messaging
ICQ vs Skype
ICQ started first, in 1996, 7 years before Skype.
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 Skype lasted
- The username graph of the 2000s still has grandparents on it.
- Microsoft cannot quite kill the brand without a press cycle.
Questions
Which is older, ICQ or Skype?
ICQ started first, in 1996, 7 years before Skype.
How long has ICQ been running?
ICQ has been up 29 years 306 days, since 1996-11-15.
How long has Skype been running?
Skype has been up 23 years 47 days, since 2003-08-01.
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.