- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
- Date added: February 07, 2005
- Total Downloads: 167,123,465
- Downloads last week: 5,387
- See full specifications
A newer version of ICQ 5.04 is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 10743 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff on November 08, 2008
This venerable chat client upgrades with a retooled look and enough Preference control to satisfy even the most obsessive fans of customization. ICQ 6 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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User reviews of ICQ 5.04
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 10743 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 1170 user reviewsSee all 1170 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
70 out of 102 people found this review helpful
Version: ICQ 5.04
"Chat with people from any country"
Pros: However, I think ICQ is starting to lack behind. It's getting real hard to find any of your friends or relations that use it anymore. They all seem to use MSN Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger, or AOL.
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9 out of 17 people found this review helpful
Version: ICQ 5.04
"ICQ is still one of the GReat ones out there"
Pros: Love the programs interface and usability.
Cons: Not sure but feels liek they are missing something still.
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18 out of 36 people found this review helpful
Version: ICQ 5.04
"Does anyone still use ICQ anymore?"
Pros: Its free.
The client has some nice features you wont find in other clients.
The network is still pretty big...outside of the USA.
It was made by a couple of Israli's...Go Israel!
Cons: AIM now owns and connects to the ICQ network. It also lets you add ICQ UIN's to the buddy list. Not sure what value the ICQ client has anymore.
Its a very old client.
The network isn't very big in the USA. Its AIM or nothing. In South East Asia it is still big, though.
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8 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros: This is a great program which lets you keep in contact with friends and meet people across the world. Great alternative for messaging.
Cons: Seems a little confusing when trying to get use to the interface.
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2 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: ICQ 5.04
Pros: Not bad and it's suitable for those low memory pc users, it saves icq start up times, lite and functions better and modern than icq 2003b pro.
Cons: Security not better than icq 2003b pro.
- See all 1170 user reviews Write review
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