Download Icq99a!
-Click here to download the latest version of ICQ!

ICQ for Linux
-Yeah, there's ICQ for Linux too

ICQ servers
-Trouble connecting? This list might help.

Reviews of other 'IM' software
-I've reviewed a few of the other popular clients

First of all, let me just say that if you haven't heard of ICQ you're either new to the internet, or you haven't been around it enough. Icq is a form of instant messaging software, and is probably the best available for free. Others include AOL's IM (another favorite of internet users), Infoseek's PeopleLink, Yahoo's Yahoo Pager, and PowWow.

Instant messaging has become an important segment of society-- it allows us to communicate with total strangers, from across the planet. We're now forever connected by more than family ties, or by the friends we meet at work and school, but now many of us are tied together by tiny strands of wire and fiber optic cable. It seems like a cold, disconnected way of communcating, but in today's fast-paced, ever-changing world, do we have any choice but to try to keep up?

Mirabilis ICQ is perhaps the most important/easy to use/feature-packed piece of software I've ever used. It allows me to communicate with friends and family all over the world, in real time. I can send files, initiate or join multi-user chats, exchange webpage addresses easily, share contact list users... the list goes on and on. What's better? Every one of these events can be sent to my friends and family . ICQ is unique in that it's the only instant messaging software that allows offline messaging.

ICQ integrates well with windows. It can running at startup, or when your modem connects to your ISP, automatically reconnecting itself to the ICQ servers if necessary.

Here's how it all works:

• ICQ connects itself to a Server, which is run by mirabilis, that tells you who on your contact list is online, and tells everyone whose list you're on that you're online.
• The ICQ server tells your ICQ client the IP address of each user on your contact list.
• When you send a message, it goes directly to the person you sent it to, not through the server. Thus, messages go through quickly and effeciently. Same goes for all your file transfers and chats.
• If someone is offline and you want to send them a message, not a problem! With ICQ, the message goes through anyway. The person gets the message the next time they come online.
• When someone send you an event (ie a message, chat, or file), you're alerted by sound, visual alert, both, or neither.
• ICQ is completely configurable. You can have your ICQ window always on top, minimized, or part of your desktop! Choose your colors, sizes, and sounds!

ICQ allows you to choose from a variety of communication types! You can:

• Send Direct messages
• Send email, check email, lookup email addresses
• Chat!
• Send a friend a cool webpage
• Leave voice mails

ICQ maintains your privacy!
• You can go into "Privacy" mode, where only those users you specify can tell that you're online
• Also, choose from Away, DND, Not Available, Occupied, and "Free for Chat" modes

Disclaimer: "Mirabilis," "ICQ," and all associated trademarks are property of the Mirabilis company. The owners of this site assume no responsibility for information extracted from this page. This is not an official Mirabilis site.