ICQ

Webopedia Staff
Last Updated May 24, 2021 7:45 am

An easy-to-use online instant messaging program developed by Mirabilis LTD. Prounounced as separate letters, so that it sounds like “I-Seek-You,” ICQ is similar to America OnLine’s popular Buddy List and Instant Messenger programs. It is used as a conferencing tool by individuals on the Net to chat, e-mail, perform file transfers, play computer games, and more.

Once you have downloaded and installed ICQ onto your PC, you can create a list of friends, family, business associates, etc. (who also have ICQ on their PC’s). ICQ uses this list to find your friends for you, and notifies you once they have signed onto the Net. You can then send messages, chat in real time, play games, etc.