Why ICQ?

[cd34]

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.