ICQ, one of the internet's oldest instant messaging services, is shutting down after 27 years. The service, which was acquired by VK in 2010, will cease operations on June 26. ICQ, launched in 1996 by Mirabilis, was a pioneer in the instant messaging space but saw its user base decline with the rise of social media platforms. Despite its longevity and dedicated user base, particularly outside the U.S., the platform's closure marks the end of an era for early internet communication tools.
ICQ, one of the pioneering instant messaging services, will shut down on June 26th after nearly 28 years. VK, which has managed ICQ since 2010, is urging users to switch to its other chat solutions. ICQ was known for its unique user number system and features like SMS messaging and offline messaging. The service had already been removed from app stores, signaling its decline before this official announcement.
The iconic instant messaging app ICQ, known for its "uh-oh" notification sound, will shut down on June 26 after nearly 30 years. Despite efforts to modernize, ICQ couldn't compete with mobile-first chat apps and dwindled to 11 million monthly users by 2022. Owned by Russian company VK since 2010, ICQ's closure marks the end of an era for one of the early internet's pioneering chat platforms.
ICQ, the pioneering messaging app launched in 1996, is shutting down on June 26th after nearly 28 years. Once boasting over 100 million users, ICQ was known for its ease of use and global communication capabilities. Owned by VK since 2010, users are now advised to switch to VK Messenger and Workspace. The reason for the shutdown has not been disclosed.
ICQ, one of the oldest instant messaging clients, is shutting down on June 26 after nearly three decades. Users are advised to migrate to VK's messaging platforms. ICQ, originally developed by Mirabilis and later acquired by AOL, had 100 million users in 2001 but lost popularity to other messaging apps. VK, which bought ICQ in 2010, has decided to retire the app, focusing instead on its other social media and messaging services.
