The instant messaging platform ICQ, which allowed users to communicate in real-time and served as a gateway to other similar tools, will be shutting down on June 26. Originally created by the Israeli company Mirabilis and launched in late 1996, ICQ was acquired by AOL and DST Global in 1998 and further developed until its peak popularity in 2001 with 100 million open user accounts.
People were drawn to ICQ for its user-friendly interface that was accessible to even those with limited tech knowledge. It provided a way for users to connect with friends, acquaintances, and even strangers, similar to how social networks operate today. However, as mobile phones became more prevalent, users began migrating to other messaging platforms.
In 2020, ICQ was acquired by the Russian company Mail.ru (now VK Tech). Despite efforts to update and modernize the platform, ICQ began to lose its appeal, leading the Russians to announce its shutdown. VK Tech has stated that the teams from ICQ will be transferred to the VK Messenger project, which has approximately 73 million users in Russia.
