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ICQ 4.1

By Stephen Bigelow, CNET.com on 27/08/2004

More ICQ reviews , RRP: TBA

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The good:

Free
Small attractive interface supports multiuser chat, video chat, and regular IM
Includes a spelling checker

The bad:

Nothing

The bottomline:

The free, legendary chat client just keeps getting better; ICQ is the best pick, along with Yahoo Messenger, for features and versatility.

Buying choices:

Shake 4.1 (universal) | $729.00
Contribute CS3 4.1 | $43.11

Users' rating:

6.4/10

Tags:

4.1 | chat | icq | im | instant messenger

Add to my wishlist

New! What is this?

ICQ, along with Yahoo Messenger, offers the most options for customisation and everyday use at home or in the office.

ICQ (literally Internet slang for I seek you) 4.1 is attractive, free, and blissfully simple to use. Unlike AIM, ICQ doesn't impose advertising, stock tickers, or other annoyances. And like Yahoo Messenger, ICQ nonetheless offers a wealth of extras (called Xtraz plug-ins) that let you customise the interface, send greeting cards, play games, or create multiuser chats. The 2.81MB download is available from ZDNet's Download channel and takes less than five minutes to install.

Although ICQ requests a great deal of information during registration (such as your gender, date of birth, geographical location, and other personal details), it's all optional; ICQ requires only your name and a valid e-mail address. Unfortunately, ICQ accounts won't work within other IM clients -- ironic, since ICQ is owned by AOL -- but you can use software such as Trillian to mix messengers.

ICQ's interface is straightforward. Use the Add/Find button to add friends and colleagues to your list, then simply double-click the desired entry to start a message session. Emoticons and various text fonts and colours spice up your messages. You can also launch video chat, exchange files, and insert Web URLs.

ICQ's custom interface is well designed; few distractions interfere with navigation.

Whereas AOL focuses AIM on business users, the latest ICQ includes with a wealth of new creature comforts for everyday users. There's even a spell-check option. The Xtraz toolbar slides out on demand to send a greeting card, play a game, or manage your message photo or avatar.

The new interface also allows for keyboard shortcuts to preferred features, such as Ctrl+M for a new message to a selected contact, along with the ability to customise ICQ's appearance, including changing skin colours. A system tray notification announces a new message along with the photo or avatar of the sender, so a quick look will help you decide whether to respond immediately (by clicking the tray notification) or wait till later. Another feature we liked sets an alert -- a flashing birthday cake -- next to a friend's name on your contact list on that birthday; simply click the cake to open a message window with a special birthday background and a greeting card option. ICQ supports multiple users in a chat. Users running Windows XP with any Webcam can also participate in one-on-one video chat sessions with ICQ Video. ICQ is available for mobile phones. Future development should soon support foreign language character sets, but for the moment ICQ supports only English.

The ICQ site includes a comprehensive help page with extensive FAQs on topics ranging from downloading and installation to finding other ICQ users online to security and privacy issues. ICQ also accepts support questions via e-mail. ICQ responded to our test e-mail within several hours.

Download ICQ 4.1

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User comments
Leave a comment

wow
30/10/2008, 01:28 PM

rating
4/10

I am not only play for fun, but to be the leader of my guild, then the poineer of my server, I dreamed to be the best player of WOW one day. I started my business to help others who want to be strong with higher level (I offered them WOW power leveling service );those who want to get good enough gears (I offered T3 to T6 and S2 to S4 gears power leveling service and honor gears / pvp gears arena season 2 3 4

Pros: yes

Cons: no

Report offensive comment

Candace
20/09/2008, 03:18 PM

rating
7/10

its really really good

Report offensive comment

ok0510
05/09/2008, 06:13 PM

rating
5/10

This is the cheapest wow gold website, and the server is excellent!
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Pros: er

Cons: er