The numbers.
Yeah! When I wrote the Ask HN, I totally forgot about it. But now that I remember, it hurts!
Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
11–20 of 56 posts
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#12I think it was a combination of things. If I remember correctly, AIM was an AOL subscription exclusive in the beginning so only the dopes on there were using it. The cool kids were on ICQ and I think there were very few AOL users willing or able to use a separate chat client. Anyway, AOL eventually opened up AIM to everyone and people started using it. It was easier. AIM used screennames. ICQ was cool because you cou…
I remember my number too... I once typed it in on an assignment instead of my student number. D'oh.
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#13As a German, I would not call it killed. It's very poplar here.
But I think most of my friends use things like Miranda or Gaim/Pidgin and not the bloat-client. Even the lesser tech-savy ones. They got it installed by the nerds ;)
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#14I think it was a combination of things. If I remember correctly, AIM was an AOL subscription exclusive in the beginning so only the dopes on there were using it. The cool kids were on ICQ and I think there were very few AOL users willing or able to use a separate chat client. Anyway, AOL eventually opened up AIM to everyone and people started using it. It was easier. AIM used screennames. ICQ was cool because you cou…
I know why you remember that. Because you have a "eight" digit ICQ number. People at that time used to think that shorter ICQ ID was cooler.
Mine was 394868
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#15Two things killed ICQ 1) Usability - when you do a product for the masses usability and simlicity matters a lot. 2) Marketing - when you're up against Microsoft and AOL you are in trouble unless you have an excellent product (see point 1) There's a good lesson to be learnt here for entrepreneurs.
What I learn : it's not because you're the first player in a field AND used widespead that your product will live forever.
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#16I think it was a combination of things. If I remember correctly, AIM was an AOL subscription exclusive in the beginning so only the dopes on there were using it. The cool kids were on ICQ and I think there were very few AOL users willing or able to use a separate chat client. Anyway, AOL eventually opened up AIM to everyone and people started using it. It was easier. AIM used screennames. ICQ was cool because you cou…
I know why you remember that. Because you have a "eight" digit ICQ number. People at that time used to think that shorter ICQ ID was cooler.
used to?
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#17Mine was 299961. I still remember it despite having forgotten the password several lifetimes ago.
So many people remember their ICQ number, it's frightening. Do they remember their phone number at that time?
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#18The numbers.
I thought the numbers were one of the things that made it fun. Having a low ICQ number showed you were an early adopter, much like having a short URL or twitter name.
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#19The default audible keyboard...
Re: Ask HN : What killed ICQ?
#20Mine was 299961. I still remember it despite having forgotten the password several lifetimes ago.
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