Aug 19, 2001 05:08 PM
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Before I actually begin, I would like to say that ICQ has so many options and features that you can be practically lost in the site. Of course ICQ’s ample menus come to your rescue? Do they really rescue you? I am not sure if they do so at all times. It really needs a lot of practice to maneuver through the site. But it sure is interesting.
What is ICQ? Yes that’s a good question. In simple terms, it means “I SEEK YOU”. It is a cool Internet service that enables you to know who's on-line at the moment, of course if they haven’t kept themselves in an invisible mode. If online, you can contact them. You logon and voila you see your friend online and you start communicating right away. Of course there are many other messenger services that provide this facility.
With ICQ, you can chat, send messages, files and URL's, play games, or be in a meeting with your online friends while still surfing the Net. Options available are chat, voice, message board, data conferencing, file transfer or Internet games. It is all in real time. ICQ supports Microsoft NetMeeting and Netscape CoolTalk. ICQ can also be used in a multiple-user mode and you can conduct conferences. Now, isn’t that cool!!! ICQ runs in the background, taking up minimal memory and Net resources, but it can get pretty slow at times. If you are online on ICQ and you are working with other applications, ICQ lets you when your friends log in, so you can communicate if need be while working.
ICQ is free and you have to download it to install it. You have to register your self. When you do so, you receive a unique ICQ number. You can enter your personal information along with your ICQ#. This will enable other ICQ users to recognize you when you log on. You must also compile your list of friends. ICQ will use this list to find your friends for you. There is an option where, as soon as you log onto the Internet, ICQ automatically detects the Internet connection, lets your friends know you are online and informs you when friends log on or off.
You can get a guided tour on the site to learn about ICQ Basics. There is also a Technical Support Center and F.A.Q section. It has a Guide of Services, where you can learn about Client-to-Client communication, User-Created Public Chat Rooms, User Created Interest Lists, ICQ Message Boards, Online Global Directory, Technical Forums, WebMaster's Zone, World-Wide-Pager, EmailExpress, The ICQ Communication Panel, Launching Voice Video and Data Applications, Launching Games, E-Mail Enhancements in ICQ. Now isn’t all that pretty interesting. You ought to really check all this out to know ICQ better. If I write about all these features, I’ll end up writing a book. I am not kidding!!!
ICQ has sections like Find An Old Friend and Make a New One. I haven’t tried to find an old friend but surely made plenty of new friends. You can find your relatives too! Really? I don’t know. But a lot of people seem to have found around the world.
It is unbelievable, when somebody says, “We're married thanks to ICQ!” But it is happening, more couples are added every day to the ICQ Wedding Album!
The Friendship and Feelings section has options like
• Express your Feelings
• ICQ Friendship Pages
• Greetings Gallery
• Birthday Center
• Say ''I Love You'' with Style
• Love is in the Air
• Laugh With Friends
• Virtual Gestures, Feelings, Emotions And Moods
• The LOVE Connection - Get Romantic with the ICQ People Rings.
It has Search options like ICQ Search, ICQ Whitepages, People Search, AtoZ Topic Index, Web Directories, User Created Search Engines, E-mail Search, Homepages Search &
Online ICQ ActiveList Search. Each option has another list of endless options and it goes on.
Well ICQ is not just a chat service. It is much more than that.
ICQ has come out with a book called MASTERING ICQ. ICQ lovers can surely use it to enhance their knowledge. But the site itself provides you with tours and helps to learn about ICQ.
Hey!! I can’t write any more. You should check this site and see it’s amazing features.
