It was created in 1996 by the Israeli company Mirabilis, which was bought by AOL just two years later. ICQ (an abbreviation that is a conjugation of I Seek You) was a direct messaging service born during the golden age of the Internet.
The app, a program that is installed on computers, had one hundred million registered users in 2001 and continues to have some success through the first decade of the 2000s. In 2010, it was sold to the Russian company Digital Sky Technologies, owner of the social network VK (a type of Facebook), and since then, his interest in the topic has declined.
Two years before turning three decades old, the news appears: “ICQ will stop working as of June 26,” VK writes on the official website of the application. As an alternative, the company suggests using VK Messenger (for private users) and VK Workspace (for professionals). However, these services are very popular only in Russia and have no expression outside this country.
The latest version of ICQ works like other messaging apps, like WhatsApp or Telegram, but it hasn’t been available for download for some time, either for computers or smartphones.
George Orwell is a writer and contributor covering politics, society, culture, and current affairs. His work focuses on providing clear analysis and thoughtful commentary on the issues shaping modern Britain and the wider world, helping readers better understand complex topics.
