mail address, without having to re-register. Since 2000, ICQ and AIM users are able to add each other to their contact list without the need for any external clients. As a response to UIN theft or sale of attractive UINs, ICQ started to store email addresses previously associated to a UIN [1]. As such, UINs that are stolen can sometimes be reclaimed. This applies only if (since 1999 and onwards) a valid primary email address was entered into the user profile.
ICQ was developed in 1996 by Mirabilis. The company was founded by four young Israelis: Yair Goldfinger, Arik Vardi, Sefi Vigiser and Amnon Amir. After AOL bought it, it was managed by Ariel Yarnitsky and Avi Shechter.
America Online acquired Mirabilis on June 8, 1998 for $407 million, ($287 million in cash and $120 million over a three-year period based on growth performance levels).
ICQ, a short film about ICQ, was directed by Greg McLean, who later wrote Wolf Creek. The film was described by its writer as a mystery/drama, and it concerns a man who while surfing the ICQ network comes across a woman whose acquaintance he could well have done without. The relationship runs the gauntlet of intrigue through to the sinister. It was released in 2001. The short film took out the "Best Director" award in October 2001 at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. On return to his home soil in Australia, McLean's film was nominated for Best Sound Design (short film) for the prestigious AFI (Australian Film Institute) awards in 2002.
ICQ also plays an important role in a Polish popular novel Samotność w sieci (Loneliness in the Net) as its main protagonists accidentally find each other in the Internet and, via ICQ, they develop a passionate feeling.
The famous high-pitch "Uh-oh!" was featured in the chorus of Prozzak's song, www.nevergetoveryou.
ICQ has been heavily criticized for privacy issues and many users consider later versions as bloatware. Many ICQ users still use obsolete ICQ versions, the most popular of which are ICQ 2001b and ICQ Pro 2003b. ICQ 4, 5 and 5.1 cannot be used, because the users get a message, forcing them to upgrade to the latest ICQ version (ICQ 6). As of 2008, ICQ Pro 2003b still has a significant user share.
AOL's OSCAR network protocol used by ICQ is proprietary, but a number of people have created more or less compatible, ICQ Terms of Service violating third-party clients, by using reverse engineering and protocol descriptions available on the net. These Clients include:
AOL has recently begun making its ICQ software more AIM-like by adding AIM Smilies, as well as introducing cross AIM/ICQ communication. Users on ICQ are able to communicate with AIM users; however, such capability is in beta stages.
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