CNET Editors' review
This venerable chat client upgrades with a retooled look and enough Preference control to satisfy even the most obsessive fans of customization. ICQ 6.5 includes video, audio, and text chat modes in a strong push to make the app the most versatile chat client around.
Audio chatting was smooth and painless, although that depends on user connection, of course. There's also a new Quick IM feature that allows you to send a text chat from within your contact list. The text window is only one line high, but perfectly sized if you're just shooting off a quick note.
Many of the notable plug-ins have been folded into the new version as standard features. Standard fare in ICQ now includes SMS messaging and the Flash-movie tZers as well as alerts and skins. Consequentially, the quick-loading app has a larger footprint. Ad banners are nonexistent except in the built-in games, and all text chat histories are automatically saved. Some features, like Push2Talk, seem to have been phased out of the new version, and customizing tZers is no longer an option. Also, the Help option is non-functional in this release.
Despite a few minor setbacks, there are too many improvements to keep ICQ down. Other notable additions include split-screen compatibility, IM forwarding, and integrated Google searching. In enhancing its already rich feature set, ICQ has definitely increased its standing among its many competitors.
Watch the CNET video review of ICQ 5.04:
Publisher's Description
From ICQ:
ICQ Lite has all the essential features of the full version of ICQ. You can message people, exchange files, send SMS messages, do voice chat, and meet people. It also includes multilingual support, the ability to save your chat histories, and a typing indicator that shows when a contact is typing you a message. In addition to familiar features such as chat, SMS messaging, and file-transfer capabilities, ICQ also includes Xtraz, which allow you to send personalized greeting cards, apply custom icons to your buddies, play online games, and customize your shortcuts panel for one-click access to all your favorite features. The ICQ Xtraz platform enables ICQ to present users with a selection of new services as they are created, without the need for you to download a new client. Xtraz also supports the creation of new ICQ features that can be built separately from the core ICQ client and then delivered and automatically updated over time. The new interface also is clean and intuitive, so you can start chatting quickly and easily.
ICQ 5 offers compatibility with dual screens, compatibility with full-screen games, IM forwarding, and integrated Google search.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 10,692 votes
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Current version:
4.1 starsout of 2,200 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"jade,cloe."
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
it will be fun to talk to people
Cons
if there is no one it woudlnt be fun
Summary
i like this product because it will be fun chatting.
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"Great site,my icq no. is3599775"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
Good way to chat with family and friends
Cons
Worked great with win. 98-XP,not sure abou new Win Vista,somethings having trouble downloading.ICQ lite 6.5 for l.
Summary
It depends when if at all be able to download icq lite or Pro 2003 on this pc or only can on my other with win XP on it. Just a trial and error,take
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"life is too short..pls enjoy it all"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
chatting with no limitations
Cons
i like every thing of this product
Summary
ashracomest
Updated on Jan 15, 2009 -
"I like it !"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
Well ... when I am tired of serious chat clients like YM or MSNM I am going back to this old "little" ICQ.
You can chat and play some kind of a stupid funny game ZOOPALOOLA. If you are living in Romania you can still find a lot of ICQ users over here, most of them womans :)
maybe because of the look of this client:
- little
- sweet
- childish
- like a candy
The feeling is verry diffrent from other chat clients and sometimes I like the fact other peopels don't know what ICQ is. It's more like of a private network and I like this feeling of being part of a minority.
I really recommend this download!
Cons
I would like more games like ZOOPALOOLA. I would like more animals and more stupid things... :)
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"not used it yet!!!"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
not used yet!!!
Cons
not used yet!!!
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"I don't get the hypes"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
It's a classic.
Cons
It got huge adverts banner. Hardly anyone uses this anymore in the US. In a way, they are overloading the software with non-core feature.
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"Other better messengrs available!"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
Quick
Cons
Need to remember its "UNIQUE" number! Lot of ads get displayed wehn running messenger!
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"scheiÒ�xe"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
cool
Cons
install
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"The best chat service next to MSN messanger"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
It has great potential with faster connection speeds and better quality.
Cons
Minor problems and things that could make it better.
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"good"
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros
free
Cons
wait long time
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