messaging
ICQ vs Signal
ICQ started first, in 1996, 18 years before Signal.
Why ICQ lasted
- The number. People still remember their ICQ UIN the way they remember a first phone number.
- Mail.ru / VK kept it on life support for markets where it still meant something.
Why Signal lasted
- The protocol is the gold standard. WhatsApp and others borrowed it. That is a weird kind of win.
- A nonprofit that does one app. The constraint is the pitch.
Questions
Which is older, ICQ or Signal?
ICQ started first, in 1996, 18 years before Signal.
How long has ICQ been running?
ICQ has been up 29 years 306 days, since 1996-11-15.
How long has Signal been running?
Signal has been up 12 years 50 days, since 2014-07-29.
More messaging comparisons
same category
Discord vs ICQDiscord vs SignalDiscord vs SkypeDiscord vs SlackDiscord vs TelegramDiscord vs WhatsApp
Dates are founding dates from the written entries. Play which is older, or see the oldest messaging still running.