Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp, Skype - we all use at least one of the listed messengers. But many people forgot ICQ and long ago crossed it off the list of communication programs - it’s a “cute retro” that millennials remember with its funny emoticons and the “ Oh-oh ” notification. Forgot? Did not know? Is this your first time hearing this?
Let's remember or get acquainted, because many years later the program “rebooted” and entered the application market under the name ICQ New . Let's find out whether it's really New, what has changed, why it's interesting, whether it's worth downloading, and whether the promised “evolution” has happened.
ICQ New Features
Let's start with why they forgot “Asya”, because the same “grandfather” Skype is still afloat, despite its considerable “age”. The program was truly a success - it was installed in almost every mobile phone and PC, it was a delight and worked even on the Siemens A65.
Then they started rebooting it, then resold it and filled it with advertising so much that New York Broadway nervously smokes on the sidelines. The program began to weigh a lot and freeze, so it was quickly written off.
And here you are: “Oh-oh” and ICQ New from Mail.ru!
The same familiar flower in a burning green color and a promising promo on a fashionable black background.
Before we explore all versions: desktop, web and smartphone, let’s find out what the developers generally offer:
- Audio and video calls to save money on your phone. Both for one-on-one meetings and group discussions.
- Decoding voice messages - converting them into text (it’s infuriating, especially when you have to listen to a heartbreaking story about milk that escaped in public).
- Sticker hint based on the text of the message. By the way, this is not new and no one should be surprised by this “innovation”.
- The Smart Reply system offers answers by analyzing the incoming message. But the level of artificial intelligence is not higher than “Ok”, “Thank you” and “Bye”, and the neural network also offers stickers.
- Channels, chats and bots - the same Telegram only in profile.
- Freedom to choose a nickname. While there are few users (despite 10,000,000+ downloads), you can have time to stake out beautiful nicknames.
- Video calls with masks - we hide circles under our eyes, amuse our interlocutors, decorate negotiations with horns or ears.
- Ability to send photos and videos without compression . To be fair, this is also not new, but it’s already good.
- Synchronization - no need to make backups.
- If the old version of ICQ had the so-called “invis”, which made it possible to hide the “online” status from contacts, then in the new application the privacy settings are worked out differently. So, you can prohibit incoming voice calls and video calls, adding to groups. You can hide your phone number even from those with whom you are in the same chat. Well, you can put a PIN code on startup to protect messages from unwanted eyes. But the “invisa” itself, alas, no longer exists - the status will have to be shown.
Compared to the old ICQ, this is a breakthrough and huge progress. The developers have really implemented all the modern functionality inherent in the 2020 messenger. It may not be anything special, but such a list is sufficient for comfortable communication.
Of course, it will hardly be convenient to conduct serious business negotiations like on Zoom, but chatting with friends, subscribing to interesting channels, having fun with bots, uploading files and saving money on your mobile phone is possible.
Reborn ICQ
The Mail.ru Group holding launched the ICQ New messenger, based on the original ICQ. As representatives of the holding told CNews, the mobile application is available for download in the Google Play and Apple App Store app stores.
In addition, ICQ New was also released for desktop PCs - at the time of publication of the material, versions for Windows, Linux and macOS could be downloaded from the official website of the messenger. Additionally, a web version of the service is available, working directly from the browser, without the need to install the program on a PC.
How to install and use ICQ New: setup features
The web version of the application is a bit of a dinosaur, just like the desktop application, but it’s not for everyone. Nothing special, but it doesn't gouge out the eye either.
The application itself (for a PC or smartphone) “weighs” less than 60 MB. Of course, use ICQ only from verified (official) sources (download links above).
When downloading or registering online, in accordance with all the rules, you will be asked for a phone number. Then the code will come, enter it and log in.
If you plan to synchronize ICQ between all devices, you need to register once, but you will have to enter your phone number and enter the confirmation code everywhere. But it’s fast – the codes arrive without delay.
In the program we find a lot of settings, where the checkboxes are already well set by default:
Personalization will especially please you: you can choose any of 4 themes and chat backgrounds (from those offered or upload your own):
A special “like” for the stickers, and the most interesting thing is that you can create your own stickers or transfer any sticker packs from the “Cart”. To do this, find the “Create your own stickers” button in the design and get into the chatbot.
To import Telegram stickers, we only need a link - send it to the bot, instantly receive your favorite pictures in your sets:
We send our pictures to the same bot and get our stickers. They can be customized for any emoji, so that the neural network can then suggest them in one click.
Favorite koloboks are presented in the form of GIFs. Nostalgia in its purest form.
All versions (mobile, desktop and online) are designed approximately the same, the capabilities are the same. And in the smartphone application they even offer to log in without a confirmation code, giving the necessary permissions:
Features of the messenger
The new version of ICQ from Mail.ru appeared recently - the update was released only at the beginning of April 2020. This is a completely new program, in which there is little from the familiar interface that has not changed for years. Forget about the simple messenger of your school or college years, here is a full-fledged high-quality and modern product. This is already confirmed by numerous reviews!
A short overview of the main features of the program, which is available on computers and phones with the most common operating systems, will help you understand what ICQ New is.
- Automatic translation of voice message into text;
- Replacing words with suitable stickers;
- Selecting quick answer options;
- Many groups, bots and channels - like in Telegram;
- Reply to several messages at once;
- Creating a unique nickname;
- Ability to send files without compression.
In addition, you can use all the standard features of the messenger - sending messages, voice and video calls (including group calls), file sharing.
Would you like to try a new product? Let's download the new version to your computer and smartphone together!
Review of ICQ New
Why go far if there are user reviews. So, on the Play Market you can find different opinions, but the main message is that the program is “crude” and there is no one to communicate with.
If it’s “damp”, this is quite subjective, and the developers are working to fix problems and provide feedback. The second one is a disaster.
Looking through the list of contacts that are in ICQ, you see “it was a long time ago”, and 90% need to be invited to the messenger.
If you want to do this, then you can try to drag humanity from progressive and popular programs here. But it is unlikely that success will await you. So the question of advertising, creating competitive advantages, interesting features and a cool interface lies with the developers.
Is it possible to use the old ICQ number?
Yes! You can (if you remember, of course) enter your old 8-digit number when registering, but judging by the reviews on social networks, not everyone can do this.
Login to ICQ online
In order to be able to access ICQ online, you will need:
- go to: https://web.icq.com/;
- Next, the system will ask you to enter the mobile phone number in international format to which the user account is linked;
- A message with a code will be sent to this number; you will need to enter it into the browser window;
- if the user has an account created much earlier and not linked to a phone number, then you will need to click on the button at the bottom of the screen “I already have an account”;
- and enter your UIN and password.
Features of the browser version of ICQ
ICQ online is good primarily because it allows the user not to download the ICQ program itself to their device. This can be very useful if, for example, the work takes place on someone else's computer.
The main functionality of ICQ online exactly repeats the capabilities of the software version. This is text correspondence - both in individual and group chats. In addition, users can exchange a wide variety of very large files among themselves. Sticker sets and emoticons are available during communication.
In this case, all profile settings and message history are synchronized between all clients on all devices. So you don’t have to worry at all that some part of your important correspondence will be lost when moving from one device to another. In ICQ online you can also edit your profile.
Which version of ICQ to use - online or separate, software - is, of course, up to the user to choose. But the fact that there is also a browser version of this application cannot but please users. After all, not every modern messenger can please you with this.
In addition, ICQ online is completely Russified. The language is usually selected automatically, although it can be changed later in the settings.
Perhaps precisely because ICQ is trying to keep up with the times, this program still successfully competes with its much younger “colleagues.” After all, the first release of ICQ was published already in 1996 - that is, more than 20 years ago. And this is quite impressive for any program. Not many have reached the 20-year mark of their existence... Thus, you can go to ICQ online. And, as it turns out, this can be done quite simply.
Group chats, communicate with the whole world
iPhone version
You can communicate not only one-on-one, but also in a large group. You added everyone to one group and decide the question posed, for example, where should the company spend the New Year? Simple and convenient.
There are also public group chats, a kind of public account option in Viber. You can communicate, receive useful news, send new music, etc. Dating chats are more like a gathering of schoolchildren, I wonder what they are even doing here?
Flaws
The free messenger has some disadvantages that every user using ICQ should be aware of. Despite constant improvements, the browser version, like its prototype, remains a rather unprotected application. This is why you should not use chat as a business application.
Like any application designed for people to communicate, spam cannot be ruled out. It is impossible to get rid of it and there are no filters. You just have to come to terms with this.
The server is located in the USA, so the speed is quite slow. If the Internet connection is weak, disconnections are possible.
Another disadvantage can be considered small restrictions, namely the number of connections, as well as the frequency of sending messages. Of course, all this is aimed at fighting spam and protecting users, but sometimes it gets annoying.
ICQ in quarantine
However, the Russian Mail.ru Group decided to breathe new life into ICQ by remaking the once popular messenger and introducing several new features that competitors do not yet have.
The application, which is now called ICQ New, can not only send text messages and graphics, create channels, call each other as usual and via video, but also offers group communication functions. For example, calls in which up to 30 people can participate simultaneously, and chats for tens of thousands of users.
However, this is available in one form or another in WhatsApp, Viber, Skype and other modern means of communication. The updated ICQ New application now includes voice message decoding and the Smart Reply quick response system.
In the first case, a voice message can be translated into text by pressing one button, in the second, the messenger will offer to quickly respond to the message using a ready-made answer, which will be selected based on the context. You can answer with a short phrase or a sticker - they will be selected by artificial intelligence (however, this function can be turned off). In addition, in a group chat, you can share a picture from your desktop with other participants, for example, show presentations remotely.
Bots will also appear in ICQ - built-in software assistants that add useful functions. For example, one of them allows you to find animated GIF pictures for all occasions and send them to friends, the other searches for the necessary information on Wikipedia.
“ICQ is the first messenger for many who began actively using the Internet in the 90s. Unfortunately, he has not been seen or heard in recent years. It is not enough to simply restart the program with group functions and video. Serious users will be concerned about the stability of the connection, the stability of the program, and we don’t know all this now,” says IT expert Alexander Baulin. According to him, for a serious breakthrough, developers must offer something fundamentally new that is not available in other messengers.
Note that the function of transcribing voice messages (this is what could become a “breakthrough”) began to be created on the VKontakte social network, which is also part of the Mail.ru Group. The developers said that this is a very difficult task - users actively use slang and borrowed expressions. However, the system will develop and in the future it will be able not only to translate voice into text, but also to search the contents of voice messages.
Another interesting touch to the portrait of the new ICQ: the first logo of the messenger depicted a flower with seven green petals and one red. The latter meant the opportunity to go offline, completely turning off the messenger. The new flower has no red petals - they are all green. This means that modern users are constantly connected, whether they want it or not.
