Monday 3 March 2014

ICQ Chat Programme of Old.

Back in 1996 a small software programme called ICQ was released on download sites for the general public to use.  It was an Israeli company called Mirabilis that made ICQ popular, and everyone had it installed on their computer, a bit like Facebook today, a must have for many, but of course not all.
These days I don't use it and haven't for years as it's not the same as it used to be.

ICQ was the first Messenger programme, and it was purchased for a staggering amount of money by AOL in 1998. I can recall using ICQ before AOL purchased it.  Now AOL have sold it to Digital Sky Technologies in 2010.
One could search for someone, a random chat to anytime anytime of the day, from any country, and of course there were not so nice people but also lovely people, and I met plenty of the latter. I recall teaching many English words to people who were learning English and wished to practice along with correcting English sentences. It was first time that those of us who used it could write and receive and instant reply, how clever was that back then!

I wonder how many people remember ICQ of old?

I am still friends with many of these people, which is so lovely, one particular lady is 'Buttons'.  We used to chat at my midnight and her morning as she lives in Canada.  I would have to go and iron one of my sons shirts for school at about 12.30am and she was waiting for her tractor to warm up in the winter.  We are still friends today, and have shared much over the years.

You can find Button's Thoughts blog [Here]


16 comments:

  1. I never heard of ICQ but chatting can be fun.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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    1. Really, I sort of thought that most had heard of ICQ..chatting can be lovely, good way to get to know people.

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  2. I have never heard of ICQ. I used to chat on Windows Live Messenger. I don't think that is open anymore. I do know Buttons!! She is a lovely lady and I thoroughly enjoy her posts.

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    1. Oh fancy that then, never heard of it. I have used WLM as well but alas it's gone now. Greqat lady is Buttons :)

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  3. I use to use AIM which would mention ICQ. Never used it myself. I suppose it's prime is long long gone.

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    1. I have used AIM a time or two, but not these days. Chat programmes come and go.

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  4. Oh M I remember I remember they were some of the best conversations I have had. I found out so much about Tasmania and in turn I tried to share without photos what our winters were like and my life here in Canada. Times have changed and I am so grateful we found ICQ and each other so very long ago. Funny you still iron and I still wait for the tractor to start:) hugs hugs Thank you my dear friend.xoxox G

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    1. We had wonderful conversations about all kinds of things, and I enjoyed everyone of them. Yes, in those days no photos could you send that came later.
      Only iron what I have to iron these days. Yes, you do warm your tractor up too..that hasn't changed and nor has our friendship :)
      Hugs, M xoxox

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  5. I just visited Buttons and signed on to follow her also! Thanks! Aren't blog friendships the best!

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    1. Oh that was lovely of you. Great friendships of long standing on the internet can be had.

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  6. I used ICQ many, many years ago. Thanks for the memories.

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    1. It's good that you remember ICQ :) Yes, wonderful memories of times past.

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  7. i remember icq, it seems like ages ago. i've also visited buttons' blog and enjoy reading it. i agree that blog / chat friendships are great. we would never get the chance to talk to people from all over the world years ago. sometimes (when it works) you have to love technology :)

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    1. Glad you remember ICQ. Buttons has a lovely blog.
      You are correct, we would never get to know people in other lands if it were not for the internet.

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  8. I have never heard of it but it sounds like it was ahead of its time. I blog with Buttons too.

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    1. Maybe ICQ was before you came to the internet, Diane.

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