Why ICQ?
 

Why does it seem that ICQ is the method of choice for communication between webmasters?

I really hate ICQ

It has the ugliest most confusing interface I've ever seen, plus all I get is spam messages through it.

Whay wasn't something like AIM, Yahoo or MSN messenger chosen instead?

Just curious!

Bill

I get no spam messages. All people I work and talk with use ICQ too. I want all my messanger accounts to be at the same place - that way I always use only their site when some problem occurs. Also, the interface is getting better in the new ICQ, it's colourful and shiny like Yahoo and MSN, but I personally use the old skin...

The key with ICQ is to never turn it on. That technique has served me very well. Post your ICQ number, but never, ever, ever use it as a form of communication. |cool|

I personally prefer ICQ over the others. I can't give you concrete reasons why, so don't ask.

ICQ is old school. I think a lot of the oldtimers used it before there were other alternatives around. You can get Trillian or other clients which allow you to group your messengers into 1 interface(I think there's one called Gaim at sourceforge). The trick to using ICQ is configuring it correctly.

I just think it looks so confusing.

I never turn it on anymore as every time I do, I get a bunch of blinking message things that are all spam.

It's just a shame that it was chosen somehow way back when there was nothing else I guess. Now we have no choice as it seems everyone uses it, so in order to be in the loop, you need to use ICQ.

you can change the preferences so you only receive messages from those in your contact list and exclude messages to multiple parties.

you can also turn it so that you cannot be added to anyone's contact list without your approval.

Those two steps alone go a long way in reducing the IM spam.

Gaim works with multiple services as does Trillian.

And by the way, you list aol's instant messenger in your profile. ICQ & Aim are owned by AOL -- and they intercommunicate, so, you already have ICQ. :)

tortus32,

ICQ is not that confusing, just take some time and configure it so you no longer get spam messages for unknown sources. I wouldn't use it as it comes "out of the box", so to speek.

I totally agree with UW though, best not to boot it up...:)

Regards,
SF

Strange, I have not seen any icq spam message for maybe three or four years... (and yes, I am using icq) :)

Yeah - I use ICQ every day & I can't remember ever getting a spam (other than a couple from The Butcher)

never get spam either.... the whole thing started when icq popped up back in like 97-98 (i THINK) & we webmasters were primarily the ones online the most so we were like guinea pigs for this new form of communication. i remember having an icq number that was only 5 digits lol.... (lost that a long time ago).

anyhoo... you don't have to use icq anymore as there are apps that access several im services at once. try Trillian for Windows & Fire if you are a Mac/Apple user. enjoy ;)


...

97? better check your calendar.

In early '94, these Israeli guys were talking with us to put a connection into NYC to connect to their 'network' that allowed instant chat. I don't know what their business model was at that point, but, they had money to colo a router in NYC at Telehouse -- which was NOT a cheap facility at the time.

I don't remember 5 digit numbers being available to the public, but, 6 digit numbers were quite prevalent when it started. Then, right before AOL bought them, they reset the counter to start all numbers at 20000000.

I still kick myself for waiting a number of years before getting a number. I have an 8 digit number that I have had since 97 or so.

Thanks!!

Messenger probably doesn't get used often because people can change their display names.

Reminds me of the time at work when two buddies of mine were talking about their manager, comparing him to Flanders from the Simpsons. Then someone signed on one buddy's list with this particular manager's Microsoft v-dash ID. He assumed the guy he was bashing the manager with had just changed his name to the manager's v-dash for fun. So he sent this contact a nice little message with the words 'Fuck you Flanders' (The manager reminded us of Flanders). It was actually his manager. And he wasn't impressed. The manager printed off the screen to use against him. Last I heard my friend had that screenshot ready to frame. Nothing ever came of it. But the legend remains.

Just don't do it...
I love not using icq :)

I still have my original ICQ number (7 digits) but I rarely ever use ICQ anymore.

I think they may have reissued some of those old numbers. I still have some of my old contacts but in some cases the info doesn't match the same person it once did.

Anyway...

Regards,
SF

I have been using it for so long that I would lose some contacts if I got rid of it.

I to prefer ICQ.

1 thing I like is that you can send a message to a offline friend and he will recieve it when he gets online. I dont think Wmessenger does this?

Its also the prefered messenger system of some online games I play.

Tino webmaster/gamer

trillian is all i'll use.

it is a god send.

ICQ rocked back in the day. I prefer MSN. I sometimes just login to Qnext which is like trillian. But I end up going back to straight ICQ or MSN. Most people I deal with use those 2 and I always ask... incase one of them goes down.

I have used ICQ since day 1, and still do becuase it is so widely used, but I like AIM much better!

Isn't that allmost true with allmost every application????

Like windows... i got friends allways furious because windows crashes and they have to format and get trojans and spyware...

well if u configure windows and have the right programs then u can a decent stable system...

|pink

THAT is one of the biggest reasons why I stuck with ICQ.

Believe me people, I tried others, yahoo pager, msn, and the like...... I don't know if any of them have changed now, but back then NONE of them allowed me to send a message to someone who was offline. You always got the message "user is offline" and that was that. With ICQ it doesn't give a shit if the user is offline, it sends the message anyway, and they get it when they next log on. That's a huge time-saver.

Overall ICQ has been the best, for me anyway.

They all can do that. I don't remember when they didn't - lol!

ICQ is good cause you can send messages to users offline - last time i checked MSN couldn't do that.

ICQ is also very good because you dont have to give away your email address. You get a number.

Personally I use trillian but keep the ICQ bit for webmastering and msn for personal.

ICQ was the first and I agree I never get spam on icq, but I get a LOT on msn. I hate that you can't send messages to offline msn contacts.

Personally I use trillian pro 3.0 and it works very will for my. The history function in trillian really rocks.