After going through three different owners, the old-school VOIP platform ICQ is finally saying goodbye.
Originally launched in 1996, ICQ—short for “I Seek You”—will cease operations on June 26, marking almost 28 years since it first came online.
ICQ had its heyday with nine million users and 2.5 million daily active users. That was pretty impressive back when most folks were still using dial-up connections and DSL was starting to roll out in a few countries.
ICQ’s journey began when AOL bought it from Mirabilis in 1998 for $407 million. Fast forward to 2010, and the Russian company Mail.Ru, later called VK, snapped it up. ICQ had a big following in Russia, and VK aimed to bring the app into the modern era, making it available on Android and iOS.
Now, ICQ is advising its remaining users to switch over to VK, which has been its parent company since AOL sold it. VK tried to keep ICQ relevant by updating it for modern smartphones but eventually decided to wind things down.
Interestingly, ICQ’s X account hinted that it might come back one day, but in a world full of messaging apps, could it find its place again? When MSN Messenger shut down, users were moved to Skype, so many see a similar transition happening here.
ICQ’s quiet exit reflects how internet communication has evolved. Today, people use WhatsApp, social media like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and more sophisticated platforms that integrate messaging, voice, and video calls. Russia has its own social media ecosystem with VK, much like how China has its platforms. While the market is crowded, ICQ managed to last longer than many of its contemporaries, such as MSN, AOL, Yahoo, MySpace, Orkut, and Google Plus.
Despite ICQ hinting at a possible return, its impact since the ’90s is undeniable. It holds a special place in the hearts of those who formed long-lasting friendships and relationships on the platform. Even if the app fades away, the memories it created will live on.
