One of the oldest and still operational online platforms, ICQ, is closing its doors after 27 years. The legendary instant messaging service announced on Friday via its website that it will cease operations next month.
The message on ICQ.com stated, “ICQ will stop working from June 26th. You can use VK Messenger to chat with your friends and VK WorkSpace to communicate with your colleagues.”
The recommended alternative messaging platforms are VK, a Russia-based social media platform, and VK WorkSpace. VK acquired ICQ from AOL in 2010, and AOL had previously purchased ICQ in 1998.
Pioneer of Instant Messaging
ICQ was one of the oldest, if not the first, instant messaging services on the internet. Named after the phrase “I Seek You,” ICQ was launched in November 1996 by a small Israeli company called Mirabilis. ICQ predates other popular instant messaging platforms like AOL Instant Messenger.
From the mid-90s to the early 2000s, instant messaging applications were at the forefront of internet communication. AIM, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger allowed users to interact before the rise of social media. Despite its major competitors, ICQ remained a pioneer. In 1998, AOL acquired ICQ for $287 million upfront and an additional $120 million in performance-based payments.
In 2001, AOL announced that ICQ had reached over 100 million users. However, in subsequent years, the accessibility of social media apps like Facebook on mobile devices drastically cut into the instant messaging market. As users flocked to Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, the usage of instant messaging apps significantly declined.
The End of Instant Messaging
Among the instant messaging platforms mentioned, MSN Messenger was the first to shut down in 2014. AIM followed in 2017, and Yahoo Messenger in 2018. However, ICQ managed to survive. AOL sold ICQ to VK in 2010 for $187.5 million, and the service continued with its loyal user base. According to VK, ICQ still had 11 million users in 2022.
ICQ’s popularity outside the US contributed to its longevity. The service identified users with ICQ numbers, and this feature made it popular in markets like China. In 2021, Hong Kongers heavily used ICQ to protest a privacy policy change in WhatsApp. VK’s ownership also helped ICQ gain a significant Russian user base.
However, there were signs that VK planned to pull the plug on the platform. ICQ’s mobile apps were removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in 2022. Desktop applications continued to be accessible but were last updated the previous year.
After 27 long years, ICQ’s farewell will mark the official end of the instant messaging era.